Page 43 of Lone Wolf in Lights
“Darlings! Tonight, we celebrate love in its purest form!” the performer declared, their voice sending the crowd screaming in joy. They launched into a rendition of “Believe,” their movements a blend of grace and power.
Willow watched, mesmerized, as the Cher doppelgänger killed it. Her message rang clear:Be unapologetically you.
In that moment, Willow felt the gravity of all the good that they were doing with the bar. In The Naked Moose, people could be themselves, free from judgement and fear.
With tears welling in her eyes, Willow twisted off the cap of a bottle of beer. She caught Aubrey’s eye at the end of the bar, and she smiled, obviously understanding Willow’s line of thought.
“Need a hand with those drinks?” Charly called, sliding up to Willow behind the bar.
“Please, thank you,” Willow replied.
As Charly garnished the margaritas with tiny paper pride flags, Willow moved to the next customer approaching the bar, a wide grin on her face as they eagerly awaited their drink.
“Beer please,” the woman called over the music.
Willow cracked open another beer and slid it across the counter. “Here you go,” she said with a friendly smile.
The brunette accepted the drink with a nod of thanks. “You guys always throw the best parties,” she remarked.
Willow’s heart nearly exploded. “We try our best,” she replied, before taking the woman’s payment and returning to Charly’s side to assist with the flurry of drink orders.
As Charly balanced the tray full of drinks, she made her way through the dance floor, and delivered them to a group of people who eagerly reached out to grab their drinks.
Charly’s eyes were filled with pride as she returned to Willow’s side. “Just look at them,” she said, her voice soft and full of emotion, gesturing to the crowd.
Willow followed Charly’s gaze and felt her heart swell with joy as she took in the scene of celebration. “Look at us,” she whispered, turning to Aubrey and Charly. “We did this together.”
Aubrey wrapped an arm around Willow’s shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. “And we’ll keep doing it,” she declared firmly. “Because this is what truly matters.” She gestured to the happiness surrounding them.
Willow nodded in agreement, a smile spreading across her face. The bar’s success was a result of their combined efforts. Charly’s experience in owning a bar, Aubrey’s culinary creativity in crafting drinks and appetizers and Willow’s skills in marketing all contributed to its success. They had poured their hearts into this venture, and it was thriving. “Isn’t this a wonderful feeling?”
Charly glanced sideways. “What feeling?”
“Being happy.” Willow smiled. “Not being scared all the time.”
“Yeah, Wills, it’s pretty damn good,” Aubrey said.
Charly nodded in agreement, glancing between them. “Now is it a good time to point out that doing a backpacking trip to Yellowstone after college was so much better than going to Rome?”
Willow’s laughter filled the air. It was hard to believe that a drawing they had made as tweens, depicting their perfect future town where all their dreams would come true, closely resembled Timber Falls. And even harder to believe that Charly had stumbled upon both the picture and the town itself. But Willow was a firm believer in fate and its unpredictable ways. And that camping trip had ended with the town and the pact that changed their lives forever. “I’m going to say, yes,” she said with a laugh.
“Hmmm, I’m not quite there,” Aubrey called over the loud music before hurrying off to assist a customer.
Charly grinned mischievously. “The Timber Falls magic hasn’t reached her yet, but it will.”
“How can you be so sure?” Willow asked.
Charly’s smile widened, and she motioned toward the crowd. “Because Timber Falls is brimming with magic. It hit me. It hit you. Aubrey is certainly next.”
Willow wholeheartedly agreed. For all that had gone wrong in her life, she now felt the blissful flow of magic that had gone through it, and she just knew...that it had brought her to this new reality where life was...good.
Thirteen
Eli returned home after completing his training rides and a quick dinner and stepped out of the steamy shower. The warmth had relaxed his muscles, but his mind was still filled with thoughts of Willow and the way her body felt pressed against his. He reached for a towel and dried off, his mind replaying every touch, every sweet moan, every kiss.
As he wrapped the towel around his waist, his hand brushed his hard cock, but he was saving himself for her. Right then, his phone buzzed on the counter. He scooped it up when he saw Willow’s name illuminate the screen.
Meet me outside in 10. I’ve got a surprise for you.—W
