“Because, squirts, Daddy is coming home early tonight, and we need to bake him a cake.”
Allie turns to me. “It’s my Daddy’s birt-day today.”
“Well––” I tap her nose, then gesture to Willa“—Tell him happy birthday from us, will you?”
“I. Will,” Allie says with authority.
Willa gives each of the girls a hug. “I had fun today. We should do this again.”
Sonia takes a hand from each of her daughters, tugging them along. “We will. Soon. I’ll call you.” Winking at Hudson, she smirks and says, “You two have fun.”
Willa reaches for her purse. “On that note.”
I know what this means. I need to think fast. I blurt, “Let’s do something.” Anything. I wish I had a plan, but I don’t. All I know is the thought of her leaving here without me bothers me. A lot.
She looks me straight in the eye. “You want to do something?” I swear to you, I can see the cogs whirring around in her pretty head. I know what she’s thinking, but I’m going to let this play out. Let’s see what she says. “No thank you, Hudson. I’m not in the mood to do something with your family or those people.”
“Me neither.” That’s the absolute truth. “I thought we could go out.” Dare I say it? “On a date. A real one.”
There goes that hot pink flush again. Why do I love getting a reaction out of her so much? “A d-date?” She’s flustered but only for a moment. She gets it together, frowning. “Why?”
“Why do I want to take you on a date?”
“Yes.”
“Because I like you, Willa. I told you I missed you. Spending time with you makes me happy. Why wouldn’t I want to do more of it?”
Suspicion crosses her face, leaving those lines between her eyes. “Oh.” She relaxes. “I get it. You don’t want to do something with your family or those other people, but you want to be seen with me so it’ll get back to them.” She nods after she’s made that determination.
It pisses me off. Except I’ve got no right to be pissed. What have I ever said besides “I miss you” to show her I’m starting to have feelings for her?
Short answer? Nothing.
Pulling a chair out again, I nod at it. “Will you sit for a second?”
She does it reluctantly. She’s not facing me, so I nudge her chair until she is. Leaning in a little, I speak softly. “Every time we’re together, I’m happy. When I leave you, I’m sad. What do you think that means, Willa?”
“You need therapy?” She winces. “Sorry. That was a joke.”
“I don’t need therapy. I needyou, Willa Clariday.”
We stare at each other for a long moment.
“Hudson. You don’t want me.”
“Yeah. I do.”
“Look.” She sighs, sets her purse onto the table and takes one of my hands in hers. “Let me explain something to you.”
“All right.”
“My plan for tonight, one I’m very excited about, goes something like this: I go home, change into my comfy clothes, snuggle with Barney, and read a book. Then maybe I’ll order a pizza and watch a British mystery.” She pauses and looks me in the eye. “I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than that. I wasn’t lying to you, Hudson. That’s my life, and I like it. I’m not a person who enjoys going out to fancy restaurants or parties. I’m an introvert, and I’m okay with that.”
“Can we order the same pizza as last time?”
“Hudson.” She frowns. “I’m serious. If you think you’re going to pop into my life and assume you can change me under the guise that you think you’re making it better, you’re wrong. I’ll never be like Monica or Brooklyn.”
I smile because I never wanted the Monica’s of my world and ick, that’s my baby sister. “I’ve got a secret for you, Willa Clariday?”
