Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(4)

“Girls are weird,” he says with a shrug.

“Girls aren’t the only ones who cry when they’re happy,” I argue with a laugh. “Isn’t Miss Hannah pretty?”

“I like her dress,” he says. “It’s not too poofy like on that show on TV.”

“No, it fits her perfectly.”

Hannah’s red hair is pulled back into a simple twist, showing off the strapless dress, sweetheart neckline, and crystals that wink in the lights. Brad hasn’t taken his hands off her since she walked down the aisle to him.

“Now it’s time for the bridal party to dance,” Jenna says into the MC’s mic. “Come on, guys!”

The next thing I know, I’m coupled up with Max, and for the first time in more than a decade, I’m in his arms, dancing to a slow song by the Goo Goo Dolls.

“Hey,” Max says with a half-smile. His arms are stiff around me, and his jaw is tight as if he’d rather be anywhere but here.

“Hi,” I reply softly.

I used to love this man when we were so young that I thought we’d be together forever. But that wasn’t to be. We wanted very different things.

Besides, not many people marry their childhood sweethearts these days.

Max and I have a long history. Some of it was wonderful, and some were the hardest times of my life.

But he’s living here now, and I refuse to let things stay awkward between us. We have the same friends, we move in the same circles.

I need to extend an olive branch.

“You know, it’s not fair,” I begin.

“What’s that?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow.

“That we’re all aging, but you just get better looking.”

His jaw stops, clenching as he takes a deep breath and finally smiles down at me with that grin that used to melt me into a puddle at his feet.

“Is that so?”

“I’m not telling you anything you don’t know,” I reply with a shrug. “You and Christian were both in that magazine a few months ago.”

“You read it?” he asks.

“I’m a woman over the age of sixteen,” I remind him. “Of course, I read it.”

“Tell me more about how you think I’m better looking.”

I laugh now, leaning in to rest my forehead on his chest and discreetly clenching my legs so I don’t pee myself.

Having a baby will do things to your body, like make your bladder weaker than a newborn bunny.

“You always were humble,” I say when I can breathe again.

“You started it.”

“So I did.”

“How are you, Willa?”

“I’m great,” I reply honestly. “How are you?”

“I can’t complain,” he says. He looks like he wants to say more, but suddenly, my son is tapping my arm.

“Mom, I want to dance, too.”

“Okay, Bubba. Alex, do you remember Mr. Max?”

“Hi, Alex,” Max says, smiling down at my son.

“Hi. Sorry to interrupt, but Mom said she’d dance with me.”

“She’s all yours,” Max says, passing my hand over to Alex and nodding. “See you around, Wills.”

Wills.

Only Max and Cary called me Wills. I haven’t heard that out loud in almost nine years.

“Mom.”

I glance down. “Yes, baby?”

“I have moves.”

I chuckle and rest my hand on his shoulder, letting him guide me over the floor. “Yes, you do.”

***

“I’m not tired,” Alex says with a yawn. He can’t keep his eyes open as I tug the covers up to his chin.

“Well, I am,” I reply and kiss his cheek. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“Yeah. I danced with all the girls.”

“Yes, you did.” I kiss him again. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

“Like Dad?”

I sigh, breathing him in. His baby smell is long gone, replaced tonight by the scent of soap from his shower after we got home. He’s soft and cozy, and there are still brief moments like this one when he’s sleepy and tucked into bed, that he’s my baby.

“Yes, your dad was a charmer.”

“Tell me,” he says, settling in. This is a story I’ve told him since he was born. I don’t tell it as often now, but sometimes, when he’s not feeling well or has been thinking about his dad, he’ll ask for it.

And I always comply because I promised Cary that his son would know him.

“Your dad was born right here in Cunningham Falls, on March sixteenth,” I begin, lying next to him and holding him to me. “And just like you, he was a wonderful boy. I met him in Kindergarten. We had Mrs. Wilhem, in the morning class…”





Chapter Two


Max


“COME ON, MAN. IT’LL be a rush,” Cary says as he adjusts his goggles on his face.

“It hasn’t been groomed,” I insist, looking down the backside of the mountain. We got a lot of fresh snow last night, and I’m worried. This could be dangerous. “Don’t be stupid.”

“Don’t be a pussy,” he throws back at me, smiles, then pushes off, gaining speed quickly.