Knox
An hour later, I’m pulling into the diner parking lot so Willa can get her car. Everything in me screams to put my foot on the gas and just keep going. We could be at Bainbridge in an hour. My stuff’s not there, but there’s a spare room and like, five couches. We’d be fine.
And I have no doubt my boys would love Willa. Sure, it might catch them off-guard at first, but they don’t judge. We’re not like that. If I say she’s with me, no one will ask any questions. Scratch that, Whit will. But they’ll be weird questions, like what character from Spongebob does she most closely identify with.(And yes there’s a right answer according to Whit, and it’s Patrick).
Just thinking of her meeting my boys puts a smile on my face, but it falls when I hear her open the door.
“Want me to drive you home?” I ask, desperate for another ten minutes with her.
“No, I need my car. But thanks.”
“Yea, right. But I’ll follow you, ok? Just to make sure you get home ok.”
“That’s not necessary,” she says, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
“I know, but it’ll make me feel good. Please?”
“Fine. I don’t live far. I’m at the apartment complex on Sutton.”
“Yea, I know those. I think my buddy Jake lived in one of those apartments while his new house was being built.”
“My dad’s one of the maintenance guys,” she says. “So we live in the two bedroom units behind the first building. But you only need to follow me to the gate,” she says, “I’m good from there.”
I nod and agree, getting the sense that she doesn’t want to let me get too close. Makes sense, but it’s far too late for that. I’m already hooked.
Chapter 5
Knox
“C’mon, I’ll drive,”I say, holding out my hand. The graduation ceremony is over; I tossed my gown in the trash, my cap is somewhere on the auditorium floor, and now, I’m ready to get the hell out of this school and head to Austin’s for a party. And I’m taking Willa with me.
We’ve spent every spare minute of the last few days together and it’s no lie to say I’m addicted to her. Everything about Willa is intoxicating from the smell of her perfume to the sound of her laugh to the curves on her body.I’m addicted to the way she makes me feel, the way she looks at me, the way the rest of the world fades away when we’re together.
She smiles shyly at me, and I can tell she’s not used to the attention I pay her. But I’m making it my life’s mission to get her used to my compliments, my touches, my focus. It’s crazy. We barely know each other, but what I do know only makes me want to learn more.
So her next words throw me off my game.
“I can’t go.”
“What?”
“Seriously. I know I said I would, but it’s all too much. Knox, I don’t know these people. You grew up with them, but they’re strangers to me. And like I said the other day, I’ll just be that awkward girl in a crowd of friends. How much fun is that?”
“Uh, so much fun. Because you won’t be the ‘awkward girl in a crowd of friends’. You’ll bemy girl.”
I thought my words would put her at ease, but they have the opposite effect.
“I’m not your girl, Knox.” She takes a step back and the closeness we’ve been building feels like it’s evaporating.
“Fine, no labels. That’s cool, but…”
“Look, it’s complicated. I just—” She steps from one foot to the other.
I can feel her panic rising, see the red bloom on her chest and cheeks. She’s a ball of nerves and the only thing on my mind is calming her down. “It’s ok. Let me give you the address, ok? Just in case you change your mind. And it's cool either way, ok?” She nods but seems hesitant. “I’ll come over tomorrow, how’s that? If you want it to just be me and you, that’s cool. We’ll go for a drive. Sound good?”
“Yea, maybe, but I have to work…” Her voice trails off and there’s something I don’t like, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. The Willa in front of me is not the same Willa who came apart in my arms at the lake last night.
“I’m gonna hold you to that, ok?” I tell her, a smile on my lips.
