Page 7 of Willa

Willa

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay here and take care of you?” I ask.

“It’s a migraine. I just need a dark room and rest,” Andrea says.

That isn’t anything I don’t already know, but I’d rather spend the day hiding in the dark with Andrea than facing a day alone with David.

I set a large glass of water on the nightstand near Andrea, then make my way out of the room, closing the door softly.

“Are you ready to go?” David asks.

I look up to find him watching me. He’s in jeans and a blue t-shirt that stretched across his muscular chest and arms.

“Yes,” I say. Ready as I’ll ever be.

“Great. Let’s get going.”

The car ride is quiet and awkward, but when we get on the ferry, I’m too excited to keep quiet.

“Have you seen the movie The Rock?” I ask as soon as Alcatraz comes into view.

“Of course. Have you seen it? That movie is older than you are.”

“My dad loves it.” I shrug. “Besides, I think the movie’s older than you are, too. You’re not that much older than me.”

The mention of our differing ages seems to make his smile falter. When it does, something shifts in his eyes, making my breath catch. His gaze lowers to my mouth. Instinctively, I lick my dry lips, wishing I didn’t remember the exact flavor of his mouth.

“Willa.”

The word is raspy, and it makes my heart race. Is he leaning closer? My chin tilts up toward him as if it’s a little piece of metal drawn by a powerful magnet.

A crackly voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing our arrival to Alcatraz. We both jolt. The moment is lost, if it was even a moment at all. It continued on constant replay in my mind. Had he been leaning closer? Had his gaze been on my mouth?

I’d managed one hungry kiss before he tossed me out of his bedroom. For just a moment, it had been better than I’d ever dreamed. He’d groaned and pressed his tongue into my mouth. He kissed like a dream. Then he must have remembered exactly who he was kissing. He’d pulled away and told me that I needed to get out.

That memory has my breakfast souring in my stomach. I try to concentrate on the tour of the prison, but things between us are stilted again.

That moment on the ferry swirls in my mind. Had he been open to a kiss? Not that I’m going to throw myself at him again, but if I knew he’d return the kiss, I would have grabbed his face and kissed him with all I have.

I snort at my own thoughts.

I don’t have much. After that one failed attempt at seduction, I’ve relied on the man to make the first move. That way, I know he wants me.

I’ve had a few boyfriends, but no one who compared to David. That one kiss was hotter than most of the sex I’ve had. But I need to forget it. I’ve done what Andie forced me to do. I’ve faced my past, faced David.

But we can’t seem to get past the awkwardness. Every time he looks my way, I can’t seem to meet his gaze. The whole tour is spent with only a few stilted words between us. And the car ride back to David’s isn’t any better.

The condo is quiet when we step inside. The only light coming from the windows. This outing has proved that I should have stayed and taken care of Andrea. Even if that means sitting in the dark and watching her sleep until I’m bored enough to pass out as well.

“I’ll go check on Andrea,” I say, but as I turn away, David catches my arm.

“I wanted to apologize for what Andrea did,” he says.

“Andrea’s done a lot of things. Which particular thing are we talking about?”

“Tricking you to come here. She lied to both of us.”

My gut clenches. So he hadn’t wanted to see me. For a moment there, I thought maybe he’d asked to see me.