Page 19 of Needing You

“Yeah. Since apparently this is going to be a thing now,” I replied with a chuckle, waving my hand around the meat section. “Running into each other at the store, I mean.”

“Uh, yeah. In New York, the odds of this happening are insanely slim. Especially not twice in as many damn weeks.”

I tried to return his small smile, but it probably looked strained. Will’s comment only made me think he’d liked that about New York because it meant he could sleep with whoever he wanted and didn’t have to worry about running into them at the grocery store.

Not thatthiswas like that. Well, it was, because we’d been sleeping together once upon a time. But it also wasn’t.Ugh—chill, girl.

I had no idea what Will could see on my face, but he tilted his head at me with amusement in his gorgeous eyes. “Anyway, I’d like to actually sit down and talk with you sometime. This time with Jackson has been great, and I’m planning to be a much more regular presence in his life, so it’d be nice to have some sort of, I don’t know… friendship?… with his mother.”

“Um, yeah. I guess it would be good for us to be friendlier.”

And that would actually be more than I could say for my relationship with Jackson at the moment. He was so mad. So hurt that I’d let him live here without getting to know the Walkers as his family. The silent treatment I’d been receiving from him was like nothing I’d ever seen before, and it chilled me to the bone.

And the sad part was I couldn’t even blame him. It’d been just the two of us for his entire life, and even though he’d said he was happy with it, I was only now beginning to realize he’d only said that so he didn’t hurt my feelings.

“What are you doing right now?” Will asked, then he pursed his lips like he couldn’t believe he’d asked.

My eyes flicked to the cart and then back to him. “Grocery shopping.”

“Right. After that.”

“Putting my groceries away.”

“And after that?”

I swallowed. “Nothing. I worked the morning shift today, and Jackson has plans with his friend.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s going to a movie with Chris, right?”

Surprised, I nodded. “Yes.”

“Is thatreallywhat he’s doing, you think?”

“If that’s what he said, then that’s what he’s doing,” I replied, unable to keep my chin from lifting slightly.

Will’s ridiculously handsome face split into a devilish grin, causing my belly to flutter in the same way it always used to when we were young. “You sound pretty sure about that.”

“I am.”

He clicked his tongue. “He may have gotten your chill vibe instead of my temper, but I’d be pretty shocked if he wasn’t at least a little rebellious. I mean, me and you? We couldn’t possibly make a kid who didn’t sneak out now and then.”

My throat tightened as my mind traitorously flashed through all the things we’d done when we’d snuck around together for almost a year—including the night we’d made the kid in question. Then I saw how white my knuckles were as I gripped my cart, and I forced it all away and made myself relax.

“As hard as it might be to believe,” I said with maybe a little too much defensiveness in my tone, “Jackson really is a great kid. Better than both of us, that’s for sure. And my journey into rebellion lasted only as long as you and I did, so I’d say it makes sense he’s no rebel.”

Will’s grin faded a little, and he blew out a breath. “Look, this sucks. There’s no fucking question how hard it is. For both of us. All three of us, actually. But we need to get to a point where it’s not so damn awkward, and the only way that’s going to happen is if we make an effort. Are you willing to do that? Because I’ll get to know my son with or without having some kind of amicable relationship with you, but it’d be a hell of a lot better for him if we could make that happen too.”

Abashed, I fought for words for what felt like a full year. Then I closed my eyes and forced a smile. “You’re right. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Do you want to take your groceries home and then meet me for coffee after?”

I felt myself nodding before I’d even made up my mind, so I went with it and said, “Sure. Sounds great.”

Will reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “My mom’s calling. She’s probably already in the car.” At my lifted brow, he added, “I’m making pork medallions with blackberry reduction and summer polenta for dinner and she wanted to tag along while I got the ingredients, but I’ll leave her and the groceries at her place, then meet you at the coffee shop on Main.”

Laughing quietly, I nodded. “See you in a bit.”

“See ya.”

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