Learning To Love Again (Book #1 In The Learning To Love Again Series

by Jessica Danielle

  “Because he drove me to his house actually,” Willow admitted.

  “Before we get any further, I’m going to need coffee for this I can already tell,” she says practically dragging Willow behind her the rest of the way to the teacher’s lounge. Making quick work of getting two cups of coffee together and sitting Willow down with her.

  “There had better be more to this than him helping you out,” Julie said as she stirred at her coffee, as Willow smiled.

  “Well, I did sort of stay over the weekend at his house if that’s more of the details that you wanted to hear,” Willow says as she took a sip of her coffee. Watching in satisfaction as Julie’s eyes went wide as she was in mid-sip of her coffee that she struggled to swallow down.

  “You stayed over? What else happened?” she rattled off quickly, as Willow smiles, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders.

  “I stayed over until Sunday to make sure my ankle sprain got better. And don’t even start with the assumptions. I stayed in a guest room and we talked a bit. That’s as far as it went.” Willow answered as she sipped at her coffee, trying to ignore the smile that was on her friend’s face.

  Willow’s phone started buzzing and was quick to click on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode on her phone after looking at the text. Immediately dropping her good mood that she came to work in, now feeling as if there was a pit in her stomach.

  Julie didn’t miss this change in Willow as she asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s just my boyfriend. He’s been texting me and I don’t want to answer.”

  Julie grabbed Willow’s phone. Willow stood up and saw one text that flashed across the screen.

  Where are you? You didn’t text me back. Willow was quick to take the phone back, trying to walk out of the teacher’s lounge.

  “He’s just wondering where I am. I’ll text him back later about being here. He’s just concerned since I wasn’t at my apartment all weekend. It’s nothing.” Willow said, waving it off, as the bell rang.

  “Have to get to the classroom, but I’ll tell you all about the weekend at lunch?” Willow offered, trying to change the subject as she exited the teacher’s lounge with a sigh she looked down at her phone, notifications still popping up, putting it in her pocket.

  Chapter Five

  Willow sighs as the lunch bell rings. All the students grab their backpacks before heading out of the classroom and to the lunch tables.

  I already know the interrogation is going to begin as soon as I walk into the teacher’s lounge.

  Willow grabs for her lunch and walks down the hallway to the teachers’ lounge.

  “Where is she? Where is Willow? I need to speak with her?” She hears, immediately having the urge to not go to the room and instead wanting to go back to the classroom, grab her keys and run.

  He’s here. At my work. Must’ve tracked my phone.

  Willow turns the handle of the teachers’ lounge, still wanting to run but knowing that if she didn’t intervene that something might happen.

  Andrew stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only one in the room of people that was wearing an immaculate suit, 5 o’clock shadow on his face and his short brown hair that usually was neatly combed into place was everywhere. Arguing with those that were around him. As he turned to face Willow, his eyes infuriated, his gray eyes locked on her, as he clenched his fists, walking in her direction.

  Her heart dropped as his expression darkened. He shoved passed everyone, and grabbed for her arm, as he continued to walk out of the room so fast that Willow was stumbling to keep up. Andrew walked quicker across the campus and out of the parking lot.

  “Why didn’t you text me back? You weren’t at your apartment the whole weekend.” he says as Willow feels her heartbeat speed up in her chest, struggling against his hold.

  “Answer me! Where were you over the weekend, huh?” he asks as he snapped his fingers in front of her face.

  “I tripped on Friday and sprained my ankle. I couldn’t walk, so a student’s parent took me to their house so I could heal. I couldn’t go back to that apartment with all those stairs. And couldn’t hold my weight on it at all on Friday,” Willow explained, as she watched Andrew's eyes narrow at her.

  “Uh huh,” he said in a tone that said that he didn’t believe her as he looked down at her feet.

  “You look like you're perfectly fine. I knew I couldn’t leave you alone. I go away for a conference across the country, and you fool around behind my back.” he says, as he goes to open up the passenger side door of his car.

  “Willow?” she hears behind her, seeing Julie walking up towards the front of the school, as Andrew gets the passenger side door open, and pushing Willow in. Willow moves to look at Julie who was still advancing towards them, concern on her face.

  “Julie, don’t. I don’t want you getting involved, please,” Willow said, watching as Julie stopped where she was, as the door was slammed in Willow’s face.

  Andrew quickly ran over to the driver’s side, getting in. And pressing the child-proof lock on. Driving away with her, as Willow looked behind her, seeing Julie standing in the same spot. As Willow slumped in the passenger side seat, defeated and exhausted.

  This was definitely not how I thought today was going to go.

  Chapter Six

  Willow sat in the passenger seat, knowing that Andrew was heading towards her apartment. Remembering that Micheal gave her his numbers over the weekend, she grabbed for her phone while Andrew wasn't looking.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t answer any of my calls or texts? You know you’re always supposed to answer and check-in with me. Anytime that I call.” Andrew ranted, too busy listening to himself talk, he didn’t notice Willow’s phone underneath her leg that was dialing Micheal.

  “You were at someone’s house the entire weekend because you sprained your ankle while at work? Like you really expect me to believe that? You know when we get home, you’re going to learn your lesson, Willow. Maybe next time you will learn to not ignore your phone.” Andrew said, as Willow took a breath, hoping that Micheal had answered the phone and hearing the conversation.

  Only time will tell.

  Andrew stopped outside of her building. Pulling her out of the seat and up towards the building, Willow tried to hold her phone off on her side so he wouldn’t notice.

  Walking up the stairs with Andrew behind her. She moved her hand to her front, concealing the phone and stopping on her floor where her apartment was at. Andrew opened the door, pushing her inside and locking the door behind them.

  With Andrew distracted by having to lock the door, Willow tried to take her chances in making a run for the bathroom, sprinting for the bathroom. Anything to get away from him. Her fingertips were just an inch away from the doorknob as Andrew pulled her away from the bathroom door.

  “I hurt my ankle and a parent let me stay with them over the weekend. That’s the truth. What else do you want to hear?” Willow questioned, as Andrew pulled her towards the couch.

  “You’re lying and you know it.” Andrew said as he stood in front of Willow, hand raised to strike her. Banging started outside the apartment door. Before Andrew could look, he saw splinters flying about the room with the door kicked in, lock busted.

  A man that Willow didn’t recognize busted in through the door and pulled Andrew away from Willow. His grip tightened around Andrew's form, as Andrew tried to thrash against the larger man’s form to get free.

  Willow sat in shock on the couch, unmoved, as her eyes darted around at both their forms, fighting against one another. The man towered over Andrew, short blonde hair, a muscular build that was accentuated by the black tank top that he wore and the tight jeans.

  “Cops should be here soon. I would recommend leaving.” said the mysterious man as Willow got up on shaky legs, on her way out of the apartment.

  “Micheal hired me to follow you, make sure nothing bad happened to you.” he said, explaining the unanswered question of Willow’s. Willow no
ticed his eyeline go from her to outside the apartment. Willow continued outside, feeling arms wrap around her, as she shook in their hold. The reality of how things might have gone down if Andrew wasn’t separated from her hitting her.

  Micheal lifted Willow’s chin while holding her, so she wouldn’t continue looking at Andrew. Andrew was still struggling against the man that had his arms wrapped around in his hold that made Andrew unmovable.

  “I thought I told you–” the mysterious man said as Micheal laughed darkly.

  “I hired you, Larry, and I don’t take orders or follow them very well.” Micheal replied, as he pulled Willow away from him and looked her over.

  “I’m fine.” Willow said, letting out a shaky breath.

  “I know, but just for peace of mind, you’re staying with me while Larry handles him and the cops.” Micheal says as Willow feels a weight lift from her chest, walking down the flights of stairs and out to the waiting truck they go in. Speeding away from the apartment building.

  Chapter Seven

  Laying in bed, tossing and turning, Willow woke up, her throat sore. Hand going to her throat she attempted to clear it. The door to the guest room opened and the light was flicked on. Causing Willow to squint her eyes at the sudden brightness.

  “Are you ok? I came in the house and heard you screaming. I wanted to come and check on you,” Micheal said as Willow looked at his attire.

  He was wearing green coveralls that were covered in splatters of paint. Willow huffed, trying to remember the nightmare that she had.

  The feeling of hands grabbing her.

  That was the only thing she could remember but was grateful for it.

  “I’m fine, just a nightmare, I can’t remember much. What are you doing up?” she asked, gesturing to what he was wearing.

  “Couldn’t sleep. When I can’t I go out to the studio and paint. I was just coming back in for something to drink. You want to join me?” he asked as Willow shrugged her shoulders as she got out of the bed.

  “Sure, why not. It’s not like i’m going to be going back to sleep anytime soon,” she said as she followed him out of the guest room and down the stairs and out the back sliding door. Leading out to the backyard, and to an adjacent building on the back of the property.

  Micheal opened up the door and let Willow in first. Her eyes scanned the room seeing various pieces along the walls. And one sitting on an easel, the one she saw him working on on social media the previous week.

  “You know I found that I came here more often to work through my feelings when the divorce was just going through. Maybe working out your feelings with art could help?” Micheal offered as he grabbed a blank canvas, and put it on an easel before rattling through his supplies.

  “I know I have stuff that Evan uses from time to time somewhere in here. Ah ha! Here,” he said walking back to Willow’s side with a little container of acrylics and brushes.

  “I would give you the oil paints but, well acrylics are more water-friendly,” Micheal added as Willow took the container and set it on the floor next to the easel that was propped up.

  Willow saw that Micheal went back to working on the piece. Leaving Willow to look at the blank canvas stumped.

  “How am I exactly supposed to do this?” she said as she got the white plastic palette from the set and started squeezing various colors onto it.

  Willow heard him put this palette down and stand behind her.

  “It's simple, how do you feel now? Or when you woke up from the nightmare earlier?” Micheal said as Willow put her brush into the black.

  “Scared, I didn’t know where I was. I thought I was back in the apartment,” Willow said slowly as she watched her brush swirl in the paint before putting it on the canvas, swiping the brush across it.

  “Then I thought about the relationship, the controlling. Every little thing I had to tell him about,” she said, dropping the paint brush onto the floor, her fingers in the black paint now. Swiping her fingers across the canvas quickly.

  “I couldn’t go anywhere without telling him first. Amanda tried to talk to me about him, but I was so snowed. I just wanted someone to love me that I settled, I settled for a man that wanted to control me,” Willow continued scooping more paint onto her right hand before smearing in onto the canvas, finding that it was hard to breathe.

  “Why? Why didn’t I listen?” she said as she felt tears well up in her eyes as she felt the palette slip from her left hand and land on the floor. As she stumbled against the palette and Micheal caught her, as he slowly moved to have her sit on the ground with him.

  “Why didn’t I listen when she was so concerned?” she asked again as Micheal turned, moved his hands against her back in slow circles. As she laid her head against his chest, trying to control her breathing.

  “It's not your fault you know that. Andrew’s an awful person, he never deserved you Willow. Know that. And you didn’t deserve to be treated like that.” he said, tilting her chin up so she could look at him. His warm brown eyes looking down at her with sincerity.

  “Know that you never deserved that from him. To have him make you think so lowly of yourself. You're a good person Willow,” he said as he wiped at the tears on her face, and hugged her as he kissed the top of her head. Shaking in his hold, amongst the canvases in the studio in the darkness of the night.

  Chapter Eight

  A Week Later….

  Willow woke up laughing from a dream, wiping tears from her face, happy for the change from the other nightmare that had been plaguing her the whole week. Waking her in the night in a cold sweat and running for the bathroom. The same one that repeated nightly, or what might have happened if that man didn’t show up in time. Willow shuddered at the thought, as a knock came from outside the bedroom hallway.

  “Hey are you ok?” Micheal asked, as he walked in seeing Willow wiping tears from her face.

  “Oh, these are good tears. Woke up laughing for once.” Willow said as Micheal smiled.

  “I’m glad to hear it. I thought I was hallucinating hearing laughter coming from in here,” Micheal said as he leaned against the doorway, as Willow sighed. She noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been waking you up every night this past week,” Willow said, feeling guilty.

  “You have nothing to apologize for at all,” he said, sympathy lacing his voice as he cleared his throat.

  “Breakfast?” he offered, as Willow smiled.

  “You mean coffee with a side of breakfast? Yes, that sounds delicious,” she said as she got up from bed. Micheal was already on his way downstairs, leaving Willow to follow behind, smelling coffee already brewed.

  Sipping at the coffee, Willow glanced around the kitchen and noticed a guitar sitting on the couch in the living room. Micheal follows her line of sight and smiles.

  “Played with it a bit this morning. Helps me think sometimes,” he commented, as Willow nodded.

  “We need to talk.” he said, as Willow's thoughts turn negative.

  He’s kicking me out. I've overstayed my welcome.

  “Last night Larry called me about Andrew. He was the guy that helped you at your apartment. He went to the police station after the incident to file a report about what happened. But since he wasn’t the person who got taken from their place of work and attacked. They could only hold him for 24 hours.” Micheal said as Willow sighed.

  “Of course not. Andrew never had a record before. Without me adding to the report, or even his history. I knew it.” she said, feeling as if the other shoe was dropping.

  “We can go to the local station, see about the process for putting in a restraining order.” Micheal offered, trying to be positive about the situation, as he got up.

  “Relax, take a couple deep breaths. I’m going to go change and then we can head out,” Micheal said as he patted Willow’s shoulder. Taking the last sip of coffee, Willow got up from the bar to make a second cup.

  She heard the floorboards creak.
That was her only clue that she wasn’t downstairs alone. She turned to see men she didn’t know standing in the doorway looking at her confused.

  Willow moved to get a knife from one drawer, pointing it at them, as one of them held up their hands.

  “Micheal!” she yelled as she took a step back, hearing running down the stairs.

  Chapter Nine

  “Should we call the cops?” the shorter man with the shoulder-length blonde hair asked the larger man that seemed to look at the shorter man with a smile on his face.

  “I’m sorry, but who exactly are you?” Willow asked, as she looked at the two men as they looked at her, with the knife that was still pointed at them in her hand.

  “I would say you're the woman with the knife pointed at us.” The shorter one is snarky, avoiding the question that was asked of him. Micheal came down the stairs looking from Willow to the men that were now in the house. And then at the knife that was in Willow’s hand.

  “Crap, sorry. I completely forgot to call you guys to cancel.” Micheal said as he dragged his hand over his face.

  “You know them?” Willow questioned, as she looked at the two men that were still close to the front door.

  “Yes, this is Eric and Tommy. Despite the years of being friends, they still don’t understand the concept of a doorbell or how to knock. Tommy is a photographer that does with me when I tour galleries, and takes pictures for social media. Eric worked with my publicity agent, comes to parties to schmooze with the important people,” Micheal said as he continued with the introduction of Willow

  “This is Willow, one of Evan’s teachers. She’s a substitute at the school. She’s staying here for a bit.” Micheal introduced.