Page 55 of 500 First Editions (The Romantics #3)

RYAN

FIVE MORE MINUTES

T he calendar on my phone loomed more than the empty suitcase that needed to be packed.

More than that, the stack of unopened envelopes Lisa had given me haunted me.

Willow had been riding a high after finishing her book a few days ago. She had opened up to me, talking through her plans for where she was thinking about going next. Instead of her simply telling me what the plan was, we had gone back and forth with both of us throwing out ideas.

Eventually, we had decided to table the topic of where the next three months would be spent and if I was going to be there with her.

I had to be back in New York for a speaking engagement in the other Manhattan, so we planned to make the drive back to Queens, and spend a few days enjoying the creature comforts of city life.

I wasn’t scared by the uncertainty of what would happen to us, but I was surprised when Willow proactively said that she would break her social media silence and make a post detailing her experience with The Ford Method.

Frankly, I didn’t give a shit if she endorsed the program or not. I wanted to know if there would be an “us” in a few days.

The house had been cleaned before our departure. I had done a thorough check of her car—changing the oil, topping off the fluids, and taking it for new tires.

Willow had spent most of the day out and about, leaving me to stare at those damn envelopes.

She had gone to her storage unit to swap her summer clothes for warmer wear, then spent time at Shep’s grave.

I had offered to go with her, but she turned me down, saying that she had some things to tell him before we hit the road first thing in the morning.

When she came back from the cemetery, I expected her to be in a rather morose mood. Maybe she’d want to spend the rest of the day under her willow tree. It would be the perfect time to give her the envelopes.

What I didn’t expect was for her to say that she had invited Lisa, her mother, and her sister to this house for a going-away party.

And then she waltzed off to the shower to freshen up, leaving me reeling.

She hadn’t spoken to her mom or Amber since I had confronted them at the salon. To my knowledge, she hadn’t talked to Lisa either.

I crossed my fingers, hoping Lisa and Cynthia would arrive before Willow got out of the shower, so I could tell them that she didn’t know yet.

Tonight. I would tell her tonight under the willow tree tonight.

It would be a shock, but not a surprise. She would be hurt and angry at her mother, but the trip back to New York would give her space to work it through in her mind.

That was Willow; she wasn’t confrontational. She was analytical and measured.

“Hi.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when Willow appeared behind me, wearing a smile.

“Sorry I had to shower,” she said. “It was warmer at the cemetery than I thought it would be and I got sweaty.”

The doorbell rang.

Shit.

Before I could offer to get it, Willow skipped over and yanked it open. “Hi!” she said as she threw her arms around Lisa.

Lisa’s eyes met mine as she looked over Willow’s shoulder while they hugged. I shook my head and mimed zipping my lips.

Thankfully, she understood and gave me a subtle nod mixed with disapproving eyes.

I’d take it.

“I’m so sad you two are leaving town,” Lisa said as she let go of Willow and offered me a hug. It was warm and maternal. “Are you sure y’all can’t stay another month?”

“‘Fraid so,” Willow said with a rather glum look. “Bev has people lined up to stay here the day after tomorrow and Ry has to be back in New York for work.”

Lisa’s understanding nod and accompanying smile was warped with sadness.

“I wish like hell that you’d never had to come and you could have gone to Michigan for the summer.

” She squeezed Willow’s biceps. “But I’m so glad I got to see you for more than a week.

You know, you two can always come stay with me.

I’ve got a guest room.” She laughed. “Well, actually it was my room. I’m sleeping in the guest room for now.

But that means you’d have the big closet. ”

Willow’s face fell when the realization hit her. “Lise?—”

“I’ll be okay,” Lisa said as she waved off the grief. “Someday I’ll get back in there. Today’s just not that day.”

The front door opened again as Cynthia let herself in. She didn’t hug Willow, or even look me in the eye.

Which meant she had no idea that Willow didn’t know what had happened between us.

“Hi, Mom!” Willow said, chipper as ever. “Is Amber coming?”

Cynthia glanced at her watch. “She should be on her way. She was driving back from Topeka.”

My blood went from a simmer to a rolling boil as the room went quiet. Everyone knew why Amber was in Topeka.

When Willow said she wanted to have everyone over before we left town, I waited for her to say she had invited Greg too. But she never did. He had broken her.

Well, really Greg and Cynthia did. They made that choice before Shep or Willow ever had a say in the situation.

“Cynthia, it’s good to see you,” Lisa said with a kind smile.

Willow’s mom nearly jumped out of her skin, like she hadn’t noticed Lisa was even in the room.

“Lisa,” Cynthia said. “You’re . . . here.”

Willow huffed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Can we all get along for—like—twenty minutes? I just wanted to see everyone before we leave.”

A car rattled to a stop in the driveway. Willow sighed and plastered on a smile as Amber let herself in.

Amber stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Lisa. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she smacked her gum.

Willow’s eye began to twitch.

“It’s good to see you, Amber. You look really nice today,” Lisa said.

Amber’s eyes flicked up and down, assessing Lisa. “Are you still in mourning or something?”

Lisa looked down at her black scrubs. “I just came from work.”

“Then why are you in all black?” she sneered.

Lisa smiled. “They let us wear black scrubs in the ED because it hides all the blood and bodily fluids.”

Amber looked a little nauseous at that, and Willow tried to hide her laugh.

The room felt like a powder keg waiting to go off. Everyone knew too much and Willow didn’t know nearly enough. I needed to tell her, but with Cynthia and Lisa in the room, it felt intrusive to speak up about that kind of life-altering information.

And then there was Amber . . .

I assumed she had been in Topeka visiting Greg. I had no idea if she would smell the blood in the water and attack.

And then there was Greg.

I had hunted down his information, but hadn’t gotten the chance to thoroughly eviscerate him yet.

“Can we get on with whatever this is?” Amber said. “I have a nail appointment I need to get to.”

“Of course you do,” Willow muttered under her breath.

Cynthia cut the tension by taking a seat on the couch. Amber flopped into an armchair, and Lisa pulled up a kitchen chair. Willow sat by her mom while I stood in the kitchen like I was watching zoo animals who weren’t supposed to be put in the same enclosure.

“So,” Lisa said. “Are you two . . . official and staying together?”

Willow blushed. “I’m woman enough to admit I may have been wrong about Ryan.”

“Can I get that in writing?” I teased.

Cynthia and Lisa cracked smiles.

“We have a nice long drive over the next few days to hammer out the details,” I said.

“And if we can’t agree on something, I’ll just leave him at a rest stop somewhere in Kentucky,” Willow quipped.

“What route are you taking?” Lisa asked. “Are you going back through that little town in Virginia? Send me pictures if you do. It sounded gorgeous.”

“How can a town sound gorgeous?” Amber snipped.

A vein popped out across Lisa’s forehead, but she kept her composure. “Autumn and Ryan were telling me about it when we got together. The way they described it made the town sound lovely.”

“What town?” Cynthia asked, looking a little hurt.

“What was it called again?” Willow asked me.

I chuckled. “Honestly, I just remember the diner.”

She nodded. “That food was so good.”

“So that settles it,” I said. “The Virginia route?”

Willow laughed. “We’re adding hours to the trip just to get breakfast?”

“I’ve done sketchier things for breakfast food,” I joked.

Lisa beamed. “You two make a good match.”

To my surprise, Cynthia nodded in agreement.

Of course, Amber had to roll her eyes.

Okay. Maybe no one would say anything. Maybe we could make it through this weird family reunion without someone making a comment to Willow about Shep being her dad. I’d tell her when everyone left and it would be just fine. It would give her closure.

I don’t know why I was so surprised Cynthia, Amber, and Lisa were keeping their mouths shut about Shep. They had been doing it for decades.

Willow was telling the ladies about her plans for the days she would spend in New York City when there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” I said as I eased off of my spot against the kitchen counter.

Bev was on the other side of the door and met me with a smile. “Hey, sugar. I’m glad I caught you two. Is Autumn here with you?”

“Yes, ma’am. Come on in.”

“I just wanted to pop by and see you two before you headed out. I’m not rushing you. I know you’re not leaving until tomorrow. I just wanted to say goodbye to Autumn. She’s my favorite renter.”

I chuckled. “Of course.”

“Bev!” Willow said as she jumped off the couch and came over to give her a hug. “I’m so glad you stopped by.”

“I wouldn’t miss saying goodbye to you,” Bev said as she squeezed her tight. “Hopefully, the next time you come to town I’ll have the other bedroom finished instead of having to use it for storage.”

Willow dismissed the notion with a flick of her hand. “The house was perfect as always.”

Bev looked into the living room. “Well hey, Cynthia. Lisa.” Her brows lifted. “And Amber. Good to see you ladies.”

Everyone said polite hellos; even Amber.

“You want to sit a while?” Willow asked Bev. “I’ve got cookies.”

Bev just shook her head. “No, no. I don’t want to intrude.

I’ve gotta run to the store to get some reinforcements for the house before the new renters come.

I just wanted to pop in and see you before you left.

It’s good to see all of you in one room.

After all the things that have been going around town, I wasn’t sure if you all were leaving on good terms or not. ”

Shit.

Cynthia paled.

Lisa’s eyes turned to saucers.

Willow cocked her head. “What ‘things’ going around town? About me and Ryan?” She laughed. “We’re still together if that’s what you’re asking.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Bev didn’t skip a beat. “Not about you and Ryan. About Shep being your father.”

I opened my mouth to cut her off, but it was too late.

Bev pointed to me. “All the old biddies at your momma’s salon were yapping about it all week after your man showed up to the salon and confronted her about it.”

The silence hurt my ears. It felt like being stuck in a vacuum. There was no sound. Only pressure.

Willow didn’t look at me. She didn’t even move. Her eyes stayed on Bev through seven painstaking seconds of silence.

And then she spoke.

“Well,” Willow said. “Thanks for stopping by and for letting us stay in the house on such short notice.”

Bev just smiled like she hadn’t hit the launch button on a thousand emotional nuclear warheads. “Of course, dear. Any time. Safe travels.”

Willow walked Bev to the door and waved her off as she got into her car and left.

But she never closed the front door. She calmly walked back into the living room, and said, “We need to finish packing and get to bed early. You can see yourselves out.” Then, she walked into the bedroom and shut the door.

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have an answer for what to do next. I wanted her to be angry. To be irate. To yell at me and ask questions. I wanted her to fight with me. I wanted to tell her the truth.

I would have if I’d just had five more minutes.

But she didn’t know that.

All she knew was that her world had shattered, and I had pulled the trigger.