Willow shook both of their hands.
“He’s Tommy, I’m Eric.” the shorter one said, as he looked down at the knife that was still in Willow’s hand.
“Oh, sorry.” Willow said, looking down at her left hand, as she shook Eric’s hand and then Tommy's as Tommy smiled at her.
“Hey, we freaked you out. Totally get it. We will use the doorbell from now on.” Tommy said. Willow noticed Eric smiling at her and Micheal.
“Yeah, I mean if you were busy, you should’ve told us Micheal, we would’ve understood.” Eric said in a knowing tone with raised eyebrows, as Tommy rolled his eyes at the man and elbowed him in the side. Eric crumpling at the contact to his side.
“Yeah, we actually are. Raincheck?” Micheal replied quickly, as he started walking them to the door. Willow saw both Eric's and Tommy’s faces fall at the rejection.
“How about you call them afterwards? You’ve been here with me long enough. Go hangout with them afterwards, I need to call my roommate anyway, she must be out of her mind.” Willow said, Micheal smiled warmly at her.
“I actually called Amanda the day that you came here, to make sure she didn’t worry about you. But still call her, check-in. I know if it was a friend of mine that went through what you did, well, I would want to know how you were doing. And if you want me to drop you off at the apartment,” Micheal offered as Willow smiled.
“That would be great.” she said, as Micheal followed both Eric and Tommy outside. Hearing the muttering of their voices, she went to grab her purse and put shoes on. She tried to take a calming breath while the feeling of anxiety was slowly taking over her at the thought of going to the police station. She knew she had to document her history like she failed to do the day it happened.
Maybe if I had done that, he wouldn’t be running around right now.
She shook her head, steeling her emotions as she hopped up from the couch and hurried out the front door.
Micheal, Eric and Tommy looked at Willow as the front door closed behind her.
“I’ll see you guys soon. I’ll call you.” he said
“You ready to go?” he questioned, as Willow took a breath.
“Not really. I know I’m going to have to tell them more of the history for this restraining order to get done.” Willow said as she looked up at Micheal uneasily.
“Ok, well I’ll be there for support if you need me.” Micheal said as they walked to the suburban.
Chapter Ten
Exiting the police station, Willow thought she might puke. Explaining the entire past of the relationship. From meeting him when she was in college and him acting like the perfect guy for her. Then came the snap. She thought back on it, realizing it wasn’t instantaneous, but it was gradual moves that he had made throughout the relationship that led them to where they were now.
To her getting a restraining order.
That was one good thing about purging about the experience of being in this relationship. Or about that relationship, really, since after this it would be officially over. You can’t come back from being abusive to someone else. The emotional abuse, the constant feeling of being controlled, being required to tell him where she was at all times, the limitations he put on her eating; all of it was over now.
“I know that was a lot. I’m proud of you, you know that.” he said as they walked back to the car and got in.
“I’m glad it went through,” Micheal nodded to the restraining order paper that was in Willow’s hand.
“Me too. It’s a move in the right direction. Can you drop me off at my apartment?” She asked, hoping that her roommate Amanda wouldn’t go ballistic on her for not being around, and for a week with a mysterious man that she knew nothing about.
“No,” the answer came so fast that Willow looked up at Micheal as he was clipping in his seatbelt.
“Sorry, no, I'll take you. I just, after seeing you last week like that, you realize it’s going to take every ounce of me to drive you back to that apartment of yours and not back towards my house, right?” he questioned.
“I understand. If Amanda is there, you’ll get to meet her. Plus, I need to get back to work. Subbing, you get new jobs and locations every day. If I miss more time, they will remove me from the active sub list. I don’t want Amanda having to foot the rent bill this month if I miss more time working,” she replied, as she clicked on her seatbelt, trying to change the subject.
“Oh, I already like her. Especially from the phone conversation I had with her. I understand, getting back to normal as soon as possible is the best thing,” Micheal replied as he started up the car and drove toward Willow’s apartment.
Parking the car out front of the apartment building, Willow looked up at it.
“You want me to walk you up?” Micheal offered.
“Yes, please.” she said, trying not to sound so relieved at the offer.
You never know Andrew could lurk around any corner waiting for you.
Willow got out of the car and buzzed her apartment building, both started walking up the stairs.
“See, I ran up these a week ago. But I can understand why you wouldn’t have wanted to go up them with a sprained ankle.” Micheal joked as he followed right behind Willow until reaching the third floor, going a couple doors down and knocking on it.
From outside the apartment there were a lot of clattering sounds, like multiple locks unlocking, before a black hair and dark-skinned woman, who was all smiles, opened the door. Smiling not at Willow, but at Micheal, in a knowing way.
“So, you’re the one that called me. Also, the one that Willow can’t seem to shut up about.” She said.
“Amanda, this is Micheal. Micheal this is Amanda, my overbearing roommate and best friend,” Willow said, introducing them both as they shook hands.
“She says I’m overbearing, but that’s her way of saying she loves me, right Willow?” Amanda asked rhetorically, as Willow narrowed her eyes at her best friend and roommate.
Leaving Willow feeling like she just wanted to crawl into a hole and die at her friend Amanda’s honest comment.
Chapter Eleven
“So, I take it you talk an awful lot about me?” Micheal questioned.
With Willow feeling her face, heat at the loaded question.
“No, your exaggerating, right Amanda?” Willow asked, elbowing her friend in the side, catching the slight eye roll Amanda gave her.
“Would you like to come inside and not stand by the closed door?” Amanda asked, as Willow looked at Amanda as if she wanted her to burn where she stood, with Amanda elbowing her back, hard. Causing Willow to move to the side.
“Um, yeah, would you like to come in? See more of the shoebox we live in.” Willow said, hoping that Micheal would suddenly have something else to do that would get him away from the apartment. Micheal simply smiled, shaking his head.
“I would love to. Plus, this place reminds me of where I grew up as a kid. I’m familiar with shoe boxes. Then I'm going to have a talk with the super to get the locks changed out.” Micheal said as he stepped inside. Amanda moved towards the door, locking all the locks on the door.
“I’ve tried since the incident. The guy wants us to pay for the door repair fees and the lock changes.” Amanda mentioned with a groan.
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“Well, you haven’t been here in over a week. With everything you are dealing with, I didn’t want to pile on top of it. But to change the subject, how ‘bout you go show him your room Willow,” Amanda said with a smile on her face as she looked between Willow and Micheal.
Willow looked over at Micheal and he was just looking around the living room area of the little apartment that she shared with her best friend. Reminding her that the last time that he was at the apartment that he was too busy trying to get her away from the building to even take notice of what the actual apartment looked like.
Willow tried to look back at Amanda with narrowed eyes. But stopped at the feeling of Micheal's han
d taking her hand in his. She walked in front of him, leading him toward where her bedroom was. Closing the door behind him, as he let go of her hand gently, and moved to look at his reflection in the mirror, fixing his shirt collar. Willow started pacing next to him.
"You realize she was messing with me, right? That she like wants something to happen between us. When you were just coming to bring me up–" Willow ranted, feeling her pulse race, as Micheal stopped her by putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Oh, I know she was messing with you. That doesn't mean she doesn't think something is going on right now. She seems like a nice girl. Besides, I feel like your friend is trying to play matchmaker. Poorly veiled. But a sweet attempt." Micheal commented, flashing a smile at Willow that made her feel weak in the knees. The last time he smiled at her like that was outside the classroom the first day they met.
“Trust me, I know after what you’ve been through is a lot to ask. And me, well, I’m just getting out of a divorce.” Micheal said, trying to assure Willow that he wouldn’t try anything. But all Willow could think of was the other implications about what he said.
He was interested in her.
“Plus, I get to see your room.” Micheal added, as he started looking around, his eyes scanning the little room, as she noticed him eyeing her closet that was partially open, with him walking towards it.
“Oh, oh no. please––” she said as Micheal smiled, that same flash of a smile that made her knees go weak.
“You realize now I have to see what it is you’re hiding.” Micheal said as he opened up the closet, clicked on the light, and looked at the wall. Plastered over it were mentions of his work, from newspaper clippings that varied throughout the years.
“I know it’s creepy. Like stalker creepy, right?” Willow said with a shaky voice, just waiting for Micheal to run for the hills. But he just smiled, looking at the newspaper clippings that started at the beginning of his notoriety.
“You’ve followed me from the beginning. And you are a fan. Explains that reaction you had to me the first time we met.” Micheal said as he leaned closer to one of the newspaper clippings, reading it and shaking his head.
“Actually, before you showed up in the papers. Saw one of your first opening years ago. From outside, of course, I couldn't exactly afford the ticket price to go into that art gallery.” Willow mentioned.
“Did Andrew come here and pick up his stuff? It only seems to be your stuff?” Micheal asked, noticing that it was just Willow’s things hung up in the closet.
“He never moved in. Has his own place. Thankfully.” Willow replied, as Micheal sighed in relief.
“Good. But that reminds me. I need to talk to your super, make sure the locks get changed so Andrew doesn’t come back and try something.” Micheal said as he opened the door to your bedroom.
“I’ll be back in a few.” He called back as Willow was face to face with a smiling Amanda.
“So, anything good happen while you were in there?” Amanda asked as Willow rolled her eyes.
“No, nothing happened. We were only in there for a couple minutes. Not like he couldn’t see right through what you were trying to pull anyway,” Willow commented while Amanda laughed.
“Girl, like anything could happen in three minutes. Well, unless–” she said, Willow covered Amanda’s mouth, while Amanda laughed at her friend’s reaction.
“Nothing happened. He said he was just trying to mess with you.” Willow commented as she looked past Amanda and into the kitchen.
“Your cooking?”
“Yeah, how do you think I survived a week alone without you?” Amanda questioned as she walked back into the small kitchen where Willow saw her friend was making lasagna for dinner.
“See, we both know the answer to your question. Whenever I’m gone, you get takeout. So seeing you cook is kind of foreign to me.” Willow said as she washed her hands in the sink and started helping with the assembly of the layers of the lasagna.
“Well, I was thinking about asking him to stay for dinner. And maybe a couple of drinks. Since I know you won’t.” Amanda commented as she put down the noodles onto the pan, Willow scooped up the ricotta cheese and spread it over the noodles.
“No, after bribing the super to do his job. Well, Micheal is just going to go home.” Willow said, shaking her head.
“Come on, can’t I just sort of nudge you together? I mean, ever since you saw him that first day, he’s all you can talk about. I mean right on after your first day of being a substitute teacher I thought you would yap at me about that, but it was all about Micheal. Then he’s your knight and shining armor saving you. You spend an entire week at his house, which by the way I need details about that. He wouldn’t have done all that if there wasn’t something there about you, Willow. He likes you; I can see that. And I enjoy seeing you happy.” Amanda said as she nudged her friend's shoulder.
“And before we have an honest to god moment right now, I think we need to bring out the booze.” Amanda said as she went to open up a cabinet and brought out a bottle of whiskey and shot glasses.
“You know, he hinted at something. Like he was or well is interested. But he pointed it out himself, he’s coming off a divorce and I’m trying to get out of this abusive relationship.” Willow pointed out, with the sound of the apartment door opening up, making her jump where she was standing.
“Sorry if I took too long. I convinced your super to get someone down here. I guess the usual locksmith can’t make it, so he will let you guys stay in a different apartment until the locksmith can come tomorrow to change out the locks and give you a copy of new keys,” Micheal explained, as he smiled at the food that Amanda was making.
“Cause the guy is so stingy that he would rather have the old lock repaired,” Amanda said as she put her frustrations out on the ricotta, mixing it in the container more with the spoon.
“You want to stay for dinner? I’m making lasagna. I always end up making too much. Unless you have somewhere else to be?” Amanda asked, as she nudged Willow.
Willow took that opportunity to put another shot of whiskey in the shot glass and downed it, waiting for Micheal’s answer.
“I would love to. Gives me more time to learn about Willow. And more about you too.” Micheal replied, as he took his jacket off. Amanda smiled at Willow as she put the lasagna in the oven and then grabbed beers for them all.
More than a couple of beers, and an entire pan of lasagna later, Willow downed the beer that was in front of her and set it down on the table.
“I got to say that was the best lasagna ever,” Willow said, trying to keep her concentration on the table in front of her. To stop the room from spinning around her.
“I should get you guys to that other apartment for the night.” Micheal said getting up having to hold on to the table to right himself.
“Hey, I’ve been staying here a week by myself, what’s another night huh?” Amanda questioned, waving off Micheal’s offer.
“No, I’m serious. You guys should go over there even if it is just for the night.” Micheal said, as he went to sit back down.
“Maybe I should stay the night. I definitely can’t drive like this.” Micheal said, Willow caught Amanda’s grin.
“Ok, well I can stay in the other apartment. You can stay with Willow here.” Amanda said as Willow rolled her eyes, grabbing a hold of her friend’s arm, and staggering slowly into the kitchen.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“What? There is another apartment. I’ll stay there for the night. You stay here with Mr. Hottie.” Amanda said, wiggling her eyebrows at Willow.
“I’m slightly drunk, not stupid Amanda. We barely know each other, and we are both drunk. Frankly, if I were to do him, I would want him to remember it the next morning anyway,” Willow responded, turning away from Amanda, who was still sporting that grin on her face. With Amanda pulling away from her and walking into her bedroom, whistling the entire time.
“I’ll s
et up the couch for you,” Willow said, grabbing extra sheets and pillows from her room.
“But getting that other apartment for the night for you two--” he said as Amanda came out of her room, bag packed, and grabbing for the keys to the other apartment.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go over there to stay the night. And I’ll see you two in the morning,” Amanda said, winking at Willow. Willow fought the urge to throttle her best friend as she slipped out the apartment.
With the sound of the apartment door closing, Willow thought she would feel scared coming back here after last time. But as she looked at Micheal, who was still sitting at the table, she realized she felt safe. Just like she felt last week, she stayed at his house.
“Well then, might as well get that set up since it is kind of late,” he said as he got up and toed off his shoes.
“Good night,” Willow said as she went to lock the locks on the door. Then continued onto her bedroom.
“Night” she heard the reply, as she softly closed her door, with the realization that she didn’t wash the dishes, which she realized was the stupidest thought that could come across her less than sober mind. Opening the door and stopping in her tracks. At Micheal, taking off his shirt.
Why did we have to drink tonight? Of all nights?
Willow found her throat was dry, as her eyes traveled down his torso, taking in the slightly tanned skin and hair that graced his chest. Stopping where his hands were unclasping his belt.
Willow blinked and found that she had not turned away like she thought she would have by now.
Do the dishes tomorrow. Turn around and go to bed. Unless doing the dishes, is just your excuse to continue watching him undress?
She closed her bedroom door, running her hand over her face with a sigh.
“You’re both drunk, and I need to go to sleep.” she said aloud to remind herself as she went to change into pajamas and fall in bed. Trying to not replay the image of Micheal undressing in her mind.
Learning To Love Again (Book #1 In The Learning To Love Again Series Page 4
