Page 23 of Back to Willow

I was her safe place, just like she was mine.

We were young, and although my brother used to tell me there was a whole ocean of girls out there, no one else made my heart beat this wildly. She was the only one to make me nervous enough to stutter my words when I was, otherwise, the most confident asshole around.

I didn’t know what it meant—its depth or dimension—but I knew there wasn’t anyone else. Not for me.

And at that moment, that day…I needed more. I wanted more. I wanted her to be my girlfriend.

“Come on, Lo. I’ll explain one more time, and then you’ll answer the question on your own, okay? I know you can do it, baby.” I kissed her cheek and pretended not to notice how she blushed right after.

Slowly, I had been leaving hints here and there. Some endearing names that I wouldn’t usually use and being touchier with her. Especially with kissing. I hadn’t had the balls to kiss her on the mouth yet, but…maybe soon. Willow never shut me down or pushed me away and that helped my confidence grow.

Soon.

Barely focusing on the subject, I got through another fifteen minutes of explaining it to her. When she finally got it right, she squealed in happiness, and my heart warmed instantly.

“I did it! I did it. Thank you, Liam. I couldn’t pass this subject if it wasn’t for you!” She turned around and hugged me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist and pulled her up for a proper hug. Part of her shirt rode up, exposing some of her porcelain skin, and I couldn’t help but press the pads of my fingers against the swell of her hip. Soft and warm.

With a tight squeeze, she giggled and tried to lean back a little in an attempt to look better at me. The way the bottom half of our bodies pressed together wasn’t lost on me, and it didn’t let her get much distance since I could still feel her breath hit my face.

“You know I’d do anything for you,” I whispered while tucking a strand of her chocolate-coloured hair behind her ear.

She blushed again, and if I weren’t hypnotised by her beauty and delicateness, I’d tease her.

The moment her shyness dissipated a little and she gained the courage to look me in the eyes, the entire world came to a halt. This happened every single time. It was as if Chronos had a soft spot for us, momentarily stopping his hourglass just so we could get lost in each other.

Her plump lips parted, bringing my attention back to her. Damn, I wanted to kiss her. When our eyes locked a second time, her pupils seemed larger and my fingers rose to her collarbone area, gently grazing her skin.

I leaned in closer, tentatively, giving her the chance to break the moment if she didn’t want this.

My hand splayed, wrapping around the curve between her neck and shoulder, where it was warm and silky. My thumb kept rubbing the soft skin on her neck, feeling her frantic pulse underneath—just like mine.

Always in sync.

Wild brown hair fell in wide waves over her collarbones and chest, framing her delicate face. It matched the colour of her eyes, the only contrast being her reddened lips. With the distance closing in, her scent filled my nostrils. Wildflowers and sun.

I couldn’t get enough of her.

“Liam,” she whispered before her eyes fluttered, and I took that as my cue. As her calling.

We kissed.

Her lips were soft and sweet like candy floss. It was overpowering. She always managed to overwhelm me. There was colour and light. There was warmth and comfort. There were fireworks blowing up all over my body, and I couldn’t stop the shaking that overcame me when I pulled her closer to me by the waist, again.

It was like everything was crumbling around us while she kept building me up from the inside. Making me feel like all I needed was her.

If I was sure I liked this girl before, I surely knew I was crazy about her, then.

It can’t be.

And yet, here she is…in the flesh, right in front of me.

At the worst time possible.

After so many years of trying to fill the void she left—and failing. After so long of succumbing to that self-sabotaging behaviour of fucking around with multiple girls and ignoring the wreckage she had caused, I finally found someone I am willing to give it a go with. A real chance.

Finally, the prospect of moving on and maybe—just maybe—finding something more and better with someone else was exciting. Johanna is the kind of girl I instantly felt attracted to. The moment we met at that party a couple of weeks ago, with her presence, unabashedly straightforward and funny. She was not shy at all and so certain of herself.

---