Page 7 of Finding Our Tomorrow
“Morning,” she says, handing me one of the cups. “Black, just like you like it.”
“Thank you.” I take a much-needed sip.
While we drink our coffees in silence, I take a moment to check out Willow. She looks the same as she did yesterday before she changed into her club clothes. She’s wearing a black Forbidden Ink T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a pair of Converse. On the outside, she looks like she’s always looked.
But after everything she’s told me, it feels like I’m seeing her in a new light. She’s no longer the sweet, delicate woman I always assumed her to be. She’s strong and determined and kind of badass. She hides her insecurities and only allows the world to see what she wants them to see.
And instead of allowing herself to wallow in what she’s been through, she chooses to live life for today. She laughs and smiles and never lets anything bring her down. She may be ten years younger than me, but with her parents’ deaths and having to face cancer on her own, she’s far more mature than other women her age.
And then it hits me. I told Willow I wanted to be her friend, but the truth is I want to be more than that. I want to be the man she turns to, leans on, depends on. I want to be the one she lives her todays with. But more than that, I want to be the man who shows her how to find her tomorrow.
“Your face looks like you’re thinking so hard you’re going to explode,” Willow jokes.
“I was.” I laugh. “What do you say after work tonight we grab dinner and a movie?”
“You were thinking that hard about asking me out on a date?” She raises a single brow in question.
I want to tell her everything that was really going through my head, but I can already tell Willow is the type of woman to spook easily. I told her I would be her friend, and I’m going to be just that, and over time, once she knows I’m not going anywhere, I’ll show her that I not only want her today, but her tomorrow as well.
“Not a date,” I correct her, so she won’t have an excuse to say no. “Just two friends going to get something to eat and see a movie together.”
She rolls her eyes, but when a hint of a smile splays across her face, I know she’s going to say yes. “Okay.”
The day crawlsby and I know it’s because I’m looking forward to taking Willow out tonight. Lunch finally rolls around and Evan orders subs from the deli next door. Since Willow and I don’t have clients at the moment, she eats with me in the office.
“What movie do you want to see?” I ask her, pulling up the listings on my phone.
“What is there?”
“Romantic comedy, action, horror…” I flip through the different movies. “The Breakfast Clubis playing too.”
“What’s that?”
My finger stills and I glance up at her. “You don’t know whatThe Breakfast Clubis?” And then I remember she’s ten years younger than me. “Pretty In Pink?” She shakes her head. “Grease?” Another shake of her head. “Stand By Me?” She shakes her head. “Sixteen Candles…every girl has seen that damn movie.”
“Nope, haven’t seen any of those.”
“All right, that’s it.” I click on the movie and place an order for two tickets. “Your movie education begins tonight withThe Breakfast Club.”
Her smile is wide when she says, “I can’t wait.”
Jase leaves around three, and then Gage leaves shortly after. Evan stays until around five, when I tell him I’ll handle the phones since I don’t have any more appointments today. Willow finally comes out of her workstation a little after six. The guy she tattooed is grinning ear-to-ear and talking her ear off about what he plans to get next.
“Everything good?” I ask him as he pulls his credit card out of his pocket to pay.
“Yeah.” His eyes stay trained on Willow. “That woman is seriously talented.”
“That she is,” I agree, pulling up his appointment in the computer, so I can find how much he owes.
Willow points to his name, and when I look up, I notice she’s leaning over my shoulder. Her shirt is a V-neck, and her ample cleavage is peaking out of the top. My eyes flit over to her client, who is zeroed in on her tits as well.
“Willow, why don’t you go clean up your station while I check this guy out? That way we can leave to go to dinner. We don’t want to be late for the movie.”
She stands up straight, and in my peripheral vision, I see she’s looking at me like I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but I’m not about to sit here and watch this fucker eye-fuck her.
“Thank you for your business,” she tells the guy. “Here’s my card for when you’re ready to schedule your next appointment.”
“Does it have your personal number on it?” the guy asks.
