Test Drive - Samantha Chase Page 0,82
laugh. “And in all our getting to know you talks, you never thought to tell me the truth. Now I don’t know if anything you said was true or not.”
“Willow, please…”
She took one step back and then another. “It’s late and I’m just so tired, Levi. Go.” Then she turned and walked back toward her apartment with Jen and Donna quickly flanking her.
He stood there in the dark long after the door was closed and realized he had no one to blame but himself. He’d ruined what could have been the greatest relationship of his life. And for a guy who was a master at solving problems and fixing things, he realized he had no idea how to fix this.
17
Ten days.
She’d been sticking to her guns for ten whole days but she was starting to weaken. Levi had called and texted her every single day, apologizing.
And she had ignored them both.
Then he sent flowers.
Her apartment could now double as a florist.
Next came every kind of cake, cookie, and candy she had ever mentioned liking while they had been getting to know each other.
And thanks to her scale this morning, she knew eating so many of them was a mistake.
Now she was staring down at a giant box of assorted dog toys, treats, and accessories. There were leashes that were meant for multiple dogs, some harnesses, and a few sweaters for the little dogs.
It was getting harder and harder to stay mad.
Lying was a big no-no in her book. And although it wasn’t a terrible lie, it was still a lie.
Maybe I should have talked to him…
Yeah, it wasn’t the first time she’d thought it and probably wasn’t the last either. Every time Willow thought she was ready to answer his call or text, uncertainty grabbed her by the throat.
Am I too gullible? Too trusting? How will I ever know when he’s telling me the truth?
The list was endless.
Her phone dinged with an incoming text and all she saw was his name and she chose to ignore it. When it rang a minute later, she was certain it was him, but then Gammy’s face was on the screen and relief washed over her.
“Hey, Gams! How are you?”
“Hello, my little Willow bell! What’s new with you?”
“Well, not a whole lot.”
Liar.
“It’s my day off, so I am getting caught up on laundry and cleaning. Fun, right?”
“Yes, you lead a very exciting life,” Gammy deadpanned. “What’s next? Washing your hair on a Saturday night instead of going out with Levi?”
Yeah…that.
As much as she didn’t want to, Willow decided to just rip off the band-aid and tell her grandmother what was going on. “Um…Levi and I broke up.”
Silence.
“So…yeah. We’re not dating anymore.”
More silence.
“Gams? Can you hear me?”
“Oh, I hear you just fine. The question is, do you hear yourself?”
“Uh…what?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“I don’t even know what that means!” she cried.
“Willow, why are you afraid to be happy?”
“I’m not!”
“Oh, really? Then tell me, why did it take you so long to stand up for yourself and admit that you enjoy being a nanny?”
“That’s different. I was already babysitting for Josh. That isn’t anything new.”
“No, but you never told any of us how much you enjoyed it or how it was something you wanted to do full-time!”
“Okay, fine. You got me there, but…that’s not being afraid to be happy. That was me not wanting to deal with my parents being all judgy.”
“Well, you know what? Now I’m being judgy!”
“What? Why?”
“Because you’re afraid to be…”
“Okay, okay, okay! Saying that over and over isn’t getting us anywhere. I just don’t understand why you think that.”
“Because you’re no longer with Levi!” Gammy cried with exasperation. “Sheesh! It’s like talking with a dolphin.”
“Hey!”
“Oh, stop it.”
“Take it back,” Willow demanded, feeling beyond hurt. “I am not like a dolphin.”
“You’re right. A dolphin would have understood what I was saying the first time.”
“Gammy!”
“Okay, that one was uncalled for, but I still believe…” She cut herself off and let out a long, weary sigh. “What happened?”
Willow explained about the day when she showed up at the pub and Dex and then Anthony telling her how Levi owned the place. “He showed up that night to try to explain, but…I didn’t want to hear it.”
“So, what happened when you saw him the next day?”
“I didn’t see him the next day.”
“Fine, what happened when you did see him?”
“I haven’t.”
Silence.
And then another really long, dramatic sigh.
“Willow, you’re like a granddaughter to me…”
“Oh, no, you don’t! You are not going to use that line on me!”
“I believe I