Page 76 of Ozzie

I shake my head.

He takes a deep breath. “She was my sister’s best friend from elementary school until Pricilla left for college. Willow was at our house all the time.”

“You two were friends too?”

He shook his head. “No. I was just her friend’s dorky older brother. But when I was in the service, Willow left Montana and ended up near our base in Virginia.”

“Wow, that’s pretty far from Montana. How did she end up there?”

He shrugs. “I never asked her. I was just happy she was there. We spent time together whenever I had leave. We’d hike or go to the ocean.”

“You liked her.” It’s not a question. I can see it in his eyes.

Before responding, he finishes his beer. “I’d had a crush on her since high school. When she turned up near the base, I thought we might end up dating. But she friend-zoned me. I still thought I had a chance until she met Ozzie.”

I swallow, not sure I want to hear this part, but I don’t move and let him continue.

“Ozzie has a way with women. And I think Willow thought she could be the one to change him. But she was wrong and got hurt. It was me she came crying to. I had tolisten to every detail about her and Ozzie.” He jumps up and grabs another beer.

“Did Ozzie know you liked her?”

He opens it and turns to me. “No, he says he didn’t. I never told anyone. Not even Willow. But some of the guys picked up on it.”

I frown. “Maybe Ozzie thought she was like a sister to you.”

His eyes widen. “That doesn’t make it better.”

No, it doesn’t. “Sorry, I don’t know what to say.”

He sets his beer down and reaches across, taking my hand in his. “Piper, I don’t want to see him hurt you the way he hurt her.”

I pull my hand back as I stand up and get myself a glass of water. The room is silent except for the ticking of a clock on the wall.

My stomach churns at the thought of never getting a chance with Ozzie. The idea of him with Willow in the past makes me jealous. I don’t think I could handle seeing him with someone new. But how do I get through to my thick-headed cousin?

While my back is to Durango, I decide to take another approach. “You said that he and Willow were friends, so she must have known he wasn’t into relationships, right?”

“Yeah, we all knew. Like I said, she must have figured she could change him.”

I return to the table and sit down. “Okay, that was then. Now he’s made it very clear that what he wants with me is a relationship. Trust me, this is different. He’s different.”

Durango huffs. “I’m not so sure.”

“Really? I thought you two were best friends. Does he seem like the same guy he was back then? Does he seem like a guy who would use me?”

Durango winces. “No, of course not.”

I lean forward. “I’m sorry you got hurt by Willow and her decisions, but that was a long time ago. It’s also not what’s going on here.”

He sits back and stares at the ceiling. “I hear what you are saying, and it makes sense, but the idea of you getting hurt—”

“Then I get hurt. If it isn’t with Ozzie, it could be with some asshole like John. At least Ozzie is a good guy. And it really isn’t fair of you to tell us what we can do.”

He chuckles. “Fuck, when did you get so wise?”

“Since I had to survive John and my parents. I’m done with unhealthy, self-absorbed people. I want happiness in my life, and Ozzie makes me happy. Now, can you please step out of the way and let us have a chance?”

His smile drops. “I don’t know. Trust me, Piper, I hate this. Do you think I enjoyed hitting my best friend?” He holds up his bruised knuckles. “I didn’t. This is ripping me apart. But he’slikefamily and youarefamily. I can’t sit by and watch the train wreck you two would be.”

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