He returns to putting all of his tools up, and I snap my fingers to gain his attention.
“And don’t forget, we have the auction tomorrow. What time do you want me to pick you up?” I ask.
That gets his full attention. “Shit, I forgot about the auction.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Now that you bring it up, I told you I couldn’t go.”
“Nice try, jackass. I would remember you trying to bail because I wouldn’t have let you. They have an excavator going through that I know we can get a kick-ass deal on.”
We’re in the process of expanding the family business my grandfather started decades ago. Our dad is ready to retire after twenty-five years and wants us to take over.
“I have plans with Stella.”
He runs a hand through his hair, which is lighter and longer than mine. All of us Barnes children look alike with a few exceptions. I don’t sport as much facial hair as Hudson. I’m convinced he does it to hide his jaw since mine is stronger than his, but he won’t admit it. He argues that the few inches he has on my height counts for more than good bone structure.
“Your fiancé will be fine without you for a day.”
“She’ll be fine … because I’ll be with her. Go alone. You’re a big boy.”
I frown. “It’s an eight-hour round trip.”
“It’ll give you time to reflect.”
“Reflection and I aren’t a good match. Trust me.” I fucking hate being in my head.
He winces, shocked at my response, and I’m positive I’ve won this discussion. “Ask Willow to tag along.”
And I’m wrong.
“She can hardly stand spending twenty minutes around me at a doctor’s appointment. I doubt she’ll be jumping at the idea of a road trip.”
He shrugs, his mouth curving into a sly smile. “Looks like we’re about to find out.”
“The fuck does that mean?”
I whip around at the sound of a door slamming. The shop is twenty minutes out of town. The only people who come around are employees, customers, and us. I like it—the quietness, the peace.
I follow Hudson out of the garage to find Stella coming our way while holding up a bag.
“Lunchtime!” she yells, stomping across the gravel parking lot.
Willow circles the car, slowly dragging her feet in our direction, making it clear she’d rather be anywhere but here.
Hudson slaps me on the back. “Would you look at that, brother? Perfect timing.” He jogs forward to meet Stella halfway and plants a kiss on her lips.
I follow his lead but trail a few feet behind in hopes of sparing myself from their lovesick hellos.
I’m a miserable bastard, but that doesn’t mean I’m not happy for my baby brother. He went through a messy-ass breakup. His ex fucked him over by screwing his best friend and used their scheduled wedding date to marry the so-called friend. Hudson ditched town, took over my job as Stella’s bodyguard, and somehow convinced her to fall in love with him.
“I’m starving, babe,” he tells her with another kiss. “Did you bring enough for my pain-in-the-ass brother?”
Stella throws me a look with a smile. “Sure did. I also brought a friend.” Her chin tips toward Willow when she makes it to us. “Do you two know each other?” She slaps her knees. “My bad, you knocked her up.”
“Funny,” Willow grumbles, throwing her a dirty look. “You remember that two-weeks’ threat?”
“You have anything going on tomorrow, Willow?” Hudson asks.
She peeks over at Stella. “No. Stella said I have the day off.” Her green eyes flash between the couple in confusion.
“You do,” Hudson replies. “You’re probably going to be pretty bored, so I have good news for you. Dallas has to go out of town for work and needs some company. You feel like tagging along?”
She bites her lip and shoves dirt around with her shoe, dirtying them up. “I have a busy day. I need to unpack.”
“Weird. You told me you were finished unpacking yesterday,” Stella says, exchanging a glance with Hudson, confirming this isn’t some last-minute idea.
Willow shoots her a death stare. “I have baby books to finish reading.”
“Read them on the way,” I suggest.
She sucks in a breath at the sound of my voice and finally acknowledges me.
“As a matter of fact, how about you read them to me?” I go on.
My jump into the conversation has shocked everyone, including myself. Making an eight-hour round trip alone sounds like a fucking nightmare.
Willow’s mouth presses together in a grimace. “You can’t be serious.”
“Sure am. I’ll bring the doughnuts. You bring the baby lit.” I grin. “I’ll be there at eight.”
Chapter Nineteen
Willow
I spent last night drafting texts to Dallas that I never sent.
The keeping-my-distance plan I made at the first positive pregnancy test is backfiring in my face. I can’t stop myself from reaching out and clasping on to every hand he holds out even though I know he’ll do nothing but drop me at the end. My heart is begging for a repeat of that soul-to-soul connection we shared.
Dallas gets me in a way no one else seems to. He understands what it feels like to have your heart ripped out and torn to shreds. He understands the way love can throw you into a pit of denial. He wouldn’t come to terms that Lucy was sick until it was too late, and I couldn’t grasp that my boyfriend since high school had been cheating on me for years.
Our hurt is the polar opposite. I know losing someone is nothing compared to a breakup. My pain doesn’t even register on the scale of his. His hurt snuck up on him, wearing him down on short notice, and I’m terrified he’ll drag me into the dark place with him.
We run from the truth because it’s easier to live a lie than face the monster. I was content with living with my struggles … until that positive test. I won’t allow my babies to be raised by two broken people. One of us has to be strong, and I can’t do that with Dallas Barnes playing with my heart.
The doorbell rings at eight sharp. Like me, Dallas is punctual. You learn to be that way when you’re working with tight schedules and dealing with celebrities who have no regard for time. I’ve had to drag people out of bed, brush their teeth for them, and even buckle them up in their private jets.
“I’m surprised you didn’t run off this morning,” he says when I open the door.
Me, too, buddy. Me, too.
Three red travel cups are stacked in one hand, and a white paper bag is clutched in the other. A pair of heels is tucked underneath his armpits. I reach out to help him with the cups when he slides past me to get into my apartment. I inhale his woodsy scent while following him into the kitchen.
He drops the bag on the counter and then holds up the familiar black peep-toe heels. “These belong to you.”
The shoes I left at his house.
The ones I thought I would never see and didn’t care to see again. He’d be on my mind every time I slipped them on. Where did he keep them? Did Maven see them?
I grab them from him and toss them onto the floor. “Thank you.” I take in all of the cups. “Someone joining us today?” I sound more disappointed than I should about having a third-wheeler on this trip.