“They’ll figure it out,” Willow insists gently, sitting back in the chair and folding her arms across the bar top. She stares me down until I’m fidgeting beneath the weight of that look. “Lou… Don’t you think it’s time to do something for you?You quit collegeto come back after your dad passed.”
Wringing the bar cloth between my fingers, I shrug again. “I came home because I was homesick.”
“I didn’t believe that excuse then and I don’t believe it now. Yes, you came home because you were grieving the loss of a parent… but you didn’t go back because you felt obligated to help here. Which is admirable, babe, for sure. You started cosplaying for birthdays to make extra cash to help out more. Don’t even get me started on how long it took me to get you to move into your own place.”
“I was helping with bills—”
“It was never your responsibility.”
“Now you sound like Mom and Grandma Jude.”
“Wise ladies,” Willow deadpans, crossing her arms over her chest and raising one eyebrow at me. “Call Andi. Stop by her office. We both know she’s worked with Sienna on multiple different weddings. She’s seen the events you put together here. Just, do it before you miss out and regret it, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper, dropping the cloth onto the bar. “I will.”
“Promise me,” Willow demands, sticking her hand out over the bar, pinkie raised. “Pinkie swear it.”
Laughing, I hook my pinkie around hers, and we both lean in, kissing our fists. Just like we did as kids. “I promise.”
Twenty-Four
Zach
Work, done.
Girls dropped off at Mom’s for the weekend, check.
Dusk has settled around me as I drive back home, the sapphire blue-sky bleeding into inky darkness on the horizon. I told Lou I’ll message her when I get home.
Excitement and nerves and desire all mingle in the center of my chest like a kaleidoscope, and I can’t wait to get back to the house.
Can’t wait to see Louise. To continue what we’ve started on multiple occasions now.
I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything all day. The anticipation is nearly unbearable.
But it’s made it all the sweeter, too.
Heated glances and secret, frantic kisses stolen when the girls weren’t looking.
I feel like a teenager again.
I’m tempted to pull my phone out of my pocket and send a text to Louise right now, but I don’t. Not while I’m driving.
I’ve seen too many accidents that were completely avoidable involving texting and driving. My girls know that’s my number one rule, too.
Besides, I’m only a few minutes away from home. I can wait.
But pulling into the driveway five minutes later, my heart drops into my stomach.
A gold minivan is parked out front, the taillights glowing red in the dark.
Fuck. My. Life.
Pulling into my parking spot in front of my house, I shut the truck off and climb out at the same time that she does. I walk to the front of the vehicles and stop, crossing my arms over my chest.
Her blue eyes scan the truck behind me, peering into the windows.
“They’re not here,” I mutter darkly.
