Willow answered within seconds. Her face gave little away, but she didn’t shout or close the door – which was a start. She was dressed in an oversized shirt and baggy sweatpants. Her hair looked damp and was pulled away from her face, some brown curls spilling out against her glowing skin. She looked good.
Really good.
‘I wanted to apologize for earlier,’ he said immediately, wanting to get his words out quickly. ‘I was hungover and not thinking too straight.’
‘So I gathered.’ The smallest of smiles appeared, immediately giving him hope. ‘It’s no problem. I shouldn’t have rocked up so early. I’ve always been an early bird, I guess.’
‘So I gathered.’
They both laughed softly. Lucas rocked back on his heels, feeling unsure. Willow seemed to look him up and down. Then she opened the door a little further.
‘Hey, do you want to come in? I was making a hot chocolate, but I think I’ve put too much in the pan. There’s more than enough for two.’
Lucas rubbed his hands together. ‘It is starting to get chilly out here now. I could do with being warmed up a little.’
‘Really?’ Did she roll her eyes, or did he imagine that? ‘Come on in then. Let’s not let the evening chill in.’
Lucas had only been in Jenn’s cabin a handful of times and from what he could remember, it had been quite a minimal space. It was clear Willow was a little more akin to Mia with her living standards. Clothes were strewn over the couch. A few plates and cups were discarded on the small table in the living space; shoes were kicked off and leftstrewn on the floor. Willow caught him looking and picked up a few sweaters from the arm of the chair.
‘Sit here. Don’t mind the mess. I’m sort of trying something?’
‘Trying something?’ Lucas was amused. What was she trying? Cluttering and disorganizing? Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around?
Willow scuttled into the bedroom clutching the clothes. ‘It would sound stupid if I told you.’
‘Try me.’
He settled in the chair. It was really comfortable. He crossed his legs and studied Willow as she stepped back into the space. Her cheeks had colored a little.
‘Let me finish the hot chocolate,’ she said. ‘I’m kind of thirsty.’
Lucas watched as she busied herself in the small kitchen area. ‘Are you sure you don’t need any help?’
‘I’m fine.’ She clattered the pan loudly and then began to pour the warm milk into two cups. ‘It’s just hot chocolate. It’s not like I’m making one of your delicacies.’
She padded through clutching two warm mugs and offered one to Lucas, then curled herself up on the sofa opposite. Lucas cupped his hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into his skin.
‘So …’ he said after a moment or so. ‘Are you going to explain about the mess?’
‘Like I said. It’s silly.’ She sipped her drink. ‘You wouldn’t get it.’
‘Maybe I would?’
‘Seriously?’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘Luc, I’m guessing you haven’t changed. You’ve always been so tidy. I remember I used to invite you over to mine just so that you’dsort my bedroom out for me. You loved organizing my bookshelves.’
‘Oh, so that’s the only reason you invited me?’ He pulled a hurt expression. ‘Way to hurt a guy.’
‘Of course, it wasn’t the only reason, but you can’t deny you loved it. You’ve always enjoyed cleaning up.’
‘But you aren’t exactly messy, not like Mia anyway. That woman could live in a sty and be content,’ he joked. ‘I couldn’t imagine you’d be happy keeping the place like this.’
She pulled a face. ‘The truth is, I’m not. Like I said, I was trying something. I wanted to live completely differently to how I did in Seattle. There, I was so tidy and clean; I was particularly sterile.’
‘Ah.’ Lucas nodded slowly. ‘You’re rebelling.’
‘I guess …’ Her gaze drifted off, beyond Lucas, like she was focusing on someone standing behind him. ‘Life was different back there, so structured and ordered. Jake liked things to be clean, like really clean. We had someone coming in every day, nothing was ever out of place.’
Lucas blew out his cheeks. ‘He sounds worse than me.’
