Page 42 of Axe-identally Married
“Willa doesn’t need a husband to provide for her financially. She needs a man who will support her, champion her, and listen to her.” He swiped at his eyes again. “Help her through the harder parts of her job and life in general. Make her laugh, force her to take vacation time, give her reasons to smile every day.”
I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat as he listed off each item. “I can do that.”
“Love her, son. With everything you’ve got. Show up for her and make sure she knows it. I don’t know how long I’ll be around, but I need to make sure she’s got the support she deserves.”
“I promise,” I said, eyes downcast. Fuck, a wave of guilt crashed over me when I uttered those words. Promising like that was a lie. Because she and I had an arrangement. We’d made a plan. And I wasn’t even sure I was capable of loving someone in the way he described.
Despite how much Willa deserved it.
After our talk, we said our goodbyes, then Willa and I headed home. The whole way there, a knot of dread tightened in my stomach. The stakes were even higher than I’d imagined.
As we drove back to the cabin, I looked over at her in the passenger seat and vowed I wouldn’t let her down.
Chapter Fourteen
Willa
Cole was quiet on the way home from my parents’. I thought it had gone well, but maybe he’d been scared off. They were very supportive and loving, but they could go over the top at times. At various points in my life, I’d been embarrassed by them, but as an adult, I knew how fortunate I was.
He parked in front of the cabin, and when he put the truck in park, he shifted in his seat to face me.
“I get it now.” His tone was quiet, subdued.
I tilted my head, studying his expression. It looked like a mix of genuine happiness and pain. How was that possible? “What?”
“How you became you.”
“That’s oddly cryptic.”
He shook his head. “You are one of the best people I’ve ever known. You’re capable beyond my comprehension. And after spending tonight with your parents, I get it. You’re special. You all are.”
My face heated, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Where was this coming from?
“Stop that,” I whispered. “We’re normal people. Yes, they love me a lot, and I adore them, but you’re special too.”
With a simple shake of his head, he opened his door.
I did the same, my mind a jumbled mess. What had that been all about? One of the best people he’d ever known? We still barely even knew one another.
We headed straight to our rooms, and as I got ready for bed, I tried to make sense of that moment in the car. He was hurting, that much was clear, and hanging out with my parents had affected him deeply. I took their love and support for granted. Though I knew I shouldn’t, it was hard not to. It had always been there and always would be. But I could only imagine what it looked like to him.
I changed, washed off my makeup, and paced around my room, replaying Cole’s words. It was only ten, and I wasn’t sure I could go to sleep. The conversation felt unfinished, and if this were a real marriage, I’d want to talk to him and make him feel supported.
I ran my hands through my hair, pulling it up into a bun as I considered my options. Eventually, my protective instincts won, and I set out for his room.
But he wasn’t in his room. When I found him, he was sitting on the couch.
Knitting.
Curiosity bloomed inside me as I watched him work. After a moment, I let it propel me across the room. I only stopped when I stood in front of where he worked. He was on the couch, totally focused on the needles in his hands.
“Whatcha doing?” I asked casually.
“It’s called a rib stitch,” he replied, not taking his eyes off the yarn.
Watching him was hypnotic. Broad shoulders, rippling muscles, Stubble-covered jaw.
He was knitting away, his massive hands moving confidently as he pulled and looped, his wrist flicking at the end of each row of precise stitches. The muscles of his corded forearms clenched, his friendship bracelets jangling as he worked carefully.
