Page 24 of Just One Night

“A grandchild is a grandchild. A blessing. No matter what thesituation.”

Chapter Nine

Willow

Dallas:You break the newsyet?

The text was sent two hours ago. My phone stayed in my purse throughout dinner, and when we got home, we spent the rest of the night bingeing on popcorn and Matthew McConaugheymovies.

Me: Suredid.

I change into my pajamas and slide into bed. My mom kept my room how it was when I moved out. The same sponge-painted yellow walls and pictures of me at different school events on the dresser. I zero in on the prom picture of Brett and me and tell myself to toss it and any others with him into the trashtomorrow.

The phone rings, and I freeze up and stare at the screen for a few seconds when his name flashes across it. We’ve talked on the phone before, for business, so why am I terrified ofanswering?

I inhale a breath of courage before accepting the call. “Hello?”

“How’d she take it?” Dallasasks.

Hello to you,too.

I chew on my nails. “Not bad. I did crush her hopes on if I’d decided to move home and find a husbandthough.”

“You dream crusher,you.”

Ismile.

“Did she ask about me? About who the dadis?”

“She knows who youare.”

A brief silencepasses.

He met my mom at Stella’s Christmas dinner one year. I brought her as my plus-one after Brett went missing for forty-eight hours on a drinking binge. He and Lucy were there, and Mom talked about how their relationship was beautiful on our way back to myapartment.

“She’s happy I at least got knocked up by a decentman.”

“Good.” He pauses for a few seconds. “I need to ask for afavor.”

“If it’s being present and accounted for when you tell your parents, that’s gonna be a hardno.”

“Let me correct myself. I need to ask you forfavors.”

“You’re really pushing it, you knowthat?”

“Come to BlueBeech.”

“I was just in Blue Beech, remember? Hudson having a big mouth, three a.m. wake-up call—all of thatjazz.”

“Damn, Ms. Difficult,stayin Blue Beech. Give it a try. A trial run, if youwill.”

“Didn’t we have this talk in the bathroom?” I ask, exasperated.No way in hell is that happening.“We decided we’re not moving in together, getting married, or any of that forcednonsense.”

“Whoa, whoa. Pump your brakes, sweetheart. I promise, this isnota marriage proposal. It’s a moving proposal, so we can do this as ateam.”

“Why can’t we do it as a team inLA?”

It’s his turn to let out an exasperated breath. “I have a daughter here who adores her friends and family. My business is here. Hell,yourjob is here. Any other points I need to throw out? You belong here,Willow.”

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