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“I’ll walk you out,” Willow offers, lass down next to mine

“Don’t bother” Nora waves her off as Tacker puts his arm around her shoulder “We’ll see ourselves out You two stay out here and enjoy this gorgeous night”

That’s all I need to hear I reach out, nab Willow by the elbow, and pull her into my side When I put an arm around her back, she reciprocates We stand side by side as our guests—yes, our guests—disappear through the patio door and into the house as they call out farewells

When the door closes, we silently watch the gang through the large s along the patio They ht out the door I file away a reo to bed

I pick up my scotch, lean an elbow on the bar, and tip my head toward Willow “Thank you”

She takes her glass of wine, shifts her body to face me, and also puts an elbow on the bar “What for?”

“For just being you,” I say, touching the tip ofmore”

Willow slass to her lips She takes a slad you liked the more”

She knows exactly what I’ about That I’ve noticed she’s taken the next step toour relationship forward

I also know she wouldn’t want h her trust issues She’s slowly learning I’ tentative baby steps to meet me halfway

Still, I do need her to know one thing I learned a hard lesson as a child, that nothing is ever guaranteed and the people we love can be taken froht me never to hold back on how I feel

Setting lass down, I take Willow’s fro her face withpatiently and without fear to hear what I have to say that’s so important I need to hold her attention like this

“I’ so I can brush h so I can see her again, I continue “You need to knohen all this started, I was on the sae you were It was supposed to be teood time, and then we’d move on But it turned into ht has lad for that I just need you to knoe have between us is beautiful, and it’sin my life”

Willow’s eyes move back and forth between mine as she considers what I’ve said Her lips curve upward, clearly happy withbehind my neck to pull me to her