Page 130 of Play Pretend

Her family piled into the back, Lydia and Vanessa complaining about literally everything. It was too cramped. It was too hot. It smelled weird. They couldn’t find the seatbelts. They were tired from the flight.

On and on it went, the entire thirty-minute drive to their hotel. The noise grated against me like nails on a chalkboard, but I kept my focus straight ahead. I couldn’t lose it—not here, not now.

The entire time, I felt Bill’s eyes stabbing into the back of my head, like he was silently sizing me up, trying to find the crack in my armor. But he wouldn’t find anything. Not when it came to his daughter.

Willow stared out the window, her expression blank, as if she’d pulled herself away from the moment entirely. She didn’tspeak, didn’t look back, just gripped my hand like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

And maybe it was.

My thumb brushed over her knuckles, grounding myself as much as her. Every quiet sigh, every tense breath, every flicker of pain in her eyes chipped away at my composure. I’d promised to protect her, to keep her safe, but right now, sitting in that truck, I felt helpless.

I hated how small they made her feel. How much they brushed her aside, pretended like she was nothing but their verbal punching bag. They thought she was weak because she didn’t fight back, because she tried to keep the peace. But they didn’t see what I saw.

They didn’t see her silent strength or the courage it took for her to stand tall in front of people who had spent their lives tearing her down. They didn’t see her resilience, her heart, the fire she carried even when it wavered under their gaze.

But I did.

I saw her.

I tightened my grip on her hand, silently vow that I wouldn’t let them crush her, not while I was around.

This weekend wouldn’t be easy. It would test every ounce of patience I had, and then some. But I’d be damned if I let her walk through this alone.

I glanced at her, catching the faintest quiver in her chin before she pressed her lips together and stared out the window again. My heart clenched.

Fuck, it was going to be a long weekend.

But for her?

For her, I’d do anything—even deal with her family.

*You added Willow to the Caldwell Fam Chat*

TRIN:

How’s the fam-bam?!

THEO:

Blink twice if you’re in danger.

TRIN:

*blink blink*

I’m in danger because Theo smells so freaking bad.

BRYNNE:

AMEN!

THEO:

I do not…

BRYNNE:

I walked into your poor mother’s house and found your sister holding her breath because you stunk up the whole place with your workout.

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