water cool the heat. Boats are stationed in a tight circle, docked behind mansions similar to the Nicholson’s. The water is murky and still, interrupted by the occasional breeze. There’s a large boat docked behind their property. The Nich is painted along the side of the boat.
In Jacksonville, Willow was a picture. She was a memory in his past that wouldn’t leave his present. Now she’s real. She exists. And she’s messing with my man. The only one who should be affecting him is me. But it wasn’t like I knew Willow is with his brother. Somehow this changes everything. She isn’t in his past. She’s in his future. Kent’s the uncle to her child. No matter what we do she will be there.
Willow Serena, soon to be Willow Nicholson, will be a part of our lives.
I remain on the bay until the heat gets the best of me. I don’t want to see Kent, face his parents, or see his ex. This man is a tangled mess. I take deep breaths of the soggy air and the warm sun and then force myself to go back inside. Walking across the lawn, I notice Mr. Greene cleaning up Kent’s bloody t-shirt.
“I’ll take that,” I offer.
He looks over at me. “It’s no problem.”
“Are you sure? You shouldn’t have to clean up after him.”
He smiles. “I’ve been cleaning up after Kent for a while. This,” he says, holding up his t-shirt, “is no trouble.”
“I bet,” I grumble, earning a knowing laugh. “Where is he, Mr. Greene?”
“I believe he’s in his bedroom. Find the stairs past the foyer and take the fourth door down the hall.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I enter the house through the side door Kent and I exited from after the fight. It’s near noon now and the mess of breakfast has been cleaned up. I walk through the kitchen to the fridge. I need something to drink, and since it can’t be whiskey, I’ll settle on water.
Willow walks in as I’m closing the fridge.
She pauses when she sees me. “How is he?” she asks softly.
“You don’t get to ask that anymore.”
She holds my eye contact. “Maybe not, but I still worry about him. Despite what he thinks I’m not some cold-hearted bitch.”
“He does think that.”
She smiles a little. “Trust me, he’s told me on more than one occasion. How is he?” Her green eyes are seemingly sincere and worried.
They weren’t sincere when she was with Scott. “He didn’t know until yesterday.”
“It’s the Nicholsons’ fault. They hide everything from him because they’re afraid of his response. What they don’t realize is Kent needs time to work things out. He has the ability to be a calm thinker. But he can be impulsive sometimes too. Unless he understands his actions he’s a tornado.”
I’m irritated she knows him so well. I picture them together, naked bodies intertwined. I have half a mind to search for something stronger than water. I’ve never had to deal with an ex before.
“Congratulations on being pregnant and your engagement.” It only seems right.
Her smile is large and happy. “Thank you,” she gushes. “I’m so happy it’s kind of scary.”
“How far along are you?”
“Six weeks.” She touches her belly. It’s still relatively flat, but there’s a slight bump under her shirt.
I feel like I’m the only one who’s awkward here. She’s clearly happy and I’m clearly confused. Where’s the heartless whore Kent described? Where are her claws and evil intent? “Is Scott excited?”
She frowns at her belly. “He is.” She looks into my eyes and hers fill with tears. “But I think he might want to hurt Kent more.”
I am uncomfortable. I don’t want to comfort my boyfriend’s pregnant ex-girlfriend. “Don’t cry. I’m sure he’s just nervous.”
“No. He couldn’t wait to tell Kent, because he knew Kent would be devastated.”
She’s looking at me like I have answers. “What’s his problem?” I ask.
She sighs and shakes her head sadly. “I think he knows exactly how Kent feels about me.”
I watch her claws come out. She suckered me in and I fell for it. I smile sweetly at her. “Kent’s with me, Willow. I think he’s more bothered by what his brother did.”
She smiles back, glad I’m playing along. “We both know he’s still in love with me. He’s loved me from the moment our eyes met.”
Bitch. “We both know he isn’t. He loves me now.”
She laughs as if that’s the funniest thing she’s heard all year long. “Sure, sweetheart. Kent loved me more than he’s ever loved anyone. Poor thing was