Page 20 of Willow Vale

The mention of that bastard made me grit my teeth. “Unfortunately.”

“He used to make my life a living hell in school. In my freshman year I had these awful anxiety attacks every morning, just because I knew I had to deal with him as soon as he saw me. I didn’t even have to tell you about it, somehow you just knew he was bullying me. He made the mistake of mentioning my mom and…well, you know what he called me.”

I did.

Victor Ward was, and still is, a piece of trash. He constantly preyed on anyone weaker than him all throughout high school. He was a school bully, and while I didn’t have classes with him, we were in the same grade. As soon as Delilah started attending, he set his eyes on her. She didn’t tell me he was bothering her until one day, he decided to mess with her in front of me. Calling her a vile name I never once considered calling a woman.

It was the first time I ever truly considered smashing someone’s face in. It was also the first time Idid. My parents weren’t happy about it and I got suspended for breaking Victor Ward’s nose, but he never bothered Delilah again after that, so I called it a win.

Delilah said, “I was so embarrassed when you found out. And all you did was be there for me. You didn’t see the things Victor saw because of all the shit my mother did. That reputation that somehow tarnished my life too. No matter how hard I tried to spot it, there was never once an ounce of judgment in your eyes when you looked at me. Even when we…broke up, you never truly turned your back on me.”

“I’m not about to start now,” I said sincerely. I pushed off the truck and crossed the distance between us. “You know I’ve really missed my best friend. I think she might have missed me too. It’d be nice if I could get her back. What do you think?”

“You’re right. She has missed you.” That small smile turned into an unrestrained one, lighting up her whole beautiful face and damn it, if it didn’t do something to me to see her directing it at me. “I’d like it if we could be friends again too.”

I smiled, suddenly feeling like I was standing on top of the world.

CHAPTER 10

Lila

Drivingdown the long winding gravel road into Silver Hill Ranch was like coming home again.

Seeing it after all these years made my heart want to skyrocket out of my chest like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The trip to the ranch was about a fifteen-minute drive out of town, but the anticipation of seeing Amelia made the drive feel as if a whole hour had gone by. River pointed out every cow we saw on the way. If he wasn’t doing that, then he was asking if we were almost there. At least he was excited about this.

A while back, it took some getting used to leaving River with a babysitter when I had to go to work. There were tears and small arguments—where River insisted on coming with me—but eventually it became easier after I explained why I had to leave him for a bit. It was hard leaving him in the beginning.

I was lucky that River liked Desmond right off the bat, otherwise this would have been a different situation entirely.

After Travis and I parted ways, knowing we’d likely see each other again at the bar tonight, I headed for the coffeeshop to get Amelia and Desmond muffins before driving over to the ranch.

Our conversation kept replaying in my mind. Along with what had led to us going our separate ways four years ago.

As I pulled up to the two-story log house sitting in the heart of Silver Hill, I heard the Bronco’s big tires crunch the gravel when we came to a stop in front of the house. I peered out the window, staring at the wraparound porch decorated with ceramic pots of colorful flowers and log chairs.

“Are we here?” River asked. I caught his reflection in the rearview mirror as he popped his head around from behind my seat. The curiosity written all over his little round face was the opposite of how I felt. What was with me? I was practically trembling with nerves.

What if this was all one big mistake?

What if I was imposing on them and they were just too nice to say no? Because they pitied me. Because they thought I was failing River…

Stop it.

I took in a steadying breath, pushing all the thoughts flooding my head with hurtful words that weren’t entirely mine.

“It’s gonna be okay,” I murmured to myself. I cleared my throat and spoke as cheerfully as I could. “Yep, we’re here. You ready?”

“Uh-huh! Let’s go see the horses!”

I cemented my hope that this was a good thing as I hopped out of the Bronco.

All of the Adlers had been nothing but kind to me, but if River was uncomfortable with anyone in that house, I wouldn’t make him stay. I wouldn’t force him around anyone who made him visibly uncomfortable.

Helping River out and holding his hand in mine, we madeour way up the steps of the porch. And then the front door opened.

A beautiful woman with honey blonde hair just above her shoulders and a wide smile stepped out. Amelia Adler was as stunning as she’d been when I first met her. The scent of brown sugar and freshly baked cookies reached my nose as she stepped onto the porch.

“Hello there! It’s so good you’re here, I was about to send Desmond out to look for you if you got turned around on the way over.”

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