Page 11 of Locked Up by The Libra
“Fine, I will take you to town. For what it’s worth…I don’t want you to go. I sure as hell don’t want you to go up that mountain. What does it matter what I want though? I am nothing but a stranger to you, ain’t that right sweetheart?”
Brushing past him, I storm out of the bedroom, tears flooding from my eyes. I am not waiting for him. I don’t want to be in that beat up truck with him again. Throwing the front door open I stomp outside in my sandals, sputtering when I am soaked from the rain pouring outside.
“Dammit, Willa just wait a minute.”
Turning on him, I point a trembling finger at him. “You don’t tell me what to do! I do not owe you anything. Who do you think you are?”
“Would you please calm down? Can’t we just talk? I apologized for shutting down on you. I told you I want you here. What the hell do you want from me?”
Standing on his front porch, teeth chattering, I am thankful for the rain. It hides my tears. Because what the helldo Iwant from him? Why am I so upset? Part of me wants to climb into his arms and let him hold me because I need it. Ineedto be held, to be loved, to matter to someone.
Because I am so over not mattering to anyone.
“Nothing, Watt. I am sorry. I am so sorry.”
Turning, I bolt from the front porch, running until my lungs burn. I have no idea where I am going, but I need to get away from him. I need to get away from that cozy little cabin that felt like home. What I need is to do the one thing I am good at. The one thing I did that people cared about.
Who cares about a sad rich girl unless she can save the world?
Chapter Six
Watt
I am a take action sort of man but when it mattered, I did nothing.
Sitting in my office while it pours for the second day, my entire body aches. I could blame it on old injuries from my time in the military, but I know better. This ache started when I stood on my porch, watching Willa run away from me in the rain.
I did a fine job of screwing things up with her. I should have been up front about who I was. About my past in the military and why I came to the small, peaceful town of Driftwood to find some peace. I never wanted to share any of that with anyone else. Those were my nightmares, my misery.
Not sharing myself, not being open with anyone in my life is why I am lonelier than I have ever felt. It is why my family gave up reaching out to me. Why I still haven’t found my place here in Driftwood.
“Want me to run patrol, boss?” Dole’s voice cracks my miserable thoughts as he raps a fist on the door.
Blinking up at him, I glance outside. No. No, I need to get out there. I need to fix this. “Nah, let me do it. You keep an eye on things here.”
“I don’t mind, Watt,” he argues as he watches me grab a rain slicker.
“Neither do I, bud. I need to get out there. Need to let the town know I am here, that I am one of you, ya’ know? I got it handled, Dole.”
“That might be a good idea. Go visit Mollie’s store,” he teases with a wink. “Impress her and the whole town will fall in line.”
Laughing, I clap him on the back and decide I might just do that. Stepping out in the rain, I take a deep breath. God, I do love it here. I came here to hide from the rest of the world, but I really love it. I like all the people too, so I think it is time I let them know that.
Driving through the bustling streets, I can’t help but wonder where Willa is tonight. Hell, what if she left? I stop at the one stop light in town, my pulse skittering. I let her run off in the damn rain. I never even went after her. I wanted to, of course I wanted to go after her.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Cursing at myself, I make a turn to head towards the hotel. My heart is thundering in my chest as I get closer. She could not have left. Not before she gave me a chance to fix it. To fix what a cold prick I was to her when all she wanted was to get to know me.
Passing the hotel, I speed up when I see her Jag is gone. Panic strikes me cold. If she left…no, Icannotconsider that. I would have to find her if she did. I meant what I said to her—this is more than us being lonely.
Speeding through the streets of Driftwood, I am on the lookout for her. For that pristine Jag. When I spot it parked outside the new coffee shop, I let out a shaky sigh. Of course, her friends own the place. Quinn VonMuth opened the coffee joint shortly after I got to town.
Parking on the street, I consider my options. Do I go in guns blazing and pull her out of there to talk? Or do I play it cool and grab a coffee as if that is what I came for? No, that would be too obvious. I am not going to play games with her. I am going to tell her the truth.
“I fucked up. I shut things down because I am a coward.”
Saying it out loud stings but it is the truth. Willa shared herself with me with ease. Without holding back. Once she asked me to do the same I just couldn’t. I just closed myself off the way I always do.
