Page 108 of Back to Willow

“You can’t do this,” she whines.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Be nice. You broke up with me before we even had a chance to be good. You don’t get to be nice and make me like you even more.”

Her eyes well up, teardrops starting to stream down her face, bringing with it some of her mascara.Fuck.I really played a fucking number on her. Even if I didn’t mean to.

“You’re right,” I agree. “I am not trying to be nice. You’re in a vulnerable situation, right now. You’re drunk and not thinking straight, and I couldn’t live with myself if I let you drive like this or left you by yourself. It’s dangerous!”

We reach my car, and she grumbles in agreement. I take the win before she changes her mind, helping her inside the back seat and driving her home. After a quick ten-minute ride, I park right in front of her building.

“We’re here. Want me to walk you to the door?”

“Please.” Her weak whisper breaks my heart.“Liam?”

“Yes, coming.” With that, I quickly leave the car, round it and open the door for her.

This time, she initiates the physical contact, her body no longer shaky as it was before. My body relaxes a bit, knowing she’s slowly getting a grasp of herself.

“Do you have someone you want to call to come and stay with you?” I ask her.

“Ahm, no,” she mumbles, rummaging through her bag for her keys. “My parents are on vacation for the week.”

“A friend or someone?” I press.

I’d be less worried if I knew she wasn’t going to spend the night by herself after this.

“No. It’s fine,” she answers. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiles weakly, her eyes jumping down from my eyes to my lips for a second before locking her gaze with mine.

“I knew I liked you for a reason,” she confesses, bringing her hand to my cheek.

I can’t help but smile lightly, tenderly cupping her hand with mine. A couple of months ago, my mind slowly filled with thoughts of her. Funny how quickly it changed, and she is just a fleeting memory I’m fond of. A good friend.

Oh, so different.

Nonetheless, she’s an amazing woman and is deserving of a man who can fall head over heels for her. Someone who only has eyes for her. I am justnotthat guy.

Yet, the words get stuck in my throat as I watch her lean closer to me in slow motion.

“I was trying to forget you,” she whispers as her hot breath hits my face. “But I can’t.”

There’s a sliver of hope that she’s not about to try to do what I think she is, not after I told her we couldn’t pursue a relationship.

But when her tongue comes out, licking at her own lips, my common sense returns in full force as one specific face crowds my brain.

Willow.

My chest tightens right at the moment our noses bump into each other.No.

My hands grip her shoulders, slowly pushing her away from me.

“Johanna,” I call weakly. “You’re a stunning woman, and you don’t need to beg anyone for attention from no one. Especially not from me.”

“I thought that by having closure, you’d finally see me…”

---