"I want the truth, Willow. All of it. Every last scrap," she demands.
My mouth goes dry. I swallow, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I… Wyatt and I…" I trail off, hating how shaky I sound. The shame of years' worth of secrets weighs on my shoulders.
"You and Wyatt…" Evelyn prods, pursing her lips and leaning closer.
Silence looms, and there's no way to get out of it.
I collect my thoughts and then start again. "We were together. A long time ago."
Phoebe's eyes soften further, making my guilt explode.
I give her my best "I'm sorry" expression.
"How long?" Mom questions.
"I was fifteen."
Ava gasps. "Fifteen! You lost your V-card when you were fifteen?"
"Ava!" Mom reprimands.
My cheeks heat. I glare at her. "Seriously?"
"So it was serious between you two?" Evelyn asks.
I clench my fists in my lap, blinking hard. I open my mouth, but a tidal wave of emotions attacks, and I can only nod.
Mom's lips press into a thin line, her eyes filling with a storm that makes me feel six years old again. "How could you not tell me, Willow? You know how much we all love Wyatt."
I flinch. "I know. I just… I couldn't. Plus, you saw how Jagger reacted."
Evelyn has never sugar-coated anything in her life, and today isn't the day she's going to start. She states flatly, "So you thought it would be better to lie to us all."
I argue, "I didn't want Jagger to be mad at Wyatt."
Ava huffs. "He would have gotten over it."
"Really? Does it seem like he'll get over it?" I ask, my heart aching at the thought that our relationship might destroy their friendship.
Ava gently adds, "This isn't about Jagger's feelings, Willow. They'll work it out."
"Will they?" I question again, unsure it's possible.
Mom says, "Give it some time. Those two have always been as thick as thieves. I'm sure they'll work it out."
"I'm not so sure about that. Did you see Jagger try to kill him?" Paisley points out.
Mom waves her hand in front of her face. "Cowboys will be cowboys. Like I said. Give it some time. I know your brother. He'll make peace with it."
My heart pounds so loud, I'm convinced they can hear it. "I hope so."
"So why did you two end it?" Ava asks.
Pain shoots through my heart. I take a minute before I answer, "He went to Tennessee. He didn't see how he could stay under the terms Jax gave him. And he wouldn't let me go with him and switch colleges."
"Thank the Lord for that," Mom declares.
"It would have been fine," I assure.
