Page 109 of How Good It Was (Excess All Areas 3)

“It’s not a threat, Willow. I want our status quo back. You’re out of control. Getting knocked up. Flying around the world on a whim. Dropping responsibilities. Come back. I’ll manage you, and our life goes on. We can put this stupidity behind us once you’ve covered my lawyers’ fees. But if you don’t, then I need to try something different.”

“I will vigorously defend myself against any conservatorship move, and we have already moved pre-emptively to block that.”

Darrin began to laugh. “We’ll see.”

“Whatever this stunt is proves to me that neither of you actually have a heart to break when it comes to me. You might be able to control Mom, but you can’t control me.”

“You’re breaking your mom’s heart, you should know that. She’s terrified for you over there alone.”

“We’re family, Willow,” her mom added. “Just come home like Dad said.”

Alone. Family.

“I don’t have family,” she said quietly.

But then, she looked up at the people in the room. At Chaya and Iz laughing with Nan. At Cerys and Zoe signing something that had the pair of them laughing so hard she wanted to join them. Back to Nan, who was sneaking a canapé from the buffet table.

And her thoughts drifted to Ben who’d accompanied Luke home when she was in the hospital. And Alex who Luke had told her had challenged him to make sure she was looked after. And to Matt and Jase who had sent her flowers after her cyst burst.

Of course, there was Luke. Who loved her.

“Let me correct that,” Willow said. “I have family. It’s just that my definition of what family is is quite different from yours. I’ll see you in court, Dad.”

Ending the call, she took a deep breath. And another.

No. She couldn’t let them ruin the band’s day. She’d tell Luke about the call later.

A text appeared on her phone.

Five minutes out. Simon.

Willow took another breath, then thought of her happiest moments with Luke. Standing on the balcony in Mallorca. Driving down to Brighton. The way he made love to her and tickled her and shared his journey with her.

Her fake smile became real, and she hurried to her purse where her shoes were. “They are on the way,” she shouted as she fastened the buckle on her black heels.

When the door opened, Jase was the first one through. Nan yelled surprise, and he grabbed her, giving her a twirl. “Put me down before you give me a heart attack,” she moaned good-naturedly.

Alex and Ben came in next. “What the fuck?” Alex said.

Ben looked to Chaya, quickly checking out the way her dress clung to her curves before asking, “Who organised this?”

“Willow,” Chaya said, pointing in her direction as she walked to Ben and gave him a hug that just skirted the edge of being friendly. And she didn’t miss the way Ben’s hand veered towards Chaya’s ass before he caught himself and returned it platonically to her shoulder.

“You did this?” Luke asked, walking up to her and pulling her into a kiss that could have gotten her pregnant if she wasn’t knocked up already.

She nudged his chest gently, suddenly aware that all eyes were on them. “I did. I thought you deserved a celebration for releasing your album today, and I knew you’d be hungry.”

His eyes were intensely focused on hers. “You planned this. Before I told you I loved you.”

“I did.”

“You knew.”

“I hoped.”

Luke grinned and kissed her again. “Well. Let’s celebrate, then. And, flower, unless it makes you really uncomfortable, I’m going to kiss you like I mean it, whenever I feel like. Cool?”

Willow smiled back. “Cool.”

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