Willow simply smiled at him, almost shyly.
Lucas’s smile back was stiff and tight. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Willow was going to shake things up around here, and probably not in a good way.
Chapter 9
Willow
Willow was preparing to say goodbye to Jenn. Even though she had only been with her for such a short time, they had easily picked up right where they left off. It was hard to see her go.
After having a quick breakfast at The Diner, Jenn had gone to collect her things and now they were back, so Jenn could say goodbye to her beloved van.
‘Lucas doesn’t seem very happy about the whole arrangement,’ Willow whispered. ‘Are you sure you cleared it with him first?’
‘Well, yes – I mean, I told him about my plans originally and he didn’t seem that bothered. He has been a little distracted recently though, not as happy maybe? Probably just him being his normal, grumpy self again.’
‘Do you think it’s me? Because I’m taking it over?’
‘Why would it?’ Jenn said with a laugh. ‘You’re overthinking. Lucas is just moody. He wouldn’t be happy if a beautiful fairy godmother appeared and granted him golden coins and unlimited sex.’
Willow nodded, but it was hard to fight back her concerns. Lucas had never been grumpy, or unhappy, back in the day.He had been quiet when they were children – thoughtful and a bit of a dreamer. But grumpy – that didn’t seem like him at all. Could a person really change that much?
‘Has he been like this since Mel died?’ she asked carefully.
Jenn considered for a moment. ‘Maybe. I mean, it did hit him hard. He stuck around for a while, but it didn’t seem to help and then he took off to New York. When he came back, he seemed … different.’
‘In what way?’
‘I dunno. I don’t exactly go out of my way to chat with him. He’s always glued to Greg or Rachel. I guess he just seemed a bit more shut off. Maybe he was disappointed that city life didn’t pay off.’
‘Or upset to be coming back?’
‘Maybe …’
‘Either way, I’m worried that he might be against me running the matcha van,’ Willow mused. ‘It’s right on his doorstep after all.’
‘Why does it matter? You don’t need his permission now. I’ve already had his permission to run the van from the parking lot. He can’t go back on his word now and he wouldn’t anyway; that’s not like him at all.’
‘That’s true …’
‘And if you bring in business it should benefit him, right? It’s not like you’re selling the same stuff.’
‘I guess …’
Jenn pulled Willow in for a hug. ‘You need to stop worrying so much, honestly. It’s all going to be fine and if Lucas is grumpy about it, so be it! He isn’t going to stop you. You can’t let a man get to you.’
Willow leaned in against her. ‘You’re right. This feels so right. I’m not going let him get into my head.’
Because right now, Willow was here to clear her mind, not make it more confused. She just needed to remember that.
‘Come on,’ Jenn said, adjusting the strap on her bag. ‘Let’s go inside. I want to say goodbye to the boys. You never know, they might even miss me …’
‘Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on with you and Greg?’ Willow teased. ‘There’s such a weird vibe there.’
‘He’s a weird vibe!’
Jenn sighed and then turned towards Willow. ‘OK – so, we kind of got a bit close, a few years ago – but it was nothing. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal.’
Willow was aware that her mouth had fallen open but had no way of controlling it. ‘What do you mean you got close? Are we talking dating here? Sex? Oh God, Jenn, did you have sex with him and break his heart?’
