Page 15 of The P*ssy Next Door
“It was the perfect thing to keep us both going in those dark days, babe,” Liam sighed. “But we don't have to run away to get that same feeling. I get it every day when I open up the shop because it always makes me think of the day you gave it to me.”
“Couldn't we at least ask Willa? She could...” George's hopeful voice trailed off.
“No, absolutely not. We can't ask her to give up her job, her life. You know how much it means to her.”
Tears pricked the backs of my eyes at Liam's fierce protectiveness. He'd always been my rock with his quiet understanding and unconditional support.
My stomach twisted into a pretzel. One of those hard crunchy ones—not the soft, delicious kind. These two men had done so much for me—taking me in when I'd wanted to escape my parents' endless parade of college applications, supporting my wanderlust. And now I was the one person who could make it so they could go on this much-deserved trip of their own.
“You're right, of course,” George acquiesced, a tinge of disappointment coloring his tone. “We'll figure something out. Maybe Javier can take on more shifts, or we can hire a temporary manager...”
Their voices faded as they moved deeper into the kitchen, but I remained rooted to the spot, my mind whirling.
They were willing to sacrifice their dream trip... for me. To protect the life I'd chosen, even if they didn't quite understand it.
A wave of shame crashed over me, stealing my breath. Here I was, bouncing around the world trying to “find myself,” while all they wanted was a chance to celebrate the fact that Liam didn't fucking die. And I was scared to death of offering to help.
Seven weaved between my ankles, jolting me out of my spiraling thoughts. I scooped him up and buried my face in his fur, my throat tight.
I knew what I had to do. But it made me want to puke.
Well, suck it up, buttercup. I could do this for them. I squared my shoulders and marched into the kitchen, ready to face the music.
Uncle Liam startled as I burst through the swinging door, nearly dropping the mug he was drying. “Willa, you scared me half to death.”
“Oh god. Too soon, Uncle Li, too soon. You're not allowed to talk about dying for at least another fifty-seven years.” I swallowed hard, my grand speech deserting me. “I couldn't help overhearing about the cruise. And the café.”
They exchanged a loaded glance, an entire conversation passing between them in the space of a heartbeat.
“Oh, sweet wild child,” George said softly and pulled me into his best kind of bear hug. “Don't you worry about all that.”
“But I do worry. You two have done so much for me, and now you're willing to give up your trip because of me, and I just...” I blinked back the sudden sting of tears, my fingers curling into George's jersey.
“Enough of that nonsense.” Liam set down his mug and crossed the room and joined us in a big group hug. “Seeing you happy and unburdened, out living your best life in the world, makes us happy. We wouldn't trade that, not for all the cruises around the world.”
“He's right,” George chimed in, enveloping us both in his big burly embrace. “You're worth a thousand trips around the globe.”
For a moment, I let myself sink into the comfort of their love, the unwavering faith they'd always had in me. Even when I didn't have it in myself. “We aren't done talking about this. I'll step up if I need to.”
“You don't need to,” Liam said. “You need to live your wild child life, Willa. That's what we want for you. I can't tell you how often I lived vicariously through you and your adventures.”
Oh man. Now I was gonna cry again.
A change of subject was in order. “You wanna live two minutes of vicariousness right now?”
In unison, they said, “Absolutely.”
I took a step back and simply could not hide my smile from them. “Guess who I went out with tonight.”
Liam made waggly eyebrows at me, and George clasped his hands together, looked up to the sky and moved his mouth as if in prayer, then crossed himself and looked right at me. “Who?”
“Hayes Kingman.”
George dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Please, Willa, please tell me you're going to marry that boy, and then adopt me and make me a Kingman.”
Seven jumped up on George's shoulder and I swear he looked up at me in the exact same way as George. I wagged my fingers at both of them. “You two are very strange.”
Liam laughed and rolled his eyes. “You have no idea.”