Willow watched as Jake spoke about his recent emergency and how he had to keep a cool head and act quickly to save a toddler’s life. The likes were crazy high. People loved him and Willow could see why. He was something special.
I’m not missing him, she thought. I’m just missing affection, sex or maybe just some fun. That’s the only reason I’m feeling jealous. It’s not because Sapphire is with Lucas. It’s because she’s with someone and I’m not. And that’s just stupid and selfish. I’m not that person.
The logic seemed to fit, and it soothed her brain.
She didn’t want Jake.
She didn’t want Lucas either.
She just needed to keep herself distracted.
Sapphire and Lucas returned five hours later. Five hours! Willow blinked at them both bewildered. There really wasn’t that much to do there, even though it was beautiful.
Sapphire practically floated over to her. Her face was the picture of happiness.
‘Willow! Those falls are amazing. I got the most beautiful photos. People are going to be mesmerized by them. I can’t believe you haven’t been back yet.’
Lucas, who was walking casually behind Sapphire, looked up at this comment and stared at Willow in disbelief. ‘You haven’t been back to the Falls yet?’
Willow shrugged. ‘I’ve only been here a week. I had other stuff to do.’
His eyes were still on her. ‘Even so, I thought that would be the first place you would go.’
Willow looked away; his gaze was too intense. She didn’t want to tell him that she hadn’t felt ready yet. The Falls were too special for her to visit on a whim. She needed to pick her time. She felt silly even thinking this, but she knew Lucas was one of the few people who would probably understand – after all, it was where they had spent their childhoods and created their first adventures. Jake had never got it; he thought the Falls were overrated and boring. He couldn’t see the beauty they had.
‘Maybe I’ll go tomorrow,’ she mused. ‘I’m not planning to open the wagon on Sundays. Not yet anyway.’
‘You really should go,’ Sapphire said with gusto. ‘It took my breath away. We had such a wonderful time, didn’t we, Lucas?’ She tugged his arm gently. ‘Lucas had the fantastic idea of grabbing some snacks from the store on the way up, so we more or less had a picnic. And then he was telling me all the old legends.’
Willow’s eyebrow raised. ‘You were?’
Lucas’s mouth curled. ‘Yeah, of course. Everyone wants to hear the Honey Springs legends.’
‘Honestly, this has been the best day. I will post a video tomorrow and a blog.’ Sapphire’s eyes were gleaming. ‘Everyone is going find out about this dreamy place.’
Willow grinned and thanked her. Lucas had definitely worked his magic this time around; she was practically glowing. Even Lucas now seemed more relaxed and at ease. What had happened to the moody, sulking man that had stalked out of here?
Willow watched as Sapphire took him to one side, giggling like a schoolgirl, her hand resting a bit too long on his muscular arm.
A flicker of envy flew through Willow again and she had to swallow hard to fight it.
What was she doing? Willow watched as Sapphire took his phone and started punching something into it. Her number? She was giving him her number? Lucas was smiling back lazily and looking very pleased about it all.
She waved at them both as she left. ‘I’m sure I’ll be back soon.’
Her words were purely for Lucas.
She breezed past Willow and whispered in her ear. ‘He’s hot. Like, really, really hot. How are you not all over him?’
Willow laughed but didn’t reply – watching instead as the blonde beauty left almost as quickly as she arrived.
‘Wow.’ Willow breathed out. ‘She really liked you.’
Lucas was staring at his phone. ‘You told me to be friendly. I was friendly. I followed orders.’
‘Looks like you were more than friendly …’ Willow couldn’t hide the bitter tone in her voice.
‘What does that mean?’ His smile was still there, teasing. ‘Not jealous, are you?’
