Page 13 of More Trouble
4
Willa
My phone was ringing.
I’d tossed and turned, finally drifting off. Now I couldn’t quite process what was happening.
The date with Tom had ended shortly before ten, after I’d made up an excuse about working early tomorrow and having lots of prep to do. It wasn’t a complete lie; I had a meeting about catering a sweet sixteen party late morning and I did need to do some preparation. What did sixteen-year-old girls like these days? I bet it wasn’t the same as when I was that age. I’d lost a couple of hours on YouTube searching ‘sweet sixteen party ideas’ and winced at the level of planning and cost which appeared to go into them. When I’d finally gone to bed, the image of Tom’s face as he thought about the Olsen twins kept coming into my head. I shuddered, although grateful he’d been so open on date one. At least I hadn’t gotten further along the line and fallen for him, only to find out he had the same fantasies Andre had already enacted.
When it became apparent that my phone wasn’t going to stop, I fumbled on the nightstand for it and squinted at the screen.
Scarlett.
At three in the morning?
Stifling a yawn, I answered. “Scarlett, twice in one day. Damn, I feel special. Could this have waited until morning?”
We always talked regardless of what time of the day or night. But when she didn’t answer immediately, and I could hear her breath coming in short gasps, I knew whatever it was couldn’t have waited until the morning.
“Scarlett?” I said again.
The sound of her sobbing made me bolt upright.
“It’s Wes…” she managed.
I switched on the light, blinking as the room brightened. “What’s wrong? I know Wes didn’t break up with you. He loves you,” I babbled, “Whatever it is, we can fix it.” My words brought about a sob so heart wrenching I wanted to reach down the phone and gather Scarlett into my arms. “Calm down, Scarlett. Tell me what’s happened. How can I help?” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and started pacing up and down, my mind running over a million different scenarios.
“I need-you-to-come-home,” she finally managed to choke out in between sobs.
“Scarlett, what happened? Did something happen to the baby?”
There was more snuffling from Scarlett’s end of the phone, and she mumbled something I couldn’t understand.
“Sorry, Scar, I missed that, say it again?”
“Wes…is…he’s dead,” wailed Scarlett.
My knees buckled. I sat on the bed to steady myself. “What?” My chest tightened and tears began falling freely down my cheeks. I took deep, even breaths. It hadn’t been long ago, only hours, Scarlett had told me her exciting news—now this? How was it even possible?
Her voice cracked as she began to explain. “He had a flat tire on the way home, and he was hit by a car. They didn’t see him in the rain. And he died. They tried to save him, but he died.”
Bile rose in my throat and I tried to quell the red wine nausea.
Wes was dead. What the actual fuck?
“Willa, I need you,” Scarlett whispered.
I forced myself to get up and rushed to the closet to grab a bag. I’d pack some things. I had to be there for her. But I was so far away. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, but it’s going to take me a few hours.” My words rushed. “I’ll pack quick. I won’t even shower. I’ll forgo a bra. I’m packing as we speak. We can talk from the road, if you want.” I ground to a halt. Her boyfriend had been killed in a road accident and I was talking about chatting on my phone while I drove. “I’ll get there as quick as I can.” I swiped the tears away. My practical brain took over, stopping me from breaking down again. “Hang in there until I arrive. Love you, Scar.” I hung up and stood stock still, trying to process everything.
When Scarlett and I had spoken several hours ago, she was the happiest I’d ever heard her. She was about to be a mom and Wes was by her side. Hell, he may have even wanted to make an honest woman of her. Everything she’d known had been shattered in an instant.
I had to be there for my best friend.
I’d be there for her every step of the way.
No matter what.
Once I’d finished packing a couple of bags, I checked the time. It was almost four. Too early to call Tori, but she had to know what was going on.
