Ah hell. Willow must have told her about our arrangement. I play stupid to buy some time. “What’s not there?”
She points to the door. “What was that, right now?”
Me smiling at Willow like a goof? “I care about her, okay?”
“That’s all?”
Oh, she means the way I look at her? I saw her notice. So what? “She’s my wife.”
“Cut the crap. I know what this marriage is.”
My throat tightens and my eyes blur a bit. Not because she knows about the marriage. But because someone else can tell how far gone I am. What do I have to lose? I might as well be honest, especially with myself. “I’m in love with her. Didn’t see it coming. These things happen.” Saying it out loud, it feels so obvious, and so natural, and at the same time so vulnerable. The pit in my stomach deepens under the weight of this reality. There’s nothing about Willow I don’t love, and when she moves on from me, I’ll be a shadow of myself.
Kiara’s mouth gapes, but for once she has nothing to say, so I continue. “I’ll do anything for her. Anything. I’m so fucking sorry she has to lose this apartment, and when the time comes,” I say, using that stupid expression, “I’ll make it right. I’ll be sure she gets something just as nice, and hopefully nicer. And in the meantime, yeah, she gets to keep all the dresses she wants, if that makes her happy. You got a problem with that?”
“You love her.”
I nod. “Now get out of my way, I got shit to do,” I bark. I hate it when I get unhinged, but she pissed me off big time.
“You need to tell her.”
I whip back, and this time I’m the one almost (almost) poking her chest. “Absolutely not, and you better keep your mouth shut.”
The bedroom door swings open on my last words. “Wooooow, man,” Colton says, jaw set, eyes dark. “What the fuck?” He stands right next to Kiara, dwarfing her.
Her eyes are shiny. “I deserved that. Totally deserved.”
“Deserved what?” Willow asks as the bedroom becomes more crowded with her presence.
“Nothing,” Kiara and I both answer.
thirty
Willow
What happened back there between Noah and Kiara? One minute we’re a happy group, the next the two of them are having a secret argument. I need to find out from Kiara.
“You guys should come over for dinner,” I declare when the apartment is emptied of my stuff and clean, keys in the super’s mailbox. It took the four of us less than an hour, and that’s including setting up the smaller TV.
“You sure?” Colton asks, eyes darting between Noah and Kiara.
“Damn right I am.” I have every intention of sneaking a conversation with my bestie. We’re both too busy with tourist season to catch a coffee just the two of us.
“I’d say it’s about time,” Kiara drops with a smile. “I’ll bring a strawberry shortcake.”
Noah clears his throat. “Perfect.” He wraps me under his arm and gives me a shoulder squeeze. “Come by whenever you want. I’ll fire up the grill.”
Two hours later I’m slightly relaxed thanks to some breathing exercises and the Gold Rush Noah placed in my hand when I came down from my shower. Kiara and Colton are playing with the puppies, Beck took over the barbecue, and Lane texted me she was out and not to expect her for dinner.
Noah is tucked against me on the patio sofa, his arm around my shoulders, stroking my bare arm and holding me close enough that I can feel his heartbeat.
“Ribs’ll be done in fifteen minutes,” Beck announces.
I lean into Noah, enjoying the PDA. We should have friends over more often. Then I remember why I wanted Colton and Kiara over to begin with. “Kiara, let me give you a quick tour,” I sort of order, reluctantly leaving Noah’s arm and stretching my hand to her as if she were a little girl.
I know how these things go with our friends. We end up talking for hours, then suddenly someone decides it’s time to break and everyone scatters.
If I don’t manufacture an alone moment now, I’ll never have it.
