Page 38 of His Small Town Girl

The thought of going home is what holds me together. I’m excited to be back in Willow Springs. I’ve missed the oak trees and the rose bushes and the faces I’ve known my whole life. I’ve missed the way Mama’s memory is so engrained in every detail of my life there that it feels like she is there with me. I’ve been missing her since I left.

Lilli waits on the porch when we pull into our driveway, despite it being eleven at night. She rushes to the car before it stops, opening my door and hugging me while I’m still buckled in. I’m not sure we have ever been apart for so long, even while we were away at college, so I hug her back, squeezing tightly.

“I’m so glad you are back, Hannah!” She squeals.

“Well, not for long.”

“What do you mean? You don’t have to leave for Columbia for a month.”

“Dad and I are going to New York to be interviewed on Wake Up America next week!”

“No way, that is so cool.” She cries excitedly. “We need to pick out your outfit now!” She acts as if a week is not nearly enough time and so even though it is eleven at night and I should go right to bed, I spend the next few hours trying on my clothes for Lilli as we rehash every second of our summers.

“You need to tell him, Hannah.” Lilli says as I admit that I still haven’t told Will about Columbia. We sit shoulder to shoulder on the side of my bed, which is covered in a pile of clothes that Lilli is calling her artistic process.

“What if he still doesn’t want me? He has told me a million times that he doesn’t think that we would work.” I voice my doubts, knowing Lilli won’t judge me. Lilli has been there for longer than I remember, since we were both in diapers. She was there for the bad haircut I gave myself in second grade, the awkward braces of middle school, all the ill-fated crushes, and Mama’s death. I would be willing to tell her any thought that had ever crossed my brain.

“Well then, he is an idiot. Some things are worth it even if they don’t work out.” Lilli wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me the smile she has my whole life, the one that is so confident that she knows how it will all workout.

“How did you get so wise, Lilli?” I nudge her shoulder with mine.

“Well, I’ve only been in love like a million times.”

“True.” I smile, wondering if it is really as Lilli says. Will it be worth telling Will about Columbia even if he doesn’t choose to stay with me, or will I regret it?

Chapter 30

One week later, I’m on a plane to New York City. I was able to see a little of the city from my window seat on the plane and even from up in the air it seemed larger than life, but I’m not able to truly appreciate it until we step out of our cab in front of our hotel. I get vertigo looking at the towering walls of the skyscrapers reaching up to the night sky as far as I can see in every direction. The honking of horns, clipped walking paces, and shouts fill my ears and every one of my senses seems a bit overwhelmed, but when I see the tall figure waiting at the entrance of the hotel, everything goes still, and I realize I’ve found my peace in this city.

Will doesn’t see me until I’m only a couple of feet away, but when he finally does look up, his green eyes light up. I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around his neck in a hug I don’t ever want to release, and he completes my embrace by wrapping his arms around my waist and giving me a little squeeze.

“I missed you, Hannah.” Will whispers in my ear as he holds me in his embrace for a second after I unwrap my arms from around his neck.

“I missed you too, Will.”

Will gives me his secret smile, dimples and all. My heart stutters, but I manage to get my wits about me as I step out of the hug and go back to help my dad with our bags. Dad and Will share a brief greeting before we head inside to check in.

Once we are settled in our rooms, Will goes over the plan for the morning show again. We will have to be at the studio several hours before our interview, so they can get us fitted for microphones and brief us on a couple of things. Will explains that the interview will focus primarily on the vlog and the upcoming book, so I’m not too worried that I will have to answer too many questions.

Dad is too tired to head out into the city to grab dinner, so we order room service. Will stays for dinner and it feels like we are back on our summer road trip. We all talk and laugh until Dad suggests that it would be best if we all went to bed to rest before our early morning. Will follows me across the hall when we leave my dad’s room to my own room. He leans against the wall beside me as I get out my key card and unlock the door. As I turn the handle, I turn back towards him and give him a questioning smile.

“I don’t want to leave you.” The words are muffled by hair as Will pulls me into a hug.

“Then don’t.” I know he is speaking about tonight, but I mean for much longer than that.

“I need to go home to get ready for the interview.” Will lets out a long sigh and releases me from his arms as he steps away.

“Guess you will just have to get up extra early.” I step into my room, leaving the door open in invitation behind me. Will hesitates for a second before he shakes his head, a low chuckle escaping him as he follows me into the room, closing the door behind him.

Will sits on the edge of the bed and slips his shoes off as I go over to the vanity to brush my teeth. I watch in the mirror as he strips off his shirt and then, as he reaches for his belt buckle, butterflies erupt in my stomach. I know all we will be doing is sleeping, but I can hardly help it when he looks like that.

“Keep staring at me like that and I might think you want more than just cuddles from me.” Will gives me a devilish smile as he catches my gaze in the mirror.

“I do want more than just cuddles.” I let him see my eyes rake over his body.

“Oh?” He lounges back on the pillows, his arms tucked behind his head as he raises his eyebrows.

“I also want to put my cold feet on your warm legs.” I return the devilish smile he had given me earlier with one of my own.

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