You’re Not Dressed in Nineties Clothing

CHAPTER 24

GUNNER

Like the other times I had picked up Willa, she was waiting on me out by the road so I wouldn’t have to turn into her drive. I had given her space after the way she had opened up to me about her friend. I was guessing that other than her nonna no one here knew that story. Everyone here assumed her mother had sent her packing and run off with a new man, since that was once her thing.

Telling me had been a big deal for her. Just as my telling her I wasn’t really a Lawton had been a huge deal for me. I’d sworn to myself to never tell anyone, but I had wanted to tell someone. I had wanted to tell Willa. It was trust. I trusted her more than anyone I realized when the words fell from my lips. Why that was, I didn’t really know. But I did.

I had placed a blueberry muffin on her seat. Not once had I forgotten to bring her whatever baked good Ms. Ames had on the kitchen table since the first day she’d ridden with me. I liked doing it for her, and I liked the way she smiled when it was there waiting on her. When she opened the door. She paused and saw it, then picked it up and flashed a smile at me.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Also our normal morning greeting. I wanted this to become our routine. Mornings with Willa were better. I liked this. I got her alone, and we often laughed. Now we both knew the secrets we’d been trying to hide, and it felt more intimate. I’d never felt this connected to someone. From the moment I knew my life was a lie I had closed off, but Willa was reaching that part of me no one else had even tried to.

Once she was inside the truck and settled, she took a bite of her muffin and remained silent. I hadn’t expected her to talk much this morning. Not after all we’d shared. I would let her have her peace and be patient. I wasn’t going to allow her to pull away from me though. I needed Willa. And even if she didn’t want to admit it, she needed me.

“I washed these blueberries for this muffin last night,” Willa said as she finished off the muffin and brushed the crumbs from her hands.

“Then Ms. Ames should have left you a few in the kitchen this morning.”

Willa nodded. “I completely agree. But Nonna won’t bring home any food to eat that your parents paid for. Says it’s stealing and the like.”

That was ridiculous. Ms. Ames brought me meals from her kitchen when my parents ran off on Sundays and when she magically knew I needed a special treat. Our food was hers. “Hate she feels that way. I don’t see it that way.”

Willa shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I got the hookup with you, so it’s all okay in the end.” She was teasing. Her voice wasn’t as heavy as the last time we spoke. There was almost a lilt in her tone that I remembered from years ago. As if that girl wasn’t completely gone after all.

“True. Guess you better keep me around. I hear tell that the big house is getting strawberry hot cakes tomorrow.”

Willa sighed. “Guess I know what I’ll be washing tonight.”

Again her tone was light, and I liked it.

“Just make sure you get them real clean. Hate to eat hot cakes with dirty strawberries.”

Willa cut her eyes at me. “Don’t push it. I may spit on the whole lot and not eat a one.”

This time I laughed. Loudly. And her grin grew into a full-on beam. God that was nice. Real nice.

“I’ll behave,” I finally replied after my laughter eased. “You talk to Brady any this weekend?” I knew his truck had been up here briefly yesterday. This morning Ms. Ames had mentioned him stopping by and how that might be a bad idea. I should let him know Willa had healing to do right now.

I agreed with her. If Brady was coming around to be anything other than friendly, then he needed to move it right on along. The idea of that made me bitter, and I tried to bite it back. It was hard though. I had to remind myself Brady was my friend, the best one I’d had most of my life. Sure we’d changed over the years, but he was still important to me. We’d gone through a lot together, and that counted for something. I didn’t want Willa to be what came between us, but then again I wasn’t about to let him have her either.

“He came to see if I was okay with things yesterday.”

Her answer wasn’t as detailed as I wanted it to be.

“So he apologized?” I asked, pushing for more.

She shrugged. “Mmm” was her mumbled response. We had told each other shit we hadn’t told anyone else. We should be past this erecting-walls stage now.

“What kind of answer is that? Yes, no, shut the hell up I’m not telling you?”

A small laugh escaped her, and I was glad she found it funny.

“Yes and no. I was the one who ran, and I owed him an apology for acting the way I did.” I wanted more than that. We were closer than this, and she knew it. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and the idea that this was upsetting me so much shocked the hell out of me.

Besides, I disagreed. Brady had an easy life. The charmed sort. His parents loved each other, and his home life was secure. He hadn’t dealt with family secrets or deaths. His aunt had been killed, but he’d hardly known her. Maggie coming to live with him had been the biggest drama he’d ever faced.

“But he did apologize?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, he just didn’t need to.”

I wouldn’t argue on our ride to school. That thought I’d keep to myself. Brady, however, was going to get questioned when I had him alone.

“You’re not dressed in nineties clothing,” I pointed out, and she frowned like I had lost my mind.