“She’s really drunk, I don’t mind?—”
“It’s cool,” Madden says to his brother. “Leo’s got her. He’s been taking care of her longer than any of us has even known her.” The oldest King takes in his younger brother, then the women, and finally looks back at me. I could lie, tell myself that I only offered to help because I want to do the man a solid, but I don’t know if it’s even worth lying to myself anymore.
“If she’s okay with it, then okay. But if not, I’ll just take her home. It’s not far for me.” I nod, then look to where Willa is, take in a steadying breath, before making my way to her. She catches sight of me, and her face goes beaming, the biggest wonky smile gracing her drunken face as she throws her arms into the air.
“Leo! King of boredom has come to dance!”
“No, no, I—” I start, but she trips into me, her chest hitting mine, her arms looping around my neck, and on instinct, my arm wraps around her waist, holding her to me.
In an instant, her body melts against mine, and the tension in my chest does the same.
Yeah.
I am so screwed.
“I’m just here to tell you I’m gonna take you home tonight,” I say. Fast music plays around us, but we don’t move to the beat. Instead, we sway slowly as I continue to hold her, and she clings to me, her face going confused.
“What? Why?”
“Because Jesse and Hallie want to get home and be alone together, and you’d be in the way of that.” She looks over my shoulder, and as we move, I see Jesse and Hallie dancing slowly together, kissing more passionately than is appropriate for a bar, especially one owned by her brother. It makes Willa laugh, something I feel against me.
“Okay, yeah,” she says. “That makes sense.” Then the song moves to a slow one, and a wide, happy smile pulls on her full lips. “A slow song,” she says, glee in the words.
“Willa—”
“One dance and then you can take me home,” she says.
I can’t fight it.
I’m starting to think I can’t fighther.
So instead, I move with her, giving her an answer with my body. A light, happy sigh leaves her lips, and that, too, settles in my chest.
“Are you having fun?” she asks a minute in, her voice low, though her closeness lets me still hear her. I’ve been lost in the feel of her, so lost in the song and the way she hums to it with her eyes half shut, that the question startles me. I look down and smile at her soft expression. On instinct, my hand lifts, pushing back a chunk of messy hair that fell out of the braid and tucking it back behind her ear. She leans into my touch like a kitten desperate for affection, and again, something cracks my chest wide open, but this time, before I can close it back up andreinforce my walls, Willa somehow sneaks in and makes herself comfortable.
”I hope you’re having fun. I don’t think you have fun nearly enough.” Her eyes are so hopeful, like it really matters to her that I am in fact having fun, so I nod, and as I do, I find I’m not lying.
“Yeah, honey. I’m having fun,” I say, the nickname spilling from my lips without meaning to, but I can’t find it in me to care. “Are you?”
“The most fun I’ve ever had,” she says, and I know she means it. She’s been to high-profile parties and awards shows and travelled the world, but he’s never had more fun than right now, dancing in a small-town dive bar.
“I’m glad, Willa. You deserve to have fun.”
Her eyes go somehow softer as her hands slide up the back of my neck, fingers moving to play with the hair there. Despite myself, despite needing and wanting to keep my distance, I find myself pulling her in a bit closer.
“Did I finally crack you?” she asks.
“Crack?”
“Yeah. You’re a grumpy old man, but I know you can be fun. I just never get to see it.” I stare at her, unspeaking, as she moves and her hand reaches up to rest on my cheek as she looks into my eyes. It’s uncomfortable in a way, but so comforting in others, as she seems to read beyond my words, beyond what I’m showing her.
Eventually, her lips tip up with a soft, knowing smile.
“Yeah, I’ve cracked you.”
FIFTEEN
WILLA
