Chapter Twenty-Five

Willa

" W hat would your mom prefer? I know strawberry mojitos are an acquired taste and not everyone loves them," I say to Blake as we move around his kitchen a couple of days later. He's invited his mom, dad, brother, and sister-in-law for dinner. I don't think I've ever been this nervous, even before performing for a stadium of hundreds of thousands. I want to make a good impression and prove to them I'm just a normal person who really cares about the guy they love—although a lot of shit comes with being with me.

"Mom and CeCe are both wine drinkers. Although CeCe may not indulge. She and Bret are trying for a baby right now—or at least I think they are. It's been hinted at enough that they're either trying or she's very early pregnant, or they're really thinking about it."

I laugh, my eyebrows coming together in question. "Why don't you just ask him instead of speculating?"

"It's not the kind of thing we ask each other about. He'll tell me when he's ready, if he's ready." I shrug. "It's how we've always been. Either way, I have their favorite wine, and the rest of us are beer drinkers, so if you only want to make half a pitcher for yourself, you're good."

I nod, stirring what I've made. Since this will pour about three drinks, and two really is my limit, I won't make any more. "I hope they like the cookies and the baked chicken."

He comes over and stands in front of me, grabbing my shoulders and turning me so that I face him. "They will love all of it. More than anything, they're going to love that I care about you and you care about me. You don't have to worry about being good enough for them. Impressing them and everyone in the world are two totally different things, Willa. We grew up so middle class we got the electricity turned off sometimes. You get what I'm saying?"

I swallow hard, my eyes meeting his. "I do, I do. I've just never wanted to impress someone as much as I want to impress the important people in your life. I want them to like me and not feel as if I'm causing an issue by being around."

"Hey." He grips my chin with his fingers, bringing it down and gazing into my eyes. "You're not an issue—ever. Nothing that comes along with you is an issue—ever. I'm sorry that someone or a lot of people have made you feel like that in the past, but they were shitty friends or lovers. We don't do that here, baby doll. That I promise you."

My insides melt. This man gets me in ways I didn't think I could be gotten, or maybe I'd given up on it. I'd thought that perhaps I'd been given everything I deserve in this life. With the adoration of most of the public and my peers, the money to take care of my family and friends, and to be able to donate when I want to, and to write the songs of my heart. I've been pretending like that is enough, that's all I need. But at the end of the day, it's made life lonely. It's made me my own champion when sometimes all I really want is for someone to be right there with me, to tell me that they're by my side. I want someone other than my mom and my best friend. I want someone who cares about me for me, who likes me no matter what others in the industry have said. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me." He scrunches his nose up. "It's what you deserve."

And that's what Avery has been telling me for years, but I've never truly believed it. Imposter syndrome is a fucking monster in the back of any creative's head. It can ruin an entire career if it's left to fester. "I do." I inhale deeply, reminding myself that although I've been able to overcome it up till now, it's still a little virus up there, ready to spread when given the opportunity.

The oven beeps that the chicken's done, and I turn the dial to the keep warm function.

"Perfect." Blake smiles. "They just pulled up."

My heart pounds as I look outside to the side drive. The four of them pile out of the SUV that Bret is driving. They decided not to bring Jovi the first time, and left her with a babysitter. "Kevin will stop them. Do you think they'll mind?" I put my thumbnail between my teeth as I chew on it.

"They know what to expect, Willa. I promise. I didn't bring them into this blind. I wouldn't do that to any of you."

"Okay." I'm tense. Terrified that they'll decide this isn't worth it. That they won't want to deal with everything that comes with me.

"Hey." He sets down his drink and walks over to where I'm standing. "They know I care for you, they know you mean a lot to me, and that's going to go a hell of a long way. I promise. This shit? Having to check in with Kevin? It's small, in the grand scheme of things. People have just made you feel like it's some sort of out-of-habit weird thing that only narcissistic people do, which is not the case. Okay? You're fine. You aren't putting anyone out, and they are more than happy to do what needs to be done in order to have you here."

God, I want to cry. That speech? If I wasn't already falling in love with this man, I would be right now. But I can't tell him yet, because it's too soon, and I always get called out for exposing my feelings too soon. When the time is right, he will know how much I appreciate all the things he's done for me, and it'll be a love like no other.

"Hey!" A male voice booms as the front door opens. "Little fucker, we're here."

Blake chuckles. "That's my brother. Older and supposedly wiser."

Bret rounds the corner with the rest of the family behind him. "Don't forget much better looking too."

I laugh as they come completely into view. "You do this a lot with him?"

Blake groans. "All the fuckin' time. Did you get patted down outside? I told Kevin you'd be the one who'd be the problem and said maybe he should do a full-cavity search."

My face goes red-hot. "You didn't!"

Blake's face doesn't crack. "Did I?"

"The fuck you did." Bret walks over to his brother and holds his hand out. They do a little handshake that I've never seen before pulling each other into a back-slapping hug. "It would've been funny though."

"I thought about it. Don't test me either. I'll make sure it's done next time."

Blake comes over to where I'm standing by myself and puts his arm around my waist. "Let's get this out of the way as quickly as possible. Everyone, this is Willa. Willa, this is my family. You kinda already know Bret and CeCe, because you said you watch and listen to their podcast. These two over here are my parents, Pam and Brad. Before you ask, they aren't married anymore, but they do act like it. We've speculated that they're going to get back together at some point, but they tell us we're insane and just hoping for the times of days gone by. That's neither here nor there, though."

I laugh at the way he's put all that information into what feels like one long sentence, and left it on a cliffhanger. I still stand by the fact he should be a songwriter. "It's nice to meet you all." I wave the part of my hand that's visible through the sweatshirt I'm wearing. I shiver, before tucking my hand back in.

One thing I've learned about Blake is that he runs hot and constantly has his air down into the sixties, which means I freeze. A sweatshirt or hoodie is a must in this house.

CeCe is the first to speak up. "I see you've been indoctrinated into what we like to call the ice palace. I was hoping now that someone else is staying here with him, at least some of the time he'll learn to turn the thermostat up."

Blake points a finger in her direction. "I pay the bill, thank you very much. If I want it to be Antarctica up in here, it'll be the Antartica. Got it?"

"That's what you say all the time. Blah, blah, blah."

I like this. She's giving back as good as she's getting. He's not getting upset; he's going right along with it, which means the way he's been portraying himself to me isn't a lie. He really is an easygoing guy for the most part. Comfortable, and ready to play hostess, I stand next to him, and we present a united front.

After all, I've always wanted to be part of a team.