Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(6)

“Yellow, corner pocket,” I say to Noah King before I tap the ball and send it into the target.

The guys are here for some beer and laid-back conversation. The only one missing is Brad, but he’s on his honeymoon in the Caribbean. I invite everyone over about once a month.

“How’s the bird rescue business?” I ask Noah as I rub blue chalk on the end of my cue.

“Steady,” he says, studying the balls on the table. “I had a barn owl brought in today. Someone shot it with a .22 and left it for dead.”

“People are assholes,” Gray says in disgust.

“I won’t disagree with you,” Noah replies. “How’s the billionaire life?”

My lips twitch. Gray and Noah have known me since we were kids. We all grew up together. And they never get tired of flipping me shit for being rich.

“Oh, you know. I bought a new yacht yesterday.”

“Seriously?” Gray asks. “Because if you did, I’m borrowing it.”

“No, but I looked at one online. It could be a good investment.”

“Don’t do it,” Christian says, surprising me. “I have a friend who did, and it was a pain in the ass more than a good time.”

“Good to know,” I reply, leaning on my cue as Noah takes his turn on the table.

“If it impresses the ladies, I say do it,” Gray says with a grin.

“Speaking of ladies to impress,” Noah says, “did you guys see Willa at the wedding the other night?”

And just like that, every nerve on my body is on high alert.

I take a pull off my beer, keeping my face neutral, but my hands clench on the pool cue.

“She’s hot,” Gray agrees with a nod and then throws a dart. “That dress showed off her ass nicely.”

I want to tear him limb from limb for even having the audacity to look at her ass.

“I might ask her out,” Noah replies thoughtfully, and I react without thinking.

“Fuck, no,” I say, my voice a growl.

“No?” Noah asks, rubbing his chin. “Why’s that?”

“Just no,” I repeat and toss my empty bottle into the trash, then open the fridge for another.

“Last I checked, you’re not her daddy, and she’s a grown woman so I can ask her out if I damn well please,” Noah says. Both Gray and Christian have stopped their game and watch us with interest.

“You know there’s history there,” I reply.

“Ancient history,” he says. “You dated her in high school, man. So, what? You dated her, so she can’t date anyone else in this town? Is she supposed to die an old maid? You didn’t brand her, Max.”

“Don’t be an asshole,” I reply calmly but feel anything but calm.

“I’m a man, and Willa’s an attractive woman. So unless you’re going to ask her out yourself, I don’t think there’s much you can say here.”

I narrow my eyes at him, pissed as hell, but he’s right.

I don’t have a claim on Willa.

And that pisses me off, too.

“He’s still in love with her,” Gray says quietly.

“Then maybe he should do something about it,” Noah says, his arms crossed over his chest, watching me defiantly. “Shit, or get off the pot.”

“I don’t think we should equate Willa to a pot,” Christian says. “It’s just gross.”

“You know what I mean,” Noah says.

“You started this on purpose,” I reply and watch as a smile spreads over my friend’s face.

“We saw you at the wedding,” Gray says. “We saw the way you looked at her when you were dancing with her.”

“How’s that?” I ask, then hate myself for it because I probably don’t want to know.

“Like she hung the damn moon,” Christian says, then shrugs when I stare at him. “Jenna’s told me a lot about your past with Willa, and I watch. Jenna said it was a big deal that you danced with her.”

“He doesn’t usually go near her,” Gray confirms, and I scowl.

“Are y’all just sitting around, talking about my non-existent love life like a bunch of gossiping women?” I toss my cue on the table and march to the doors that open to the balcony that overlooks the lake. I step out into the snow and take a deep breath of the crisp air.

“If she’s what you want, you should do something about it,” Noah says from behind me, and I turn to find all three men standing on the balcony with me. “Because if you don’t, someone else will.”

The pain that the thought of someone else touching Willa brings me is a hell that I wouldn’t wish on an enemy.

“Maybe I’m not what she needs,” I reply. “She made it clear a long time ago that she doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“She was young and hurt,” Gray says. “Hell, we all were. And, yeah, she might tell you to go fuck yourself. But at least you’d have tried.”

“Why do I feel like this was an intervention?” I ask, propping my hands on my hips.

“No idea,” Gray says with a smile. “We just came over to drink your beer and beat you at pool.”

“Maybe the kid is the problem,” Noah says thoughtfully. “Are you hanging back because you don’t want to take on another man’s child?”