The frown on her pretty mouth deepened. I tried not to think about the way her mouth had tasted and how much I’d like to walk up to her and taste it again.

“You know what I mean. I’m not here for that. I’m here . . . I don’t want that. I just want to go to school and make my nonna proud.”

We weren’t going to make any progress today because she wasn’t going to explain any more. I could press, but she’d shut me out. The wall between us was growing higher by the minute, and I didn’t want that. Not with Willa.

“Okay, okay. I get it. I didn’t mean to send you running off last night. I am sorry about that. I shouldn’t have lost you out there. I should have made sure you were safe. Riley Young sure as hell isn’t safe for anyone to be riding around with.”

She looked confused, then frowned. “How did you know I got a ride with Riley Young?”

Shrugging, I didn’t see how this was a secret. “Gunner told me.”

That frown just got worse. “I didn’t tell Gunner about Riley. He didn’t ask.”

Ah, so Gunner hadn’t wanted to explain his hatred for Riley. Couldn’t say I blamed him. If she’d almost had my brother locked up behind bars for a false accusation, then I’d hate her that much too. I hated her enough now. Rhett was like my older brother or the closest thing I’d ever had back when he lived at home. Riley had come close to costing him his football scholarship and future in the SEC.

Rhett had been like the big brother to all of us once. He’d been the cool older brother we all knew and got us into the field parties before it was our time. We had all stood behind him back then, and Riley hadn’t just become his enemy but all of ours.

“Gunner ran into her leaving the property on his way to find you when you ran off. I was in trouble with him for losing you, and he wasn’t in the mood to run into Riley. Although he was relieved you were safely home, he hated that you were close to that bitch at all.”

Willa stepped forward and shot me an annoyed glare. “Riley was nice, and she didn’t do or say anything bad about y’all. I liked her.”

With a warning she needed in advance, I made sure she understood me loud and clear. “Don’t ever say that to Gunner. There is no one on this earth he hates more.”

“His dad,” she replied.

I shook my head. “Nope. Not even him.”

“Nonna is on her way. She’s already spotted you. Please go ahead and leave now so I don’t have her angry with me.”

I couldn’t argue with that, even though I wanted to stay and talk. I didn’t feel like I’d accomplished anything. Getting her in trouble with her nonna wasn’t winning me any brownie points. But I wanted to hear her say she felt something too. That she wanted to try more with me like I did her. Even if there was a chance for more, I wanted to hear it.

I nodded. “Okay, but I’d like to talk about this again. I want more with you than friendship, Willa. If that’s all you can give me, then I’ll accept it, but that kiss hasn’t left my mind one time since last night.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I turned and headed back to my truck, waving to Ms. Ames, hoping that helped out some with Willa.

I Didn’t Think Chicken and Dumplings Could Heal That

CHAPTER 23

WILLA

Facing Nonna and letting her warn me to leave Brady alone was coming. Might as well deal with it and get it over with. It wasn’t fair though since I hadn’t asked him to come over, and I’d also asked him to leave.

I walked back into the kitchen and started fixing my late-afternoon snack. Nonna had run some food over to the big house for Gunner. She did that on Sundays since the Lawtons stayed gone all day and Gunner didn’t participate in the Sunday ritual they had.

The back door opened just as I started slicing up a pear, and I inhaled deeply to calm my frustration with the lecture I was about to receive.

“Why was Brady Higgens here? Thought I told you to leave that boy be.”

Here we go, I muttered in my head. I picked up the jar of peanut butter to spread some on my pear. “You did, and I’ve obeyed. Can’t control Brady’s actions though. He came over here, and I told him to leave. He never even made it to the back door.”

Nonna was quiet a moment, and I didn’t turn back to look at her. I made my peanut butter and pear snack as if it was the most important thing I’d done all day.

“Well, you weren’t rude, were you?”

Was she seriously asking me if I was rude? Jesus, what in the world did she expect me to do?

“I asked him to leave. If that’s rude, then yes, I guess I was.” I still didn’t look at her. I walked over to the freezer and got out a frozen mug for my milk.

“Why was he here?”

“Because I left the field party last night without saying good-bye, and he was worried he’d said something to offend me.”

I didn’t like lying. But at times like this it was necessary. My nonna could not handle the truth. He kissed me, and I ran like hell wasn’t an option here.

She made a hmph sound that Nonna had perfected over the years. “Well, that’s nice of him. He’s a good boy. No need to be rude when he stops by.”

I wanted to growl my frustration. Another deep breath to calm myself was required here before I faced her finally. Holding my plate in one hand and mug in the other, I turned to meet her assessing gaze.

“I accepted his apology and told him it wasn’t necessary and that he needed to leave. I was a bad influence and you didn’t approve.”