Page 49 of Wherever You Are

“I can find you better ones,” he says with a tight laugh. “You’re so stubborn. Just like your brothers. Rejecting me on principle rather than being smart about this.”

“I just want to do it on my own,” I mutter. This is one of the first times I’ve felt his disappointment. It’s a tsunami, crashing into me, especially after all that he’s given me.

This is why you didn’t want to take his money, Willow.I know. I know.

But now I’m stuck.

I can feel the heat of Garrison’s confusion behind me. But I don’t confront it yet.

“I used to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Willow. You don’t discard the connections I have out of a need to show that you’re a big girl. But I can compromise. I won’t call them myself. I’ll email you their contacts. Your name will get you through the door.”

I can’t even say much else; someone must call him because he abruptly tells me he has to go and to have a good night.

We hang up.

Goosebumps dot my skin, and I shiver. Garrison comes closer, his softened eyes asking if he can touch me.

I nod, and he rubs my cold arm. I’ve decided that my dad isn’t a great person when he’s meddling in my life.

Garrison’s voice is a whisper as he says, “What the hell is going on Willow?”

My mouth dries.

“Your dad is trying to get you an internship?” He shakes his head, brows furrowed.

“He’s paying for my second year,” I remind Garrison, and I step out of his embrace to approach the dresser. I tug out a drawer.Empty.

I forgot most of my clothes are still in boxes.

And technically, my dad is paying for every semester here on out. College is expensive, and my years working at Superheroes & Scones don’t even make a dent in tuition. Garrison offered to cover it, but I can’t take money from my boyfriend.

“You always knew he would pay for it,” Garrison says, taking a seat on the stripped bed. Not questioning the wadded-up comforter since I told him about Mattie and Dina. “But that didn’t stop you from telling your dad to keep out of your career. You said those words a year ago, Willow. You said:I’m making the decisions.I was there when both of your brothers backed you up and shut that shit down.”

That was a long time ago.

That was before December.

“Things have changed.” I don’t dig into a cardboard box for panties or a shirt. I want to face Garrison, so I stay standing.

“Something happened.” He frowns deeply again. “Willow…” He rises off the mattress and comes forward.

I stiffen. My joints freezing up.

Hurt flashes in his eyes. I’m the one with secrets now. And they eat at me, slowly gnawing from the inside-out.

Concern infiltrates his face. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what happened. I can stand here all night.”

“It may take longer than all night,” I say softly.

His face breaks. “All week. All month.Willow—”

“I’m fine. It’s fine,” I say quickly. I need to tell him something. Maybe thevaguetruth will work without causing damage. “Recently, I took more of his money.”

Garrison shakes his head like that doesn’t make sense. “If you needed money, you could have come to me…” He stops short and then rubs his lips. “Shit.” He’s putting as many pieces together as he can. “There’s a reason you didn’t. Probably the same reason you’re not telling me anything now.”

He’s smart and he’s right.

I take another breath. “My brothers also don’t know I took his money,” I say. “I’d like to keep it that way.”