Page 8 of Willow

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if she’s his girlfriend, but I hold it inside. “I’mnot interested inhim,” I lie instead.

“Everyone’s interested in him,” she counters knowingly, leaning closer. She pauses, her eyes shifting between both of mine in warning. “Especially all you groupies from out of town.” Then, she abruptly walks away.

I watch her leave with my eyebrows lifted, surprised by the bold confrontation. I see Zane across the room, bringing his drink to his mouth and watching me while he waits for his turn at the pool table. I roll my eyes, and I think I see the corner of his mouth quirk, but I blink, and it’s gone in the next second, his expression wiped clean.

We stay for another hour. I have two more beers, the ale going down smoothly, and have one more shot of whiskey at Wyatt’s prompting before I can no longer keep my eyelids open.

“I’m gonna go,” I announce to Chelsea.

She frowns, obviously not ready for the night to end yet.

“Stay,” I tell her. “Have fun. I’m just exhausted from the drive.”And from everything else that’s happened during the past few days.

“You leaving?” Wyatt asks, stepping up beside me.

I nod and slide one arm into my chunky sweater and then the other. He straightens the material across my shoulders, brushing my hair to the side and gripping my neck. For a moment, I think he might kiss me, but he just smiles and drops his hand after giving me a brief squeeze.

“A few of us are going up to Moose Falls tomorrow to swim. You game?” he asks.

“Moose Falls?” I haven’t heard of it before.

“It’s a hidden gem,” he says with a wink. “Let the locals show you around. We’ll introduce you to all the best places.”

“Okay,” I say with a nod.

I give Wyatt my number, and he sends me a text so I have his too. He hugs me, holding on for a beat longer than necessary. But the alcohol has me in a fog, and I’m craving the warmth of a solid body, so I cling to him just as hard. He does kiss me this time, brushing his lips across my cheek, ever so close to the edge of my mouth, before releasing me. Benji hugs me next in a friendly, more detached embrace.

“Thanks for a fun night,” I say, glancing around.

Zane has disappeared.

“Zane’s in the bathroom,” Benji says like he can read my mind.

“Oh,” I answer, forgetting to pretend like I don’t care. My filter is gone. Alcohol has taken control of my senses by this point. “Well, tell him I said bye.”

I don’t know why I said that. Zane and I haven’t spoken more than a few irritating words to each other. It’s not like we’re friends or even acquaintances.

“Will do,” Benji promises, moving back to the pool table. “See you tomorrow.”

I say goodbye to Chelsea and weave through the crowd toward the front entrance. The air is cold when I step outside, and the sky is black as I walk away from the lights of the square, the noise of the bar fading behind me. There are a million stars twinkling in the sky. I stop to admire them for a few seconds before moving again. I’m just turning the corner when I hear someone quickly approaching from behind.

I spin and place a hand on my chest as my heart rate soars when I see Zane. “You scared the shit out of me!”

His handsome face is irritated when he stops in front of me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I’m leaving,” he throws back at me. “Same as you. And you shouldn’t walk home alone, especially when you’re in a strange town.”

There’s an accusing note to his tone that pisses me off. I’m not a child.

“I’m tired. Not that I need to explain myself to you.”

I turn again and start stomping off, wondering why he cares in the first place. He’s been surly at best all night. He falls into step beside me, his long legs easily keeping stride. My heart rate is still elevated, but it isn’t because I’m scared.

“I don’t need an escort,” I grumble. He frustrates the hell out of me when he remains quiet but stays right beside me, so I keep talking. “What are you even doing out here? I’m a grown-ass woman. I can get myself home.Alone.”

My brow furrows when I hear his deep chuckle. I’m surprised and confused by the sound. Surely, it can’t be coming from him.

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