Page 30 of Everything I Crave

“Oh, jealous are we?” Colton eggs me on.

“No. Not jealous,” I lie. “Just respectful of my employees not being groped on the job.”

Colton stares a little too long, and I shift uncomfortably, like he sees what I’m dealing with in my head regarding Willow.

“What is the deal with her? I swear Adelaide is about to lose it with her not telling them what’s going on with her. Especially when it comes to Lorelei,” Porter says.

I immediately get defensive of Willow. “It’s her story and she’ll tell them when she’s ready.”

“You know, don’t you?” Preston looks at me, not accusatory, but he sees more than he lets on. The quiet observer of our group.

“Of course, I hired her, I needed to know what I was taking on for liability,” I answer nonchalantly.

“Bullshit. I think you’re closer than you lead on. Are you two like a thing?” Colton pegs my feelings for her.

“Of course not. She’s my employee.”

“And your roommate,” Preston adds.

“And the Baby Harper,” Porter chimes in.

I glare at them in exasperation. “Look, I know all of those things, can we just drop it.” I stab my food a little too hard.

“Yea, man. We’ll drop it.” Colton gives the other two ashut the fuck uplook. They turn down to theirplates like dad just admonished them for picking on their brother too much.

We finish lunch without any more talk of Willow and I. But Colton corners me in the parking lot after the other two left.

“Hey, what’s really going on with Willow?” He and I have gotten close since he moved to town a couple of years ago. I’m friends with Preston and Porter, but not as good as I am with Colton.

“Nothing, swear it,” I hold up my hands.

“I don’t care, man, just asking. I know she’s in a tough spot right now, and she has the reputation of being a spitfire. I just don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”

“Thanks, but we’re good. I promise. Boss-employee, and roommates is the only relationship we have. Promise.” I pretend to cross my heart.

He laughs and slaps me on the back. We make promises to do this again, but I know I’ll see everyone this weekend since their favorite cover band is coming into town.

Willow: What the hell did you tell the guys about last night?

Oh shit. I’m in trouble.

Chapter Thirteen

Willow

I didn’t call my sisters. I ignored them when they texted the group about getting together at Lacey’s.

I’m still trying to get that feeling, the emotional connection, back in my music that I had this morning with Gunnar.

To say I’m shocked that man can sing, is an understatement. I wanted to ask him why he never sings with the band, but the emotional connection I felt to him in that moment was something I’ve never experienced with anyone else. I don’t know if I want it out in the wild.

I’ve watched that video on repeat all day now, and it gets sexier every time I watch it. Our eyes never leave the other the entire time. I keep editing a video to post, but it almost feels too intimate to share with the public. Plus the rumors that would swirl, it'd go viral for sure.

But, do I want to use Gunnar to do that?

My phone rings in my hand mid-edit. Mom.

“Hi Mom, what can I do for you?”

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