I digested her words. Was she a cutter? Did she try to commit suicide? Starve herself to death? Before I could ask, and truthfully I didn’t want to, she continued.
“I was in an abusive relationship.”
“You let some guy hurt you?”
“It’s complicated. Let’s not go there yet.”
“A boyfriend?”
“Please, Ryan. Drop it.”
We shared a long stretch of silence until Willow broke it. “Maybe we should end whatever we started.”
I jolted, for sure not expecting her reaction. “Is that what Dr. Goodman advised?”
She looked deep into my eyes and shook her head. We both broke into sheepish smiles at the same time.
I asked her out on the spot. She agreed.
Tomorrow night, we were having our first official movie and dinner date.
We finished our coffees when Willow’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her backpack and answered it. Her face turned as white as chalk.
“Oh my God.”
“Willow, what’s the matter?” I asked.
“My father. He’s had a heart attack!”