Page 173 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“Sleep tight, James.”

I sit and watch as he falls unconscious within a minute. I quickly grab the pair of shorts and slip them on him. When I do bring Willow down here, I don’t need her scarred more than she already is.

With half his body covered, and double checking he’s still passed out, I quickly make my way upstairs. I have something set up in our room for her and I can’t wait to see the look in her eyes when I show her the surprise…Well, one of her surprises.

CHAPTER 76

WILLOW

“So are you really okay, Willow?” Jenna asks as we walk along the water.

“It was definitely a shock, but I’m okay now. I feel like there’s a weight lifted off my chest. I’m sorry that I kept so much from you for so long.”

“Hey. I completely get why you felt you had to. Your dad’s a horrible fucking human. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

We walk in silence for a few more minutes as we head back up to the house. Jeremy has been silently trailing behind us. Noah said his head was hurting, so I told him to go lie down.

“You seem happier,” Jenna says as she grabs my hand to hold it while we walk.

“I am. It’s weird. I told you I felt a connection with him that first day.”

“And now you know why.”

Jenna squeezes my hand gently before glancing back at Jeremy. He’s been texting someone for the last couple of minutes and Jenna seems annoyed.

“So, you like him?” I whisper.

“Noah? Yeah, he’s all right. He seems like a good guy,” she teases.

“I mean him,” I say as I nod my head back to Jeremy.

“Oh…I mean yeah but…”

“But what?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Don’t you think it’s all too perfect?” she asks hesitantly.

We both glance back at Jeremy to see that he’s blissfully unaware of what we’re saying. Whatever he’s texting about clearly has his full attention.

“You are literally obsessed with true love and all that shit. Why the hell are you questioning it?” I laugh.

“I don’t know.”

She looks away from me and lets go of my hand as she starts to walk toward the house. I stop and watch her leave as Jeremy quickly comes up beside me.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

His eyes stay locked on Jenna until she disappears inside the house.

“Yeah.”

“What’s up with her?”

“Nothing. She’s just cold. So Noah told you everything before, huh?”

“Willow, I’ve heard about you since we were kids. You were always the one he was searching for. I’m not going to lie, I tried to convince him to let you go probably over a hundred times. I’m sorry. I was just worried about him because of how obsessed he was. Well…is.”

He nervously laughs as he rubs the back of his neck.