Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(31)

“What else is in here?” Alex asks eagerly.

“Alex,” Willa admonishes. “Don’t forget your manners.”

“Sorry,” he says. “But really, what else is there?”

“I think we have a minute to show you around,” I say with a laugh and take the two of them on a quick trip through all ten thousand square feet.

“You have ping-pong,” Alex says, jumping up and down.

“And a movie theater,” I say, opening the door to the room in question and flipping on the lights. Alex walks in and stares, struck speechless.

“Whoa. Mom, did you know about this?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” Alex looks betrayed as he takes in each of the posters, the popcorn machine, the candy counter. “It’s like the real thing.”

“I like movies,” I say.

“Do you have Star Wars?”

“I sure do.”

He turns to me with wide eyes. “Can we please watch it later?”

“If your mom says it’s okay, I’ll put it on after dinner for you.”

He turns to his mom. “Please, Mom? It’s my most favoritest movie!”

“It’s fine with me.”

“Yesssss!” He pumps his fist in the air and follows us back upstairs to the main level. Willa stops on the stairs in front of me and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me close. I stiffen for just a second, then return the embrace.

“I missed you today,” she whispers.

“How was your day?” I ask. She leans back, her eyes narrowed and watching me closely. There’s no way she can tell that anything’s up. I’m acting completely normal.

“It was fine,” she says. “Are you okay?”

“I’m great,” I reply with a smile and gesture for her to keep climbing the stairs. “I think I hear voices up there with Alex.”

But she doesn’t move. She just cups my cheek, and I immediately feel like a jerk. “Are you sure nothing’s bothering you?”

“I’m great,” I repeat and lean in to press a quick kiss to her lips. Finally, she turns to lead me upstairs.

“Alex was just telling me that we get to watch Star Wars after dinner,” Jenna says when we come into the kitchen. “Please tell me he’s not lying.”

“Looks like it’s a movie night,” I confirm, and Jenna and Alex exchange a fist bump.

“Awesome,” Christian says from behind the island where he’s sniffing at the lasagna. “Alex needs to hang out with us more often. We’ll have way more movie nights.”

“I can do that,” Alex says with a nod.

“They’re here!” Willa exclaims when the doorbell rings. She runs to answer it, then throws her arms around Hannah. “Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to see you.”

“We were only gone for two weeks,” Brad says with a smile before wrapping her in a hug.

“That’s a long time,” Willa says as she closes the door behind them. “Look how tan you both are. I’m so jealous. By this time of year, I’m white as a ghost. I don’t remember what the sun looks like.”

“You’re always welcome to use my house in L.A.,” Christian offers, and I suddenly feel defensive, which is stupid.

“I also have a place down that way,” I add calmly. “Dinner’s on, guys. Help yourselves.”

“I love it when Max hosts dinners,” Jenna says with a wink. “We get something delicious, and I don’t have to cook.”

“I do my part,” I reply with a laugh. Willa steps over to me and links her fingers with mine, then squeezes my hand. I press back. The reassurance that she’s here because she wants to be is a balm to my soul today.

So why am I trying to back away?

Good question.

My gaze finds Brad’s. He cocks a brow.

“You’ve been gone a while,” I say simply.

“Not that long. And I had a signal on my phone.”

I shrug. “We’ll catch up.”

“I want to hear all about the honeymoon,” Willa says.

“Ugh, romance,” Alex says, sticking his tongue out and making us all laugh.

“That’s right, romance is gross.” Christian ruffles his hair before offering him some garlic bread. “Just remember that in about six years.”

“Thirty years,” Willa mutters.

“Go ahead, rub it in that you got to wear your summer clothes and swim in the ocean,” Jenna says, and we all take a place at my dining room table. This calms me a bit. My family gathered around, talking about normal things.

I can do this.

“I actually did swim in the ocean,” Hannah says. “Which I know is a shocker, given that I’m afraid of literally everything.”

“She was amazing,” Brad adds.

“I’ll never do it again,” Hannah continues. “I saw a shark. A freaking shark.”

“That’s so cool,” Alex says, and I nod in agreement.

“No. It was scary. I don’t want to die. So, while it was maybe the most amazing thing I’ve seen, I don’t need to repeat the experience. But it was seriously beautiful there. We sat on the beach or by the pool for a little while every day. Someone was always bringing us a drink or food of some kind.”