Part 7 (1/2)

”Bro, I think you're making a mistake.”

”No. The mistake was bringing her home in the first place. I'll get her a room at the hotel and I'll need you to drop her stuff off for her.”

”You're going to regret it. And there will be no coming back from this, Tobias.” Tristan left the room before I could even reply.

I'm already regretting the decision but he doesn't need to know that. Willow will never be safe around me and I could never make her happy. After I almost lost control with her earlier, there was no way I could put her at risk anymore. Willow deserved better than a monster.

I took a seat beside Willow's cot and leaned back against the wall. The cold touch against my back was rather soothing and helped me keep the hunger at bay.

Emotions were my biggest enemy. The hunger inside of me is driven by my emotions. If I get angry the hunger takes over, if I'm excited the hunger nearly consumes me.

The problem with Willow is that she is fully capable of drawing every single emotion out of me, which makes me the worst person for her to be around.

I closed my eyes and let myself relax. The sun would be up in a few hours and I just wanted to get it all over with.

I woke up to find the cot beside me empty and a blanket draped over my chest. Willow was nowhere in sight but I know she couldn't have gotten far.

I grabbed a clean s.h.i.+rt from the small dresser in the room that I used for the first week Willow stayed with us. I pulled it over my head then made my way downstairs. Willow was sitting at the bar talking to Micky with a cup of coffee in her hand.

”Morning sleepy head” Willows voice was as sweet as ever as she held out her cup to me. ”Want some coffee?”

”I think you need it more than I do. Are you ok?”

Willow wrinkled her nose before putting the cup down on the bar table and it was the cutest thing I had ever seen.

”No thanks, I'm not a coffee person. I actually think coffee tastes disgusting and I'll never understand why anyone drinks it. And I'm fine just nursing a hangover.”

I laughed and took a seat beside her. I've never actually tried coffee before but I always thought it smelled good. It was definitely on the list of things to try one day if I'm ever able to break the curse.

”Do you remember anything from last night?”

I was a little cautious on asking her that question. I was afraid she was going to tell me something that would p.i.s.s me off all over again and make me want to kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d from last night for a second time.

”I remember you flirting with some trashy bimbo at the bar and dancing with some creepy guy to get back at you.”

”I wasn't flirting. I was being nice.”

”Well being nice doesn't mean you have to take her number.”

If I didn't know any better I'd say she was jealous. I had a feeling saying goodbye to her today was going to be a h.e.l.l of a lot harder than I thought.

”Look, Willow we need to talk.”

Wow, did I really just use that line? I felt like an idiot and the look on Willows face made me feel really uneasy.

”Talk about what?”

”I think it's time for you to go. I've been keeping you against your will and it's not right.”

”But you're not keeping me against my will. Not anymore. I like it there Tobias. You don't have to feel bad about kidnapping me. It was actually the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Yep, this was definitely going to be harder than I thought.

”I'll have Amelia pack up your things and Tristan will drop them off for you. I'll take you to a hotel and-”

”This is a joke right, some kind of birthday prank? You kidnapped me Tobias, held me against my will and now that I want to stay you're kicking me out? Are you serious right now?”

I never noticed before but her eyes change shades with her emotions. Right now they were a dark blue and full of fire. I could tell I was doing a great job at p.i.s.sing her off and she would probably hate me forever.

”I'm sorry-”

”You can take your apology and stuff it where the G.o.d d.a.m.n sun doesn't s.h.i.+ne.”

She jumped off the bar stool and stormed towards the door with her shoes in her hands.

”Where are you going?”

”To go pack up my own s.h.i.+t before you get home so I never have to see your face again.”

With that she left. It felt like there was a huge weight sitting on my chest making it hard to breathe. The only person I had ever shared my secret with was walking out of my life.

”Well boy, you are officially the biggest idiot I have ever met in my life, hands down.”

Micky stood there drying off the gla.s.ses he'd washed this morning. I let out a sigh and folded my hands against the back of my head.

”I didn't have a choice.”

”There is always a choice. And you son just made the wrong one. That girl spent all morning gus.h.i.+ng over how special you made her feel last night with that party. Did you know her mom died when she was ten? Poor girl hasn't celebrated her birthday since then and you gave her the first birthday she has had in fifteen years.”

Her mom died? Well that was news to me and it made me feel like s.h.i.+t. First I gave her the best birthday, now I've turned it into the worst. I needed to get back to the house and fix things. Even if she refused to stay now, I needed to at least make sure she left with us on good terms.

I said by goodbyes to Micky and headed outside only to find that my motorcycle was gone.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

WILLOW.

My eyes burned as I refused to let myself shed any tears. If Tobias wants me gone then fine, I'll leave. I never belonged here anyways.

I had my suitcase opened laying on my bed with half of my clothes already packed into it. I stood there folding the rest of them when I heard a knock at the door.

I refused to answer it, but that didn't stop Amelia from coming into the room. She was holding two cups of tea and placed them down on the bedside table.

”Do you want any help?”

I shook my head no but I didn't dare speak because I knew my voice would fail me and I'd no longer be able to hold back the tears.