Page 504 of Not Over You

The tension radiating from Shane concerns me.

I’m hurt at Willow’s actions, but I’m willing to try to understand her why.

Shane looks like he’s closing himself off from being reasonable, and I underestimated the depth of his pain until this moment.

I attempt to diffuse the situation and walk into our office in front of Shane so I can lead the conversation, but before I speak, he’s already moved to my side and has gotten his own question out.

“I see you’re enjoying our food, Ms. Martens.” She pales at his brash tone and formal name, and he doesn’t back down. “Tell me, do you enjoy taking things that don’t belong to you?” His voice is a challenge but there’s more.

He’s devastated.

He sounds and looks like I feel in my heart.

He’s disappointed that she didn’t value us enough to come to us.

But why would she?

We’ve put so much effort into pushing her away and showing her just how alone she was.

We created this.

We are just as responsible as she is, maybe even more so.

We didn’t give her the life we thought she deserved—we cast her out. Shane and I worked hard and fought for everything we had, but the difference is we did it together.

Now, as I look at everything with fresh eyes, I clearly see how we abandoned her and I wish I could go back and change a few things.

As Shane stares Willow down, she drops her head in shame and I look between them in silence. Even from my position—standing off to Shane’s side—I see he hasn’t gotten over any of his boyish feelings for her.

Neither of us have.

His love for her is predatory, possessive.

When we let her go, he claimed it was in the past but I knew he was lying to himself. Now he’s hurt by her actions, and he’s attempting to put her in her place.

“I—um—I’m sorry.” Her meek voice stutters out of her lips. Lowering her gaze to the ground, it hurts me that she can’t look us in the eye as she continues. “I th—thought that was for me. I’m so sorry.”

She looks almost sick to her stomach, and I can’t bear to leave her in this state. As Shane opens his mouth, I cut him off.

“That was meant for you, Willow.” Then shifting my stare, I level a glare at my best friend and business partner.

The realization he came on too strong is painted all over his face. As if suddenly waking up, Shane snaps out of his ire and nods to let me continue.

“Thank you.” Willow’s melodic voice brings my attention back to her.

“Willow, have a seat. We need to talk.” I motion to the chair she was just sitting in, and Shane and I grab chairs of our own and move to either side of her.

“I know.” She resigns herself, sitting slowly into her seat and clasping her hands together in her lap.

Shane exhales a heavy sigh as he sits himself down, and I notice Willow's hands tighten together in her lap.

Her little tells are endearing.

She doesn’t hide her anxiety well.

We’ll be able to read her like a book without her saying a word.

“What’s going on, Kitten?” Shane’s softness surprises both of us, and Willow snaps her eyes to his as tears threaten to pour out at the sound of the nickname he used to call her in high school.

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