Page 103 of Somewhere You Belong

Grady, Parker, and Penn continue their trash talking while I head for the kitchen to make Penn something to eat.

But he’s right.

The bigger anything is, the harder it falls.

A tree.

A wall.

And a former Marine.

Because as much as I don’t want to admit it, I think I fell head over heels for Willow a long time ago. I just didn’t want to admit it.

***

The restaurant is packed for a Thursday, a common effect of the games approaching this weekend. Tourists have been flocking in all week, and the residents are all placing bets on which team is going to win.

I’m in the middle of running food out to a table when a blonde by the front door catches my attention.

But it’s not just any blonde.

It’s Willow.

As soon as I make sure the customers have everything they need, I head toward her and she starts making her way toward me. When we meet in the middle of the crowded restaurant, I don’t say one word to her before smashing my lips to hers.

Fucking finally.

I pull her into my chest, bury my hand in her hair that’s falling in waves around her face, and show her just how much I missed her over the past two days.

Our tongues tangle as cheers ring out around us, customers clapping and telling us to get a room.

And that’s exactly what I intend to do as soon as this place shuts down for the night.

Perks of having a room right upstairs.

“Well, hello to you too,” she murmurs when we part, resting her forehead on mine.

“Hey, Goose.”

“That was quite the greeting.”

“There’s more where that came from. Just wait.” I give her one more soft kiss and then lead her by the hand toward the bar.

“Hey, Willow!” Baron calls out to her from the table where he’s seated..

“Willow, you look gorgeous, honey!” Dolly says as we walk past her table.

“Thanks, Dolly.”

“Good to see you’ve found someone to keep you busy in town.” She waggles her eyebrows as Willow’s cheeks turn pink.

When we get behind the bar, she’s practically burying her head in my chest. “I feel like everyone is looking at me.”

I cast my eyes over the restaurant, confirming that we are definitely the topic of discussion as my customers glance in this direction.

So that’s when I reach down and grasp her chin softly, forcing it back up. “They are. They’re taken back by the beautiful woman that just walked into my restaurant, the woman that doesn’t look frigid with a chip on her shoulder like the first night you walked in here.”Willow continues to stare up at me. “You aren’t wearing shoes that cost more than their mortgages anymore. Your hair is down instead of pulled back in that bun that must give you a fucking headache, and you’re smiling easily. You look human. Beautiful. Like you’re one of us.” Her eyes move back and forth between mine. “You lookhappy, Willow.”

I can see her fight the curl of her lips, like she wants to smile but won’t let herself. “I don’t know about happy…but I am definitely optimistic for a change.”

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