Page 37 of More Trouble
10
Willa
Tears streamed down my face as I listened to Andre’s message for the third time.
It had taken more than one listen just to make sure I’d heard correctly.
He still loved me.
He wanted to change for me.
He wanted to work on us over the next two weeks.
I was glad he hadn’t insisted on staying. The time apart was good. It had given me some time to think. The intensity of the past few days, coupled with the high emotions had been draining. I was exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. There was so much going on in my head, I could hardly stand it.
Finally, I drifted off for a few moments only to wake up again with the covers tangled around me; the blankets too hot and constricting
Once I accepted sleep was going to evade me for good, I gave up and went to the kitchen. It was my happy place. As the night ticked over to early morning, I cooked and baked for Scarlett and her unborn baby. After I’d fled from the coffee shop earlier, I stopped at the store and stocked up on all the things I’d need, though I hadn’t quite expected to be cooking in the middle of the night. I made a Bolognese sauce, a casserole, a baked chicken pasta, a pot pie and, finally, chocolate chip cookies. I made enough for a small army. While everything was cooling, I checked the space in the freezer. I’d cooked so much we might have to store some at Maddox’s.
Still, it would be good for Scarlett to have food here when I wasn’t.
One of Andre’s questions came back to me.
Would you come back to Cali Cross for good?
I’d stayed away so long because of him, but now, here he was, asking me to stay. Forever.
If I analyzed why I had left in the first place, it was all down to him. There was no other reason. I’d found a new city, started my business, gotten new friends. But even being back here for a couple of days, I knew I’d never have the same level of connections there.
Scarlett and I went back years.
Lyla was like my little sister.
Maddox and Wes, the protective older brothers I’d never had.
And Andre.
The only man I’d ever truly love.
Sure, I’d dated, but I’d always unfairly compared them to him. Even with all his faults. I kept telling myself I was fine without him. It was mostly lies and self-preservation.
Was I thinking like this because of what happened to Wes?
With a sigh, I called Tori. I knew she’d be awake because she’d confessed it was her time to run.
“Willa, hey. How are you?” she answered immediately.
That was a great question. If she pushed me to answer, I wouldn’t know what to say. Confused? Upset? Hopeful?
“Sorry, what a stupid thing to ask,” said Tori. “Forgive me?”
I couldn’t help but give a small laugh. “Don’t worry, it’s a knee-jerk question. And I’m…tired. There’s so much happening, and I don’t know how to deal with it all.” Briefly, I filled her in on the whole story, omitting to mention Andre and I had slept together last night. “So, I’m going to stay here for at least a couple of weeks to look after Scarlett.”
“Only a couple of weeks?”
“The doc said she’d need to be on bed rest for that long. She can go to the funeral, but in a wheelchair.”
“Surely you’d want to stay around a bit longer. To make sure she’s recovering as she should be?”
