One thing she’d come to understand about Will was that he never lied, though that didn’t always mean he saw things the same way she did. If what he said was true, why had Charlie strung Jane along if he had no interest in long-distance relationships?
Will’s arm was warm against hers, his hand resting between their seats, an invitation to hold hands if she so wished. But she couldn’t do it with Caroline’s constant surveillance. This night had been a roller coaster of ups and downs. And tomorrow she’d return to Meryton, while he stayed here. She would not be Jane. She would not blindly trust that everything would work out, only to be disappointed.
As the credits rolled, she stood up. “I should get going. It was so nice to meet you, Gianna.” She gave her a goodbye hug before turning to Caroline. “Always nice to see you, Caroline.” Under the circumstances, there was no choice but to hug it out with her too. Caroline pulled back from the hug, her smile so wooden it could pass as a grimace.
Will stood waiting. “l’ll walk you out.”
Butterflies gathered in her stomach as his hand moved to her lower back. They left the movie room, and she gathered up her purse and the bag of lemons, hugging them to her.
Her body was so in tune to his every move next to her. She couldn’t forget that small kiss, enough of one for her to crave the real thing. She needed to get out of here. She couldn’t be falling for Will Darcy. Not when she still felt like an interloper in his fancy house.
She unlocked her car door and reached across to place her things in the passenger seat. Straightening, Will was right there, standing just a foot away, looking concerned.
“I’m sorry our water fight was cut short.”
She bit back a grin. “I’m sorry I doused you in lemonade.”
“Are you leaving tomorrow?” He rested his arm across the top of her open car door, his fingers reaching out to brush against her shoulder. He wanted to kiss her. She knew it as clearly as she knew she wanted him to. But why did he want this? They were so different, weren’t they?
“Yes, we’re driving back in the morning.”
“Can I call you?” He was moving in for the kill. Leaning in. He was a lion, and she was a terrified gazelle, caught in his gaze.
“Sure.” She sank into the driver’s seat and put her keys in the ignition with a shaking hand. She glanced up at him once more. If he was disappointed in her sudden retreat, he hid it well.
“Bye, Will.”
“Goodnight, Elsie.”
He shut her door and she backed out of his driveway, her nerves feeling like the frayed ends of a rope.
***
Caroline and Gianna were laughing in the kitchen when he walked back in and it only rankled him more. “Go home, Caroline.” Why hadn’t he said it when Elsie was here?
“Well, someone’s in a grumpy mood.” Caroline rolled her eyes and went to get her shopping bags off the far counter. “I take it Elsie Bennet didn’t give you the sendoff you were hoping for. Why are you playing around with her anyway? You said you hated her. That she was judgmental and rude. Oh, and fairly ordinary. That part I can agree on. She’s like a before picture in a makeover spread.”
Gianna started to defend Elsie, but Will stopped her with a shake of his head before turning to Caroline. “You don’t feel the least bit hypocritical calling her judgmental and rude right now?”
Caroline smirked. “You said it first.”
“Yes, I did. You have this tendency to hyper-focus on any girl I’ve ever been interested in, so I downplayed Elsie’s good qualities and mentioned the bad ones. That was a mistake. But I’ve never ‘played around’ with anyone. Everything I do is with intention, and I plan to pursue Elsie Bennet whether you like her or not.”
Caroline’s chin raised a fraction and she stalked over to the entryway with her bags. “I see I’ve touched a nerve. We’ve always been good friends, and I’m sorry if my teasing was too much. Good night, all.”
Will took a deep breath, letting go of some of his anger and went to give Caroline a hug, though she couldn’t hug him back with her arms full of shopping bags.
“You’re always welcome here, Caroline.”
“Sure I am,” she murmured. “You just told me to leave.”
“Well, you tried to upstage my date.”
Gianna came up behind them. “Be nice, you two.”
Caroline leaned over and kissed Gianna on the cheek. “Bye, gorgeous. Try to keep this brother of yours in line.”
“I always try.”
