“I usually am.” He scoffed, then his smile faded as he added, “It’s not about finding someone who gives ya butterflies and all that shit. It’s about finding someone that you’re willing to feel pain for and fight for. That’s when you know you got something worth holdin’ onto.”
“Well, that’s Billy.”
“Then, I guess you best be holdin’ onto him.”
“I will...if he’ll just let me.”
“Oh, come on now.” He gave me a wink. “Use some of that female persuasion and get that man back on track.”
“Yeah, I think it’s time for us to head inside.”
I chuckled as I opened the door, but my smile faded when I stepped inside and found Billy looking at me with that same cold expression he’d had all morning. I tried to ignore it as I walked over and poured myself a cup of coffee. I’d barely taken a sip when Kiersten stood and announced, “Well, I guess we better get going.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah. I’ve got some work I need to finish up at the Manor.” She came over and gave me a hug as she whispered in my ear, “Hang in there.”
“Gonna try.”
Country gave Billy and me a quick wave; then he followed Kiersten out to his bike. Billy and I were still standing in the kitchen when I heard his bike roar to life. Moments later, they started down the driveway, and in a blink, they were gone. I’d hoped them being there might ease some of the tension that had settled between us, but Billy wouldn’t even look at me, much less talk to me.
He simply put his cup in the sink, then disappeared back to the basement. At that point, I’d had enough. It was time for us to hash this thing out once and for all, so I followed him down the stairs and stormed over to him with a huff. “How long are you going to punish me?”
“I’m not punishing you.”
“Oh, really? Then what’s with the silent treatment?”
“I’m not ready to talk.”
“Well, I am!”
“Then talk.” He crossed his arms as he glared back at me. “No one’s stopping you.”
“Oh, it’s like that, huh?”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to talk to me. I want to know what’s going on in your head.”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on in my head... You’re driving me crazy. You’ve been driving me crazy for weeks, and I hate it!” He clenched his fists at his side and huffed, “I hate the way you say my name. I hate when you do that thing with your hair when you’re nervous and the way your eyes light up when you get excited. I hate your perfect lips and how I long to feel them against mine. Most of all, I hate that I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“Oh, Billy.”
“No! Don’t you ‘oh Billy’ me,” he growled. “You did this to me. You got me to let my guard down, and then, you threw it in my damn face.”
“I did no such thing!”
“Did you or did you not go to DeLuca’s place without telling me?”
“I did, and I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about it all. I’m sorry I messed with DeLuca’s money, and I’m sorry he sent those men after us. I’m sorry that he took Kiersten. And I’m sorry that he put her life in danger. I’m sorry he put all of your lives in danger. You had nothing to do with it. And that’s exactly why I went over there. I wanted to put an end to it all.”
“Something could’ve happened to you.”
“Yes, but it didn’t.”
“But it could have!” He ran his hand over his face before saying, “I couldn’t do it again. I won’t.”
“Won’t do what again?”