Page 32 of Everything I Crave

He spins around in my arms. “Willow, you’re too young for me, my employee, my roommate, my friends’ baby sister, and most importantly, you're struggling with a lot of emotions.” He rejects me while staring in my eyes, and rubbing the pad of his thumb over my cheek.

That baby of the family thing is coming back to kick me in the ass again. “I’m so sick of everyone treating me like I’m going to break because I just happen to be the youngest. I’m fine! I managed everything in Nashville by myself! I am fine, I’m not a fucking porcelain doll who’s going to break when touched!” I lash out.

He kisses me again, and I push him back onto his bed, climbing into his lap and straddling him. “Don’t you want me, Gunnar?”

He groans underneath me. “More than you know.”

“So can’t we just forget all those things?” I trail kisses down his jawline while running my hands over his abs.

He moans again, “I want to - I can’t - Fuck. I can’t do this, there’s too many reasons not to.”

“Really?” I sit up, still straddling him. “Fine. Fuck you then.” I get off him and storm out to the living room, grabbing my purse.

“Willow. Wait! Please.”

I turn around, facing him.

“What?” I seethe.

“You know that’s not how I meant it,” he says desperately.

“Then why don’t you try to explain it better?”

He stares at me, running his hand through his hair. The silence stretches out.

“Exactly what I thought.” I leave slamming the door again.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, Mack is waiting for me there.

“What in the hell are y’all doing up there?” she questions me. She stands with a hand on her hip.

“Nothing, Mack. Not a damn fucking thing.” I storm out the door that leads to the back parking lot, letting it slam behind me.

Usually I’d be too afraid of Mack to do that, but I’m so embarrassed from Gunnar’s rejection after I threw myself at him. Especially after the moment we shared this morning. How can he reject me after that? What we have is obviously so much more than just a physicalattraction.

I get in my car as quickly as I can. I drive to the lake, not knowing where else to go. I can’t go to Mom’s without twenty questions, and I don’t know what my sisters are doing. What if they reject me at their doorstep too?

My safest option is to text them and see what they’re doing. I take a deep breath, knowing what I need to tell them.

Me:Meet at the lake?

Adelaide:When?

Me:Now?

Lacey:Be there in five. Need snacks?

Scarlett:Always yes, Lace. Come on.

Lacey:Sorry! On snack duty.

I get out of the car and go sit on the shore to wait for them. A car door closes and footsteps approach where I'm sitting. I look over to see Mom sitting next to me on the grass.

“Adelaide called me,” she says meekly.

The look of hurt and concern on her face is my undoing. The tears start flowing and she pulls meinto her, hugging me tightly and not pushing me to talk.

My sisters join, and they just all huddle in, hugging Mom and I back until I stop crying.

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