Get Some Alone Time

All I knew was that Courtney would find it difficult to say no if Geoffrey possessed even a minuscule bit of Nicholas' persuasive abilities.

I changed into some shorts and a tank top after putting away all of my things, then I hurried downstairs to meet Lory. Laura was in the kitchen when I reached downstairs.

"Lory has just arrived at Quentin and is headed here, Laura. She will be arriving shortly, so I wanted to let you know. Sorry for the short notice." Despite how absurd that notion was, I couldn't help but feel like I was asking for permission.

She smiled at me and nodded. "All of her favorites are already prepared. She will arrive a little earlier than you anticipated."

I gasped because she knew. "Yes." I tried to hide my grin by biting my lip. "Nicholas flew her in early."

I pondered whether she and Nicholas might have been involved in this covert scheme as she had a knowing smirk on her face. Laura asked me to share all of Lory's favorite things with her when I informed her that Lory would be visiting a few days ago. The thought that she would want to cheer up my best friend and, by way, me, warmed my heart.

The doorbell rang before I had a chance to ask her about knowing Nicholas' arrangements. I quickly exited and ran to the door to answer it.

As soon as the door opened, we rushed in, hugging and laughing in the foyer. Her driver nodded at us and drove off with her bag.

"Willow, my God! We are actually here in Quentin!" She threw her luggage aside and hugged me. I pulled her in, her hands still holding mine, and watched with a smile as her eyes bugged out when she started to stare around. "Oh hell... this place is just... wow."

"Thank you... I have the same reaction!" I still found it difficult to believe I was a resident here, and I recalled how shocked I had been upon entering. Before arriving in the kitchen, I guided her around the floor while pointing out the various rooms.

"Laura, I want you to meet Lory," I said.

It seemed as though something inside me changed as I saw the two of them welcome one another. This was the first time that everything in my life made sense. My best friend Lory was the only person I had left from my past. To have her closely interact with the people in my new life was what I had desired. My old and new families were officially meeting.

I felt complete.

Laura forced us to sit down and set up a plate with cheeses, crackers, and several other treats so that Lory could fill her stomach after a long day of traveling. I was sure I had a huge smile plastered on my friends as I watched the two women interact.

"Oh, Willow." Lory swiftly turned toward me. "I forgot to tell you what happened to Chris Grant!"

Thinking back to that dreadful last night in Atkins, I furrowed my brows.

"When his parents learned what he had done to you and about the quantity of alcohol at his party, they forced him to leave college, and his scholarship was revoked. They are forcing him to spend a year in community college, work at the company, and live at home."

My mouth opened in shock.

"How did he treat Willow?" I sat there in startled silence, unable to respond to Laura.

Her expression changed from sorrowful to startled to furious as Lory told her about the event that had occurred at his house party.

"Bastard!"

I was jolted out of my trance by Laura's exclamation, and we doubled over in laughter at her swearing.

"I heard the rumor. Joan has never been afraid to criticize his size." Lory continued, raising an eyebrow towards her legs in insinuation.

"But how did people learn what he had done to me? There was only him and I present."

I felt a pat from Lory. "I explained what had happened."

"And they didn't suspect you of lying?" I was shocked that his parents would accept Lory's word above that of their son.

"It was beneficial that Virgil's sworn affidavit was attached with Mr. Rowe's withdrawal of the scholarship. Although I didn't read it, it undoubtedly talked about Chris trying to force you."

I wondered why Nicholas and Virgil had kept their actions from me while I nodded in agreement with Lory's statement. Just one more thing I needed to do ask Nicholas when we had that overdue honest conversation.

Additionally, I couldn't help but feel a little bad for Chris. Yes, he was a stupid idiot, but I hated that one drunken error—where I wasn't even hurt—was putting his future in jeopardy so severely.

I was startled out of my reverie by Lory. "Laura, these are so nice," she said while taking a bite of chocolate.

I shook my head. "Don't give her too much sugar. She will be hyper all night long."

Before chowing down on yet another snack, Lory snorted. But she knew I was right.

"So, when can I meet the great Mr. Rowe?

"In a few hours. Around seven is generally when he arrives home." I fiddled with my phone while debating whether or not to call him.

"Tonight I'm cooking steak and lobster," Laura announced and laughed when Lory fist pumped. "Why don't you show Lory around the house, Willow? You guys can catch up before Nicholas arrives. You two get some alone time in before Nicholas hogs you," she teased.

I completed my tour of the ground floor after Lory was done snacking. I promised Lory that we would go swimming at some time because she was itching to dive in. I picked up her suitcase and walked her upstairs to the room I had been in the first night came here.

"This is fantastic." She collapsed in the center of the bed and wriggled on top of the blankets to make herself comfortable.

I chuckled before settling down next to her. She shifted to her side to face me, and when she didn't say anything, I turned to look at her.

"What?"

She extended her hand to hold me and inquired, "Are you happy?"

I grinned as I entwined her fingers in mine. "Yes, I am."

"How did you end up here, though?"

I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes.

"Willow, tell me."

I would never be able to lie to her face, and she was aware of this. I looked back into her probing gaze. I did not want to lie to her.

"Why did you marry him, exactly?"

Guilt and shame twisted in my stomach. The words began to bubble up in my throat as if they had to be said. But if I told her the truth, what would she think of me?

I didn't know what gave me away: my tense posture, the tears welling up in my eyes, or something else, but she sat up and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Willow, please speak to me. Tell me whatever it is, please. Nothing will ever change the fact that I adore you. But right now I'm afraid of your reaction. Just let me know what's wrong, please."

Then I did. I told him everything.

The meeting. The agreement. My worries. Everything in between.

She listened intently as I filled her in on every aspect. She never said a word, but she maintained a tight hold on my hands while everything came pouring out of me.

After I was done, I inhaled deeply and felt like a thousand pounds had been lifted off my shoulders. I kept a close check on her gaze while she considered all I had said.

Finally, she nodded. "I can't say I am too surprised."

“What do you mean?”

"I mean, when you said you two fell in love right away, I sensed something wasn't right. You've never before made a rash decision, especially one that involves emotions, to my knowledge. You've always been wary of letting people in because you assume they'll leave you at some point. Although it surprised me that you accepted his proposal so quickly, it makes more sense than the storybook romance you initially painted to me."

Although I frowned at what she said, I was happy that she didn't seem very angry with me for lying to her on the phone.

"Just tell me that you didn't accept this to fill a void created in your life by the death of your parents. That you aren't choosing him because you lack a father figure."

I firmly shook my head. "No! My gosh, he's only eleven years older. I'm attracted to him... a lot. I've never experienced anything like the chemistry between us. He gives me a sense of..." I shuddered and struggled to find the perfect words to express the physical and mental effects Nicholas had on me. "It's beyond description."

She pursed her lips. "Okay, good. Just wanting to be sure." She sighed. "I won't deny that this is weird or perhaps a little worrisome. Be honest, you were scared to tell me because of the same reason."