Page 35

Hartley

M y palms are drenched with sweat as I pace back and forth, carving a path into the already worn wooden floors of the main room. “Are you sure you’ll make it?” I rage into the phone at Willow.

“Yes. I’ve told you a million times already!” Willow shouts into the phone. “I’m walking to the rideshare as we speak.”

“It won’t work if you’re not—”

Willow cuts me off in a mocking tone, “ Here before she gets here. I’ll be there. Stop worrying so much!” The fire in this girl is exactly like her sister, and I don’t know if that should make me smile, laugh, or fear the future of two spicy alpha personalities in my life.

“Text when you’re close.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Her end clicks off before I can quadruple check her ETA.

When Liza asked me to be her date to the annual art exposition, my heart exploded.

I knew she would want her sister there, but with her being here for a week at Christmas, another flight would be out of the budget.

I took it upon myself to sneak around to get Willow’s number and forge a plan to surprise my girl with her favorite person.

As much as Liza tries to downplay it, tonight is important to her and for her career as an artist in the area.

I want her night to be perfect because she deserves it, and because I love her .

I think I’ve loved her for a while, but when she opened herself up to a real chance for us to work, my heart confirmed it.

“Hart! Is she close?” Violet’s voice echoes from her bedroom. Her heels click on the hardwood floor as she waltzes out the room. Her head tilts to the side as she puts in one earring without the help of the mirror.

“She says so.”

Planting herself on the couch, she rests her head on my shoulder in reassurance.

“She’ll be here.” A quick grin crosses her face.

It lifts ten pounds of worry off my chest to see Violet smile again after what happened between her and Ryan.

According to her, they’re “working things out” by “taking time for themselves”.

I’m trying to let Violet take the lead on this, but as the person who’s always stepped in to protect her, it’s hard to maintain my composure. “She’s going to love this.”

“I hope so.” I want to do it all the right way when it comes to Liza.

I thrum my fingers against my thighs, bounce off the couch, and head into the kitchen to put away dishes.

I wasn’t sure how fancy this event was, so I went with black chinos and a gray polo.

I busted out the brown loafers I haven’t worn since Violet’s grandpa’s funeral.

Wearing a hat wasn’t an option, so I styled my hair the best I could while still looking like myself.

Ding. Our apartment doorbell rings and I jump out of my skin at the thought of Liza and Emberly arriving before Willow.

“I’ve got it!” Violet yells as she flings the door open, allowing the cool night air to trickle inside.

“I’m here!” a sassy voice booms, and my shoulders relax at the squeaking of Willow’s entrance. She pops around the door into view. “I can’t wait to be here with you guys next year.”

Violet’s eyes bulge in shock and excitement. “You’re coming to Springs U?!”

“Yes, ma’am.” Throwing her hands on her hips. “And you are?”

“Oh.” Red flushes Violet’s cheeks in embarrassment. “I’m Violet. I’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I already know you.”

“ The Violet who was a total queen in truth or dare?!” And that’s my cue to plug my ears because if I hear the story of Ryan and Violet’s kiss one more time, I may break something.

“Umm. . .” She bites her lip and behind her dark eyes, flashes the entirety of her and Ryan’s relationship in a matter of seconds. “Yeah. The one and only.”

Willow pulls her in for a hug, and her muffled voice speaks into Violet’s hair, “I want to be you when I grow up.”

Clearing my throat, I interject. “Okay.” The last thing I need is Violet having an emotional breakdown about Shane in the middle of Liza’s art exhibition. “Let’s go over the plan.”

Knock. Knock. Knock. Pounds into the wooden door announce Liza and Emberly’s arrival. So much for a plan. Willow’s hands dart over her mouth as she lets out soft squeals and points to the door.

She mouths, “ That’s her. ”

So I mouth back as I throw up my hands in worry, “ You think?! ”

I throw my plan of hiding Willow somewhere in the apartment out the window.

Instead, I turn off my worried brain and let the pieces fall where they may.

Squaring my shoulders, I march past Violet and squeeze past an excited Willow to greet my girl at the door.

What surprises me behind the aged wood is pure sunshine.

Her hair curled down one side of her shoulder, her brown eyes glimmering with hope as she stares daggers into my heart.

Her dress is a deep pink, almost purple color, and her strapped heels are tied off with a satin bow.

I’ve never seen her like this, so my mouth runs dry and parts as my eyes continue to slowly rake over her.

“Done staring, Hotshot?”I say with a teasing smile.

Taking a few steps forward, I kiss her gently on the cheek, careful not to mess up her makeup. That time will come later. “Never.” So entranced with Liza, I didn’t even notice Emberly standing a few steps behind her in a navy blue pants suit with her hands folded over her chest. “Oh. Hey, Em.”

“Hey. Can we come in now?” she asks, flipping her watch over to check the time.

“Yeah. Yeah. I have something to show you.” Resting my hand on the small of Liza’s back, I guide her in, thankfully giving Willow enough time to get out of plain sight.

“A surprise?” Liza’s face lights up with mischief.

I shift my weight from side to side and stick my hands in the pockets of my dress pants. “Something you couldn’t get through the night without.”

“SURPRISE!” Willow pops her head up from her crouched position behind the kitchen counter, scurrying to wrap her sister in a bear hug.

Liza's mouth forms a surprised ‘o’ shape as her eyes shoot to mine over her sister's shoulder as she hugs me back. “Willow?! How. . .”

“It was all Hartley’s idea,” Willow gloats on and boosts my ego with every word. “He wanted this to be special for you.”

Liza’s eyes well with appreciation as she unlocks her arms from around her sister and makes her way across the room to me. “Hart. . .”

My hands grip both sides of her hips as I roll the fabric of her soft dress to center myself in the moment. “You deserve to have everything you want, Goldie.”

“This is. . .” Her thumb rubs a rogue tear traveling down her cheek. “Thank you.”

“Not to ruin the moment because I would love to watch this unfold all night—” Violet’s soft voice cuts in and brings us back to reality as she wipes away a stray tear from her cheek. “But if we don’t leave soon, we’ll be late.”

“Let’s go.” Willow ushers us out of the crowded apartment and all of us hop into Liza’s small car.

With the amount of people crammed in, Emberly decided to drive, giving me the perfect opportunity to have Liza on my lap for the short drive to the art building on campus.

Peppering kisses up and down her neck, forming goosebumps across her arms and legs, my hands wander up the slit of her short dress to squeeze her thigh.

“Mmm. . .” Her soft moans, only meant for me, rattle into my ear, and I begin to question if I’ll make it through this event without gluing my hands to her body every few minutes.

“We’re here,” Emberly announces as she parks in a close enough spot for the girls not to complain about the distance in heels. We get out of the clown car and allow Liza to lead the way to the exposition. Her hand intertwines with mine as we approach the door.

Inhaling a deep breath, Liza turns to the group. “This is it.”

“I’m so excited!” Willow shrieks.

“This is going to be the best,” Violet says.

Kissing her cheek, I whisper just for her, “You’re amazing, baby.”

With the extra encouragement, Liza pushes the glass door open and we’re met with a crowd of both young and old art enthusiasts. Show time.