Willow
Summer passed in a blur, each day slipping by faster than the last. Keeping busy helped—kept my mind from wandering too far into the places where Dad's absence pressed the hardest. For brief, fleeting moments, I felt guilty, like I was forgetting him. But then Elijah would say something ridiculous or flash a smile that makes everything feel lighter, and I’d remember what Dad always told me when he knew he wouldn’t be around for much longer.
Live your life. Be happy.
At first, that seemed impossible. How do you let yourself be happy when someone you love is slipping away? Every day felt impossible. Like walking through cement. Slowly, though, I’m learning to breathe around it, to carry the weight without letting it crush me.
Rose also moved out—or rather, River forced her out.
When he found out what she'd been doing, he shut down completely, retreating into silence for days. The one night he came into my room, I had to watch my brother cry because of her. I held him while he held me, and for a little while, we were both allowed to break.
I felt a huge relief for Elijah. I know she hasn't signed the papers yet, but she isn't here anymore, so that's something. But for River, it was just sadness, watching his family splinter in front of him, powerless to stop it.
Rose has stayed quiet since and hasn't tried to reach out to River at all. Part of me burns at that, and part of me isn't surprised. She's always put herself first, and now he's seeing what I have always seen. Rose moved on all those years ago, started a new life without thinking of the aftermath, and now she's doing it all over again.
Dancing, work, and stolen moments with Elijah fill most of my days. Small kisses, lingering touches, heated looks—there's always someone around, or we’re too busy to let things go further.
I've already got my test results, all clear. But still… nothing has happened between us. And right now, as I watch him working on a car in the warm afternoon, I really hope that changes soon.
He's shirtless, muscles flexing beneath sun -warmed skin as he leans over the engine. Oil stains mar his calloused hands, veins mapping across his arms in a way that makes my mouth water. I’ve always had a thing for back muscles, strong and defined and his in particular are very distracting.
Actually, everything about him is.
I just have a thing for Elijah Reed Lawson.
The cap on his head is backwards, sweat trickling down his forehead, and I bite my strawberry Twizzler, pretending I’m not ogling him like a fool.
He must sense it because he looks up, blue eyes catching the light and that grin—cheeky, teasing, knowing—sends a shiver right through me.
God, I can't believe how handsome he is.
“See something you like?” he asks, adjusting his cap, making his arm muscles flex, veins popping.
“Maybe.”
“Princess.”
Just that one word I used to hate now makes my knees feel weak.
“I love your body. Sue me. Those burgers outside the gym are clearly working wonders,” I tease, stepping closer.
He laughs low and deep before grabbing my ass, pulling me flush against him.
“Cheeky,” he growls, spanking me lightly. Lucky for us, we’re nowhere near the garage opening, and he sent the guys home early.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
I tap my chin against my Twizzler. “Yes… But you could always tell me again.”
Every inch of him presses into me. I crane my neck, drinking him in, loving the way we feel against each other.
“You're beautiful,” he whispers, kissing a feather-light kiss to the top of my head.
“Stunning,” a brush of his lips over my nose.
“Breathtaking,” he murmurs against my cheek.
“So. Fucking. Sexy.”
