Dean is quiet again. “I don’t know, Willow. I can’t speak for him, I can only speak for my thoughts on the situation.” He chews on the inside of his cheek. “I think he probably thought that was the safest option.”
I suck in a deep breath and swallow hard. “I was the one who ultimately walked away from him. At the last minute, after he hesitated, he told me he knows what he wants and it’s me. I told him I needed him to think about it to be sure.”
“He’ll come around, Willow.”
My eyebrows cinch together. “How can you be so sure?”
A smile cracks across Dean’s lips. “I’m not but I just have a feeling that he will. Him trying to push you away was to protect himself and you, but you flipped the script on him. You walked away instead.”
After a long moment of silence, Dean cocks his head. “Can I tell you what I’d tell Mia if she were in this situation?”
“Yes, please.”
“Keep your distance and let him realize what is truly at stake here.” A smirk tugs on his lips. “Us men, we aren’t always the smartest.”
A laugh escapes me and I raise my eyebrows at him. “I’m not going to agree with you, but I won’t disagree either.”
Dean chuckles, shaking his head. “He’ll come to his senses, Willow. I know nothing about this guy, but you’re an intelligent, beautiful woman and if he doesn’t know what he’s letting get away, then he’s not someone you want to be with.”
Staring back at him, I smile sheepishly and let his words sink in. His words are exactly something he would say to Mia and it’s exactly what I need to hear right now. I haven’t wanted to bother my own parents with my issues, so having it come from my friend’s father is helpful.
“Thank you for that, Dean.”
“Of course,” he says softly, dipping his chin. “Keep your head up, Willow. I need to go find my daughter, but we will be by the store later.”
“Okay,” I grin, nodding back at him as he slowly starts to back away. “See you then.”
Dean lifts his hand and gives me a small wave before heading down the street in the direction we had just come from. I watch him for a moment before I turn back to the shop, sliding my key into the hole with his words following after me into the warm and familiar space.
I never considered that Jace failed himself. Sometimes our egos can be our biggest downfall and right now, it seems like Jace’s is getting in his way.
I need to talk to him.
I need him to know that I’ve always believed in him, and that’s something that will never change, regardless of what happens between us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JACE
The gravel crunches beneath my truck tires as I slowly ease it to a stop, pulling up along the edge of the Adler’s front yard. I shift it into park before turning the key and killing the engine. Blowing out a slow exhale as I unbuckle my seat belt, I glance at the barn behind me through my rearview mirror.
The doors are cracked open and I pause for a moment, looking for any sign of either of them. I haven’t spoken to Noah since he called me out on everything, and I haven’t talked to Willow since the night she decided enough was enough.
I’ve been a coward, avoiding them both, but I can’t anymore.
I need to make things right with Noah, and with Willow. I’ve never really been one to sit down and sift through my feelings and for the first time in my life, I’ve found that’s all I’ve been doing this last week.
Every thought—it circles back to her.
But I know I need my best friend to be on board.
I need her brother to believe that I have no intention of hurting her ever again. I need him to know that her heart is safe with me.
When no one comes out of the barn, my eyes drift past it to the pasture where the horses graze in the distance. They’re out alittle earlier than normal, so that must mean that the Alder’s are already moving around for the day.
Opening the door, I slip out of my truck and let it fall shut as I turn to face the house.
Noah stands by the top of the steps on the edge of the porch, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression gives nothing away and an anxious feeling twists in the pit of my stomach.
