Page 24 of Love Me Steadfast
Inside his shower, I have no choice but to use his bar of Dial soap, but I make sure to rinse it off in the water before using it on my skin, which makes me feel like an idiot.It’s just a bar of soap. It doesn’t mean anything.
After, I dry my hair and put all my things away so I don’t cramp his style, then dress in jeans and my favorite fall sweater, an orange cashmere from my favorite thrift store in the U-district, and carry my violin to the door.
Theo must still be upstairs, because in my periphery, it’s just William moving around in the kitchen. Thankfully, Ollie only comes for a passive sniff of my shins.
“Since when are you afraid of dogs?” William asks.
I suck in a breath. “I’m not.”
He exhales heavily. “There’s coffee,” he says, his voice still too firm.
“I’ll get something later.” I step into my clogs and tug on my coat and without looking at him, grab my violin and slip through the door. But I don’t get two steps before William’s at my side.
He’s barefoot and wearing black work jeans that have faded to a soft charcoal at the creases and cuffs, and a gray T-shirt that stretches across his muscular chest. Annoyance flashes beneath my skin. Could he just stop looking so damn delectable?
“When are you going to talk to me?” he asks, those slate blue eyes dark with frustration.
“Do we have something to talk about?” It’s so much easier tomake him hate me when we’re hundreds of miles apart. When I’m not here on his porch, surrounded by his peppery scent and the determination in his gaze.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Where are you headed today? Can’t you let me help?”
For one instant, I imagine slumping against him, even if all he does is keep me from crumbling for a handful of seconds. “I have to go to Thunder Mountain, then to the hospital.” I leave out my plan to drop in on Crosby, even though telling Will would put some space between us. I’ve hurt him enough.
Will’s expression softens. “Let me go to the rescue with you.”
It should be Dad offering, or Theo. Having William by my side would make facing this less daunting, but it brings on a whole new set of problems that I don’t have the energy for. “I should go alone this time.”
Relief flashes in his eyes at the mention ofthis time, and it makes me feel like shit for giving him hope.
He nods. “Okay.”
“Did Dad come to you about The Limelight, or was it the other way around?” I ask, unable to keep the question inside any longer.
“Neither.”
I’m tempted to keep digging, but I tell myself I got the answer I needed.
He nods at the violin case in my grip. “You going to play today?”
“Yeah.” I don’t tell him why. Maybe he thinks I play for Morgan’s rescue horses.
“Hang on.” He slips back into the house.
I sigh, letting my shoulders slump. Before I can bolt for my car, Will comes back outside with a travel mug and a small white bag.
I stare him down for an instant, but he gives me a sheepish shrug. “I have a feeling you could use this.”
The scent of my favorite hazelnut creamer tickles my nose, and I know by the Glory Holes logo on the bag what I’ll find insideit. “You went out for donuts this morning?” I must have slept deeper than I thought.
“Asked Theo to stop on his way home,” William says.
I meet his gaze one more time. “Thank you.”
When I go to take the items from his hands, he jerks his chin toward my car. “I got it.”
In silence, he walks me to my car, seemingly unaffected by the damp grass or the gravel under his bare feet. He waits for me to set my violin safely in the backseat then settle behind the wheel before handing me my breakfast. Our fingers brush, sending a wave of gooseflesh up my arm.
I force a smile as thanks, and our eyes lock for another tense moment before I slide my key into the ignition and pull away.
