I was a grade A asshole for even thinking about Willow or her eyes or how soft her hair was. It was an absolute betrayal of my little brother.

“I have the dimensions on file with the Historical Society, so I think I can get started with this plan. At least the restoration part. You good on structure?”

“Yeah. I have a good enough idea to draft a plan.” I fought my instincts to stay there, facing the corner, blocking out everything in the world besides the grain of the wood before me. Instead, I stood and turned to face her.

“Okay.” She stayed buried in her tablet. “Then, how about we look at the mine on Wednesday? I have a project I really need to finish up tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” I agreed, willing to say anything if it would mean an end to this moment.

“Okay. I’ll see you then?” she asked, looking up.

“Yep,” I answered with a curt nod.

Her mouth moved like she might say something but then thought better of it. With a forced smile, she said a hurried goodbye and rushed from the building.

When I heard her car leave, I found the strength to move, but instead of leaving, I fell to my knees. Snow melted against the heat of my jeans, quickly soaking the material and hitting my skin with blistering cold.

Still, I kneeled there until my breaths turned even and measured.

Then I looked up through where the roof should have been and stared at the crystal-blue sky.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

And I was.

I just wasn’t sure if it was for what I’d already done or what I was scared I had yet to do.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Willow

“Okay, why are you avoiding me?” Thea questioned.

“I’m not.” I hopped on one foot as I tried to get the other through my tights. “If I were avoiding you, I wouldn’t have picked up the phone, now, would I?”

“See, I would believe that if I hadn’t been calling you for the last three days.”

“Have you?” I lost my balance and fell back onto my bed with an oof. I gave up trying to balance and put Thea on speakerphone.

“You know I have. Jacob! I swear, if you don’t eat your dinner because you’re snacking on those cookies… Pat, help me out?” Thea didn’t bother muffling the phone. We were way past that stage of friendship.

I worked the black tights up over my legs and stared at my skirt choices.

“Thank you, honey,” Thea said. “Okay, sorry. I think I just bought myself about five minutes of quiet.”

“No worries.” I laughed softly, picturing the chaotic happiness that Jacob brought into Thea’s and Pat’s lives. “So what’s up?”