Something about the frosty air, the cozy feeling of cuddling a bundled-up Henry, the glow from the fire, and the twinkling of the stars had put her in a trance that had apparently been some kind of truth serum for her.
Why did I tell Jensen I used to have a crush on him?
Whatever the reason, he hadn’t reacted the way she expected. She’d thought he would roll his eyes and chuckle, or maybe tease her a little. Instead, he’d given her that intense look that made her cheeks heat. And now she kept replaying it, wondering what it meant.
He isn’t interested,she reminded herself.You had a crush, but he didn’t. He got married to someone else, and they had a child. He was probably just surprised, that’s all.
But it hadn’t looked like an expression of surprise, not exactly. And the way he practically growled her name and reached for her hand…
When Judy and Mrs. Lennox came down before she had a chance to find out what he was about to do next, Willow had wanted to cry in frustration and relief all at once. But then the way he’d been for the rest of the night, so distant and cold, told her all she needed to know.
I can have a million other crushes, she reminded herself sternly.But I only have one brother.
She’d been keeping an eye out for Ransom all daytoday, but chances were slim that anyone would stop by the First Aid booth unless something went wrong.
I’ll go see him soon,she told herself.And I’ll make more cookies.
Jensen hadn’t been around today either. She had thought he would be here working the sound system, but so far, he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he’d show up later, when the performances on the stage started, and maybe the icy wall that had sprung up between them last night would melt.
She thought back to his behavior after they had all headed back to the house. Once he’d put Henry to bed, they’d all enjoyed a nice dinner together.
But Jensen hardly looked at her during it.
When it was time to go, she figured he would at least walk her out to her car and maybe she could apologize for telling him about the crush. But he didn’t even offer, and his dad ended up accompanying her outside instead.
“It’s so good to see you again, sweetheart,” Ron had said. “Don’t be a stranger.”
The problem was that she was starting tofeellike a stranger, even in her own life. She had expected that to a certain extent. After all, she had been gone a long time.
But if friends weren’t friends anymore, and family wasn’t family, what was the point of being back here at all?
It’s my fault.
She should never have told Jensen about her crush last night. Whatever his initial reaction, it was clear that he really wasn’t cool with it. And for heaven’s sake, he was a widower. He was probably still grieving for his wife.
Guilt twisted in her chest again, and she fought back the tears that prickled her eyes.
If he would just give her a chance to apologize, she could maybe move on from it. Instead, she figured she’d be replaying her stupid confession on a loop for the rest of her life.
She spotted Mal’s booth up ahead and hurried over, hoping to maybe bend her ear. But her friend was clearly doing too much business to chat, so she just stood in line and bought a snack instead.
When she got to the checkout, there was a little sign that said the booth was donating all of today’s proceeds to a children’s hospital, and she couldn’t help but smile. There was one reason to be back. Only in Trinity Falls would a business owner decide to turn over such a huge day of sales to charity.
“That’s really nice, Mal,” she said, nodding to the sign as she paid.
“Least I can do,” Mal said, shaking her head. “You okay?”
Willow cursed her face for always showing all her emotions.
“Totally fine,” she said. “I just need this pick-me-up.”
She would have said more, but there was a big line behind her, so she just thanked her friend and headed back toward her own booth.
Another high school friend waved to her from across the market and she waved back as best she could with her hazelnut coffee in one hand and a pumpkin muffin in the other.
I’ll feel better after a little caffeine and something to eat,she told herself.
The restof the day melted away without any medical incidents other than a lightheaded older lady needing to sit for a few minutes and have something to eat, and a man who slipped and fell in the parking lot but was absolutely fine, thank goodness.
