9. Willow

NINE

Willow

“I cannot believe you went to the library and checked these books out.” Lily was in my bedroom, helping me move back in. I’d been an additional two days with Lorna before I left her to come home. I took two days longer for the main reason I had thrown all her good work out the window when I spent all night reading the offending book in Lily’s hand and then having horrible visions of Caleb.

“I thought you were making the bed?” I asked her, straightening from unpacking my backpack. “You’ve been sitting on it for the last five minutes.”

Lily ignored me. “Listen to this: ‘Determining whether you possess some form of extrasensory perception can be subjective.’” She paused in her reading to give me a dry look. “I bet it can,” she muttered before she continued. “‘It is often based on personal experiences, and for people who believe they may have psychic abilities, they report specific signs or feelings.’” She gave me a loaded look as she turned the page. “‘Here are some examples of psychic experiences.’ Are they kidding?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “‘Strong intuition.’” Again, she looked up at me, rolling her eyes. “Duh.”

“Lily,” I scolded her lightly, “there are people who believe this.”

Her look spoke volumes. “Two, clairco, no, wait, clair-cog-niz… Niz? Claircogniz…ance… claircognizance? Easy if you can say it,” she grumbled. “Oh, it means unexplained knowing. Unexplained… What?” She held her finger up to stop me from speaking as she continued reading. “‘You may just know information, without prior knowledge or learning. Or the sense of knowing could appear in dreams or spontaneous thoughts which later prove to be true.’” Her eyes met mine, and I already knew what she was thinking. “‘Psychic people may have premonitions or visions.’” Her eyes widened as she read on. “‘They may have vivid dreams or visions that later come to pass. The visions can feel out of place at the time but later become clear after the events unfold.’” Lily laid the book in her lap, her face thoughtful. “Wow. You could say you have clair-whatever and the premonitions.”

“I thought you were a skeptic?” I teased, unloading my toiletry bag. “You read three possibilities, and now you’re a believer.”

“Shut up.” She picked the book back up. “There’s also, clair…good grief, they’re obsessed with Clair!”

“Clairvoyance,” I murmured and was rewarded with a throw pillow being thrown at me.

“Clairsentience is heightened empathy. Oooh, telepathic experience, knowing when someone is going to call or text you.” She looked up at me, puzzled. “I always know when you’re going to text. ”

“Mm-hmm.” I folded my laundry.

“Ooh, I wonder if telekinesis is one?” I watched her skim the page, and the flash of disappointment on her face when she couldn’t find it, made me grin. “No, just a strong connection to spirituality.” She hesitated, peering over the top of the book. “Do you see dead people?”

“No.”

Lily sniffed dismissively. “Boring. Okay, where was I? Experiences of déjà vu, pfft, we all get that.” She scowled at the book. “Sensory disturbance where you hear or see things that others don’t…yikes, creepy. Psychometry, ooh this one’s cool. You sense things by touching people, objects, oooh, like a tracker dog.”

“Lily!”

“What? I’m being serious!” The problem was, she probably was. “Have you astrally projected?”

“No.”

“Hmm, it says you could leave your body and be in two places at once. That’d be handy. There’s more. One’s something I’m more likely to have, something to do with patterns and numbers.” Lily closed the book. “So…psychic? Cool.” She held out her hand. “When do I get married and how many kids?”

Standing up, I brushed off my jeans. “Weren’t you a skeptic five minutes ago?”

“Yes, but the book says, if you feel you have abilities, you have to experiment.” She held out her hand and shook it a little. “Experiment.”

“The book also says that a dream journal and meditation are also things that may help. ”

“It also says ”—she narrowed her eyes at me—“that there is no definitive test and to explore your potential.” Her hand was back off the bed. “ Explore .”

“You’re impossible.” Snatching hold of her hand, I studied her upturned palm. “Oh yes, I see it. At least three husbands…no, wait…four husbands, and sixteen children.”

Lily snatched her hand back. “My poor va-jay-jay! Why would you want to hurt it?”

“I’m not the one popping out sixteen kids.” Flicking my hair back, I popped my hip out as I made a silly pose. “Ladykiller.”

“Is that why there’s four?” she asked excitedly. “Do I kill them?”

My arms dropped to my side. “You know I’m joking, right?”

“Yes!” Lily picked the book up, turning it over in her hands. “So, what d’ya think? The visions, the sense of knowing, that kinda fits, right?”

“I guess.” I shifted my attention to my sock drawer.

“Weird that it’s just Caleb.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Do you think he sees you?”

The question was one I’d asked myself. “No.”

“Then how did he know it was you?” Lily leaned back on her elbows, getting comfy on my unmade bed as she asked the question I asked myself…a lot. “How did he know you were his girl?”

“Misleading,” I protested weakly.

“Meh.” She was wearing that look, the one she got whenever she was plotting or piecing together a puzzle. Or worse…a theory. Her brow furrowed in concentration, her lips pressing to gether to form a line, and I could practically hear her thinking. “Okay, I accept it. You’re psychic.”

“Hadn’t we established that with the whole read my palm ?”

“A test,” she quipped. “You failed.” Grinning at me, she sat up. “You keep having the visions, and they’re too specific to be just random dreams, and of course, they have your recurring Hotcakes in them.” She turned pensive. “And you maybe know more things about Caleb than you should…so, yup. Psychic.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “Or we’re just reaching.”

“What would you call it? Premonitions? Gut feelings? The book”—she tapped the cover—“says that happens.” Lily sighed dramatically once more. “You’re the one who went and got the books!”

“I know.” I saw her face. “I know, but maybe I’m not ready to shout it out.”

She gave a half shrug. “Okay, fine, you’re probably not Matt Fraser but there’s definitely something. You need to get in contact with Caleb.”

If only you knew how much I was trying to.

“I don’t know where he is.”

“Um…” She tapped the side of her head. “I think you do.” She gave me a pointed look. “I get it, I do, you’re really reserved and this is way out there, even for me, but there’s something between you, right?”

I didn’t expect such a simple question to make me feel as emotional as I did. There was something between us, and I knew it was more than either of us was admitting. The more I saw of him in my dreams, the tighter I felt the link between us grow.

“Perhaps.” My whisper was barely audible .

She looked at me with sympathy. “You’re in this together. Neither you nor he can keep brushing this off. You need to find him and talk.”

“He left, he doesn’t want to be found, and I don’t even know where to start looking.” I sat down beside her on the bed, and she reached over to place her hand on mine.

“Then we start with what we know and work from there.”

I side-eyed her. “You’re making it a project, aren’t you?”

“I love a good project,” she exclaimed with a gleeful squeal.

“Whoa, boy.” Pushing myself off the bed, I left her to it as I went to the kitchen for some water.

Shaking my head as she shouted out not to be shy to share the lottery numbers, I opened the fridge to get the water. I couldn’t help but pause as I reached for the bottles. Something was happening to me, and I needed to face it.

Face him .

I knew it and so did Lily, and she didn’t even know the whole picture. Surely, Caleb would be easier to convince if I could talk to him?

Easier to convince him if I could find him. Grabbing us water and a bag of chips that I knew I hadn’t bought and was sure Lily must have, I went back to my bedroom. She was exactly where I left her, sitting on the unmade bed, the book open again on her lap as she flipped through the pages.

“Lily, you should move so I can make the bed,” I scolded, dumping the bottles and chips on my nightstand. She got up off the bed, reading a page, and missed the look of exasperation I gave her.

Quickly I made the bed, biting my tongue when she sat back down on the freshly straightened cover .

“I think I may know where he is, but I need to go to him, not the other way around.”

Lily looked up, reaching over and dipping her hand into the bag for some chips. “Okay, where is he?”

“With friends.” Lie .

“Hmm.” She popped a chip into her mouth. “I thought he was a loner? He has friends?”

“Mm-hmm. A few.”

She shrugged as she accepted it because she had no reason not to. “And they know where he is?” She looked up at me. “Did they tell you?”

“Kind of.”

That calculating look was back. “Why are you being so…evasive?”

I’d been called out and there was no avoiding it, so I took a deep breath and told her the truth. Kind of. “I need to go to them .” My voice sounded surer than I felt.

I watched her closely, steeling myself for her reaction. I had a fifty-fifty chance of how she would react—either casual acceptance or full-blown outrage. I’d prepared myself for either, getting ready for the tirade if she went for the latter. I was completely stunned when her face lit up with excitement.

“That’s a brilliant i dea!” She looked like a kid who’d just been told they were going to Disney.

It was? Thrown off balance, I scrambled to catch up. I hadn’t expected enthusiasm. Wait, was she being sarcastic? “It is?”

“Of course it is! This is a perfect time for you to go! The store’s being redecorated, and you need a break, and let’s be honest—those weirdos who wrecked your home and business could come back.” She nodded vigorously, her excitement palpable. “It’s a great idea.”

Staring at her, I still felt a little speechless, trying to wrap my head around how I got this so wrong. She wasn’t supposed to accept it. “You think it’s safe to go?” I asked, my voice wavering a little as I tried to remain casual. “Those weirdos, as you call them, could come back, and this time, I won’t know what damage they do.”

“Which is exactly why you go.” Lily’s voice was firm. “Give the sheriff the time to look into it and hopefully catch the asshats.”

That made sense. But going back to that mountain where Cannon’s pack was had been gnawing at me. Would they help me? They owed me nothing, but I think, I really did think, that Cannon cared about Caleb. Maybe not as a person; I mean, he was pretty unlikable sometimes, but he was an alpha. So was Cannon, and I think that mattered to them. “You think so?”

Lily shrugged, completely unaware of my inner musings. “I think you need to go find him, and I think you need to find out what’s happening between you. I think whatever mysterious link there is, it needs to be broken.” She gave me a look so much wiser than her years. “You need your life back. Caleb left with a lot of questions unanswered and, I think, a few things between you two that need to be addressed.” She gave me a sly smile. “I think it will do you good to get away from all this.”

“All this?” I looked around at the bare empty walls.

“Yes.” Her look was tinged with sympathy. “The break-in at the store, the house, it’s wearing you down. It’s been a lot, and I think you getting away from here will give you some perspective.” Lily tossed her hair. “Don’t think I don’t see that you’ve been different since coming back. I know you.” She fixed me with a stare. “I see right through you, so don’t even try to deny it.”

I didn’t open my mouth. She was right, I had been different. How could I not be? There were werewolves in the world. Plus, the visions, the dreams, the break-ins, and the feeling that something larger was closing in on me. Weighing on me. I felt as if I was being pulled in different directions, and I couldn’t concentrate. No matter how much I denied it, the fact was that every waking moment, I was thinking of Caleb.

“Maybe,” I conceded. “But can I really just leave here, not knowing if everything here is okay? That my business is going to be okay?”

“Hello.” Lily gestured to herself. “I’m here, and I don’t know if you met her—you were at her house for the last week—but, hello, Lorna ! This is the perfect project for her. We tell her you need a break and that you trust her to run things in your absence. Girl, you will make her year.”

“Lorna?”

Lily rolled her eyes at me. “Please. Save her marriage, and think of Noel. Do you think he wants to hear about Zumba, baking, or God only knows what else she’s doing? The woman needs a job. Plain and simple. This is your chance to make a difference in her life.” She gave me a look that made me brace myself for whatever she was about to say next. “And I think a certain brooding man is probably missing you more than you think.”

I was already shaking my head. “This isn’t about Caleb.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, completely unconvinced. “Sure, it’s not. ”

I didn’t push it anymore. This is what I wanted, to go and find him, so why I was now resisting my own idea made no sense. My reasons for going were different than Lily’s, but she’d raised valid points. The store, the break-in, the constant worrying about Caleb or what was going to happen next—it was exhausting. And it wasn’t until my friend raised it that I noticed how much it was taking out of me.

“You’re right,” I admitted. “I could use a break, and Lorna is the perfect choice. I hope she says yes.” Lily huffed out a laugh, and I poked her leg in reprimand. “Be nice, and also, I want you to know, this isn’t about running away.”

“Oh, you’re not running away ,” she said with a smug smile. “You’re running to some one .”

With a groan, I pushed myself up off the bed. “You’re ridiculous,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“When you’re getting all hot and heavy with Caleb, you’re going to thank me.” Lily bounced up, full of enthusiasm. “I’ll help you pack. Now, go phone Lorna, and remember to lay it on thick. She needs to know how much you appreciate her.”

“I do appreciate her,” I protested defensively. “She’s been amazing, Noel too.”

Lily snapped her fingers as I spoke. “That! That right there, make sure you say that.” She was already in my closet, rummaging through my clothes with reckless abandon. “Where’s your sexy underwear?”

My brain stuttered and I felt my mouth drop. Shaking my head, sure I had misheard, I felt my face reddening as a sweater got tossed onto the bed without Lily ever turning around. “What?”

She must have registered the tone of my voice, because she shot me a look over her shoulder, completely unfazed. “Your sexy underwear, you know, the nice stuff.” She looked me over. “Willow! You need to be prepared for all scenarios.”

My mouth opened and closed a few times. “Lily, this is not—I’m not going to—” I stumbled in my need to protest. “I’m not leaving so I can have sex with Caleb!”

The flat stare was unimpressed, and she missed my glare when she turned her attention back to the closet. “Why? I would. You want to. He probably wants to. You need more confidence in yourself.”

Her patronizing tone only made it worse. “You are being ridiculous?—”

“Ridiculously right, you mean,” she said with a grin. She turned around, holding up a black lace bra triumphantly.

That was my cue. “Yup, I’m done.” I backed out of the room before she found anything else like, God forbid, my matching panties.

Her laughter followed me as I made a hasty exit. In the kitchen, I picked up my phone, ready to call Lorna and ask for her help once again. A particularly loud yell of glee made me wince.

As I called Lorna, I made a mental note to check everything Lily had packed. I had enough problems; I didn’t need Caleb thinking I was trying to seduce him.

It didn’t matter that deep down a tiny little part of me was disappointed at the thought he probably wouldn’t notice even if I did try.