Without thinking too much about it, Willow pulled Toby into a tight hug. She heard him let out a little gasp as she did so. He was stiff at first but soon relaxed in her grip.
‘I’m going to miss you,’ she whispered.
‘I’ll miss you too,’ Toby replied. ‘But you will be amazing whatever you do. You always are.’
Four weeks later, her bags were packed, and her ticket was booked. Jake stood awkwardly next to her as she waited for the cab to the train station.
‘So, this is it,’ he breathed.
‘This is it.’ She nodded.
‘Say hello to everyone there for me, won’t you? Except maybe not my dad. Don’t bother so much about him.’
Willow smiled grimly. ‘I won’t.’
‘And keep an eye on my page. It’s going to get more exciting, I promise.’
She chuckled softly. ‘I will.’
He pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead. Shenuzzled against his chest, liking the familiar scent of him and the feeling of being held.
‘I just need to give this a shot, Jake. You understand that, right?’
‘Of course. And I hope you get what you need.’ He paused. ‘You always loved the Springs more than me. I know it was me that dragged you away.’
‘I wanted to go, Jake. You didn’t make me do anything.’
He nodded and then sighed. ‘Take care of yourself, Willow.’
The taxicab pulled up in front of them and Willow peeled herself apart from him, kissing him gently on the lips. Nerves were dancing inside her like butterflies, but she pushed them down. She was doing the right thing. Jenn was waiting for her in Honey Springs.
She was going home.
It was only as the cab moved away that she could see Jake was already on his phone, his face turned away from her.
She was already forgotten.
Part 2
Return to the Springs
Chapter 5
Willow
As soon as Willow stepped off the Greyhound bus, she felt her body begin to immediately relax, which was no easy feat after a few hours’ journey cramped in her seat. She unloaded her luggage and stretched, breathing in the crisp air that seemed immediately to be so fresh and pure – and better than she ever remembered.
This was it. She was home. There was no going back now! Well, not unless she felt like grabbing another Greyhound, then train, and facing the return journey again. Her back screamed out in pain at the sheer thought.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed with a message. She swiped the screen to read it.
Hey girl. Are you here? I’m outside in the beat-up Buick. You can’t miss me.
Willow smiled at Jenn’s text, stuffed the phone back into her pocket and followed the now dwindling crowd towards the exit. Despite it being late April, the sun was warm on her back and the sky was bright blue and cloudless. It was a beautiful day.
The journey itself had been pretty uneventful. Jake had sent her a few messages, including one playful text reminding her that it wasn’t too late to change her mind. Willow guessed he wasn’t too heartbroken though. His latest video was of him out drinking with his coworkers and acting particularly loud and raucous. Maybe Jake was looking forward to this break as much as she was? Perhaps it would do them both good.
Wasn’t that something Grandma used to say to her? ‘A change is as good as a rest.’
