Page 58 of A Certain Step
Willa’s gorgeous eyes lit up at the sight of her, and she released an audible little squeal.
She shuffled closer to Tulip, who’d already jumped onto the cushion and rolled over for comfort. Willa nuzzled her head, moving toward the place under her chin where she loved scratches most. “Hi, cutie,” she added. “It’s been two weeks too long since our last reunion.”
Well, he’d have to have Willa come by more, but he also understood why she preferred her place in Queens to his in Manhattan. She wouldn’t have to worry about going home late, and they could easily pick up a pie from Leo’s Pizza.
She picked up Tulip, who calmly steadied herself in her arms, and they moved toward Ethan. “Treat me,” Willa declared, holding out her free hand for treats. Tulip meowed, understanding the exact word.
He reached for the cabinet and pulled out the foul-smelling chicken sticks.
Opening the snack, he handed one to Willa, and she repositioned herself to feed Tulip while she was still in her arms. Tulip chomped down eagerly, tiny sounds of overexcitement coming out of her. When she finished, she jumped out of Willa’s arms and strolled toward her water fountain.
Willa went over to his kitchen sink and washed her hands. Afterward, she turned and leaned against the counter, eyes fixed on him.
“You hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, my appetite is still wonky.”
“Tea? I have the rose-flavored one you like.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “The one from Whittard’s?”
He confirmed with a nod, trying to read the expression on her face.
“Did you order it online?”
“Obviously not. I hired bootleggers, and they illegally smuggled some for me in exchange for my best cattle,” he deadpanned.
She laughed, then tilted her head, still trying to understand. “I—just. When did you buy it?”
“About a month ago. When we were hanging out, you opened a new pack, and I saw the brand, so I ordered it when I got home.”
“But you hate tea.”
“Which is exactly why I didn’t ask you to tell me what it was because you’d know it wasn’t for me.”
“So, you bought it forme?”
His smile grew tenfold. “No, I bought it for Tulip. It’s her latest fixation. I also have Dr. Pepper in the fridge. She’s really into them both and alternates between them every other day.”
Willa sighed, opened her mouth, and then closed it, hiding a smile. “I’ll have the tea for your extraordinary efforts, please.”
He bobbed his head, washed his hands in the sink, filled the kettle, then turned it on. Ethan opened his fridge and took a Dr. Pepper out. He initially bought them for Willa but eventually got accustomed to the taste and started drinking them, too. He looked back at her, both leaning against his kitchen island now.
Neither said a thing for a beat, their silence blending with the sounds of simmering water coming from the kettle.
Ethan took a deep, painful breath and turned to face her.
It was now or never. Between the kettle and his hammering heartbeats, he was losing his mind.
“Willa…tell me you didn’t feel something more out there. Tell me it wasn’t all for the show,” he nearly begged, not caring how he sounded, wanting only her reassurance, her honest answer.
Willa swallowed. She shut her eyes, then peered up at him, uncertainties clouding the sparkle that had been there moments ago.
“It wasn’t all for the show,” she confirmed. Willa held his gaze, big brown eyes peering into his soul. “But…but it has to be.”
Ethan’s insides felt punctured—like a dagger rammed into his chest and twisted all his organs around.
“Why? Why does it have to be that way?” he asked, surely sounding small. Defeated.
