Page 132 of Still Love You

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Silas

It's been over two weeks since Willow and I broke up. My initial plan to get her back was to just be her friend until she figured out what she wanted. But when she told me she didn't think we should even be friends anymore because of where it might lead, I decided to do as she asked and leave her alone. I know that's not what she really wants, but I can't tell her that. She needs to figure that out for herself. And I think she's starting to.

 I've only seen her twice the past couple weeks, and both times she seemed nervous. Whenever she's around me, she gets all flustered. I've never seen her act like this. It's like she thinks I've moved on and now she wants to get my attention but is worried it might be too late. I can see why she'd think that. I've basically ignored her, not calling or texting or stopping by her house. It's been hard to do that because I miss her and want to talk to her but I'm doing what she asked, and until she tells me differently, I'm going to stay away from her.

But that hasn't stopped me from keeping tabs on her. I care about her and need to know that she's doing okay so I've been asking her dad for updates. He said she's been doing really well. He said he's never seen Willow show so much enthusiasm for the farm. She's developing new products. Creating a marketing plan. Finding new venues to sell at. She's determined to save the business and, according to her dad, she's loving every second of it.

The only thing bringing her down is the fact that she and I are no longer friends. I explained to her dad that Willow asked me to stay away and he just shook his head, as frustrated with his daughter as I am. He told me how much she misses me. He said he can't even mention my name without her tearing up and running off to her room.

I've seen her walk by my house a few times. She goes really slow like she's hoping she'll run into me. I could've gone out there and talked to her, but I decided not to. She needs more time to make a decision about us. I want her to be sure of it this time and not doubt it. So I'm going to stay out of her way and not try to sway her decision. Besides, she knows how I feel.

Now that Willow's not around, I've had a lot of free time. Aside from working on the farm, I've spent the past few weeks researching what types of jobs I could have as a graphic designer. I think this is something I want to do, so I picked out some classes to take this fall. I also got some new design software and I've been teaching myself how to use it. I used it to design the labels Willow wanted for the new products she made. When she called me, asking me to make them, I could hear the disappointment in her voice when I told her to email me the details. It was a good sign because it shows how much she misses me. But she doesn't miss me enough to take me back, and until then, I'm going to keep my distance.

"You gonna pass the ball or just stand there?" Trent asks.

We're at the park, playing basketball. I've been hanging out with Trent again. I've forgiven him for what he did. It ended up being a good thing he told Willow the truth. It finally got everything out in the open and now it's forcing her to think about her future with me.

"What's the rush?" I toss it to him.

"I got shit to do later," he says, shooting the ball and bouncing it off the backboard.

"What shit do you have to do?" I retrieve the ball and sink it into the basket.

"None of your damn business." He's hiding something. Something he doesn't want me to know.

I take the ball and hold it. "Does this have to do with Leah?"

He holds his hands out. "Give me the ball."

I laugh. "You're still going out with her, aren't you?"

He sighs. "We're friends. That's it. Now give me the damn ball."

"What's it been? Like two weeks now?"

"Three," he mumbles.

"It's been three weeks already? I guess I lost track."

Trent's been dating Leah, the girl who made margaritas at his pool party back in June. The margaritas that got Willow drunk. I like Leah. I went out with her and Trent for dinner a couple weeks ago and afterward he kept asking me what I think of her. He never asks for my opinion on the girls he dates, so that was my first clue that this relationship might actually go somewhere.

Then there's the fact that Leah doesn't put up with his shit. She calls him out on stuff when he's being an ass and she never phones him or texts him. If he wants to see her or talk to her, he has to track her down. The hard-to-get approach is working. He can't seem to get enough of her.

I've become friends with her because she's having me design the logo for her new business. She and her friend are developing a line of signature cocktails that she hopes to sell to bars and someday get into stores. I've met with her several times the past week about the logo, but she hasn't even mentioned Trent. I assumed they broke up so I didn't ask.

"Don't be giving me shit about her," Trent says, grabbing the ball from me.

"Who? Your girlfriend?" I kid. Trent hates the 'girlfriend' label. It sounds too serious.

"You better not let her hear you call her that. She'll freaking punch you."

I laugh. "She doesn't want to be Trent Kincaid's girlfriend? I thought that was every girl's dream."

He throws the ball at me. "Shut up, asshole."

"So you're saying she's just like you? Only in it for the sex?"

---