Page 77 of The Sound Of Silence

“And what if I was recording this conversation?”

“Tate, if I was concerned about you ruining my career, this conversation is the least of my problems.”

He huffs out a laugh. “I suppose that’s true. Oh the things I know.”

I clench my fist by my side to stop myself from wringing his neck, and instead put on another fake smile. “You seem to forget… We’re in this together.”

“If that’s still the case, let Alex and Willow play out naturally. He’ll be gone on the weekend and all will be good.”

He walks back to his bike and slides on, securing his helmet on his head as I stare at him in confusion. Something doesn’t add up.

“Why? Why are you so invested in this?” I ask, desperate to figure out the connection.

Tate rolls his eyes like I’m being ridiculous and shakes his head. “Because he likes her, and I want my friends to be happy.”

“You expect me to believe that.”

“I don’t care what you believe. But it’s happening.”

He pulls the visor of his helmet down and speeds away without another word, leaving me more confused than ever. Something’s at play here. I have no doubt. I’ve just got to hope it all disappears when the bridge reopens. Because that’s what it’s about, right? They’re bored because they’re stuck here? Fuck, I hope that’s the case.

“What was that about?” Pippa asks, coming out of nowhere, scaring the hell out of me.

“Nothing. It was nothing,” I say, willing my heart rate to return to normal. The last thing I need is for Pippa to get involved.

“Tell me you didn’t say something about Alex and Willow?” she asks and I relax a little. I’m fine with her believing that’s all this is.

“I didn’t say something about Alex and Willow,” I repeat her words back to her. Just like she asked me to.

She eyes me suspiciously for a beat before shrugging her shoulders and linking our arms. “Okay, are you heading home?”

Home?How I wish we were going home, but unfortunately she means Willow’s. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Willow

God,hemakesmeso mad.I almost want to hook up with Alex just because I know it will piss him off. But at the same time, I don’t. It makes no sense.

Why didn’t he just stay away from me in the first place?

I’m still fuming over everything the next day, having not slept at all. The combination of Jesse, Jade, and minor cases of déjà vu are definitely not helping.

The bell above my door chimes while I’m out back getting some extra stock, and I audibly sigh. I’m not in the mood.The fucking bell.I've been trying to work on Pippa's necklace for most of the day, but can't get my head into it. And I'm so close to being done.

“I’ll be right there,” I call out, but it lacks my usual sunshine.

Trying to rush, I stand on my toes to reach the last box I need, and curse when only the tips of my fingers brush against the wooden crate.Dammit.

“Need help?” Pippa asks from behind me, making my heart jump as I spin around and almost fall. “I am taller after all,” she adds, steadying me with a smile.

“That you are.” I smile at our inside joke. She and Ashley are practically the same height, only Ashley probably has half an inch on her and never lets her forget it. To make up for it, Pippa teases me about being the shortest. “Go ahead. It’s the blue box.”

Pippa laughs as she grabs the ladder and drags the box forward before passing it down to me, doing exactly what I should have done. She gives me a smile as she jumps down and pretends to dust her hands clean.

“Easy peasy,” she says before lifting herself up onto the back counter and crossing her legs. She grabs one of my experimental oils and smells it before slowly running her hand over the delicate bottle.

“Mmm, maybe we should feature this in my next photo shoot.”

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