Page 63 of Someone You Deserve

I shake my hands out at my sides, releasing hers from my grasp. “I’m just so on edge.”

Willow narrows her eyes at me from the side. “You are, more so than usual. Are you okay, girl?”

I dart my eyes over to hers quickly before returning right back to the field. “I’m—I’m fine.”

“Uh, I don’t believe you.” She steps in front of me, snapping her fingers in my face, which forces my eyes to hers. “Astrid Marie, what are you nottelling me?”

“That’s not my middle name,” I argue, wary of how she’s staring at me right now.

“I don’t care. There’s something else going on here, and you’d better spill. We don’t keep secrets from each other, remember?”

Staring back at her, I chew on my bottom lip. “Willow…”

Her face morphs from curiosity to concern. “Do you need an attorney? Did you do something illegal?”

“What? No!”

“Then what is it?”

This is the last place I should be talking about this, but I can’t keep it to myself any longer. I look around us before leaning over and whispering, “I had sex with Penn.”

“What?” she shouts, drawing anyone within thirty feet’s attention to us. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she whispers now, even though it’s too late.

“Jesus, Willow. Now everyone is going to know.” Burying my head in my hands, I kick myself for saying anything. I should have just waited until we were alone.

She pulls my hands away and forces me to look at her, lowering her voice and leaning in closer to me. “No, they won’t. All they heard me say was ‘what.’” We both blow out a breath at the same time. “Now, tell me how this happened. And more importantly,” she says, arching a brow at me, “was it good?”

I groan, closing my eyes and sighing. “It was incredible. So hot. There was frosting involved.” Popping one I eye open, I gauge her reaction.

“Frosting?” she asks, surprise in her voice.

“Yes. It happened at the bakery last night, but, it can’t happen again.” I shake my head furiously as our team scores a goal, decidingin that moment that it’s better to just move forward than stay in this limbo I’m currently suffering in.

We pause our conversation to celebrate the goal. As soon as the game starts back up, Willow turns her head toward me once more. “Why not? I thought that’s what you wanted?”

Anguish makes my chest even heavier now. “I can’t do it, Willow. It’s Penn…he’s my friend.Wasmy friend?” I draw my brows together, even more confused. “How do you stay friends with a man after you sleep with him?”

“Brandon has been gone for four years, Astrid. And it isPenn. You know him. He wouldn’t let this come between you two...”

“I know, but…” I take a deep breath and say, “There’s something that Penn doesn’t know. And when he finds out, it’s going to ruin our friendship if it isn’t already.”

Willow’s mouth falls open as a whistle rings out on the field. But I don’t turn to look at her because I can only imagine what she’s thinking. And now is definitely not the time to have that conversation.

“What do you mean?” She leans into me again.

“Not here, okay?” I plead as Bentley comes running up to me, grabbing his water since it’s halftime.

“We’re winning, Mom!” Sweat slides down his temples even though the fall chill in the air makes me grateful I brought a jacket today.

“I know, hon. You’re doing amazing!”

“I’m gonna try to score a goal for you, okay?” He lifts his water bottle and squirts a stream of liquid into his mouth.

“That’s so sweet of you, baby, but not necessary. Just play yourhardest.”

“I am. We’re ahead and we’re gonna win this thing!” He tosses his water bottle to the ground and then races back out onto the field where the team is huddled around Penn and Dallas talking strategy.

“He seems to be doing better,” Willow says as we stare at the boys.

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