Page 136 of Nothing to Fear

“Not happening. Maddox wants to shoot you. In the ass.”

Gideon lowered his head in shame. “Yeah, I gathered.”

“Who is it, hon?” Maddox asked from inside.

“Jehovah’s Witness. Give me a sec.” Cole stepped into the hall, closing the door.

“I fucked up.” Better to cut straight to it.

“Big time, buddy.” Cole dragged a hand through his long, inky hair and folded his arms across his sturdy chest. The guy was cut like a brawler, lethal as a scalpel, but he lit up Maddox’s life like a football stadium.

“Just give Willow a message. Tell her—”

“Noooo.” Cole shook his head. “You’re not dragging me down with you.”

The door swung open. Maddox stiffened at the sight of Gideon and cut her eyes to Cole. “What’s he doing here?”

“He’s leaving.” Cole raised his hands, urging her to go back inside.

“I’m not leaving until I talk to Willow.” Gideon stood his ground.

Maddox put her hands on her hips, avoiding his gaze. “Tell him to leave or I’m getting my gun. Better yet, hon, why not knock some sense into him with your fists?”

“I messed up,” Gideon said. “I’m here to fix it. I need to talk to her.”

Cole looked between him and Maddox like a referee poised to throw a flag.

“Tell this selfish moron this isn’t about what he needs. Willow has lost everything. Her father is in the hospital. The last thing she needs right now is to see him.”

“Willow is everything to me.” Gideon took a step closer, but Cole waltzed in front of him, blocking his path. “With her, I want to go all the way.”

Maddox recoiled, her gaze pinning him. “You? All the way?”

He nodded. His best friend didn’t know how significant the phrase was but knew he meant serious business. “If she’ll still have me. If not, I won’t bother her again.” He leaned around Cole and handed Maddox the jewelry box. “Tell her I want to talk. If she wants me to leave, I will.”

She snatched the gift. “This isn’t a ring box, Mr. All-The-Way.”

“Please, give it to her.”

“If she decides to see you, admit you’re an idiot. A damn fool. And you need to be on your knees when you apologize.”

“Understood.” Swallowing his nerves, he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

* * *

Willow finished hanging up her new clothes from the shopping trip with Maddox and Cole. They’d both been amazing.

The devastation of losing all her possessions was still hard to believe, but the insurance company promised to work quickly to issue a check. She was grateful her father was out of the coma now and talking. The hospital wanted to hold him a little longer to monitor his Hodgkin’s, but he was officially on the mend.

She was also thankful for the friendship she’d never expected. Maddox and Cole treated her like she fit in, belonged.

Maddox had loaned Willow her car. After she spent the day with her father at the hospital, she met with Maddox and Cole every night for dinner. Sometimes they went shopping, using a sorry-your-house-burned-down fund collected at the Gray Box, and Maddox even took her to a ritzy salon to get her hair dyed back to her normal color.

They never talked about Gideon, although he was always on her mind. No pressure. No questions. Just comfort. Space when she needed it. A patient ear when she was ready.

The evening she’d broken down, weeping uncontrollably, and had shared what her last night with Gideon in the hotel had been like, Maddox had been the best listener, crying too and plying Willow with wine.

A knock at the bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. “Yep.”