The Road That Leads to Us (Us 1)

“We better go help them,” I told Willow. It was the right thing to do, considering their generosity.

“You’re right,” Willow nodded, her head rubbing against my chest with the gesture, “but selfishly I don’t want to move.”

We began to disentangle and went to offer our assistance.

As we all worked we got to know each other. We learned that Chase was studying to be a doctor and about to start his residency, which was why he and his friends and fiancé were on this trip for a small getaway before he became consumed by work.

Alyssa, his fiancé, would be starting her final year of college to become a teacher.

Jacob and Alexis called themselves self-proclaimed bums, at least in comparison to their friends, but considering they said they owned a small health food store where they lived in Texas I didn’t think they were bums at all.

Chase manned the grill, keeping an eye on the burgers and hotdogs.

Several grocery bags sat on the table and we worked on unloading them while we chatted.

“Why are you guys headed to Malibu?” Alexis asked, setting a bag of potato chips on the table.

“To see my cousin,” Willow answered with a pleasant smile.

“Who doesn’t know we’re coming,” I added.

Jacob chuckled. “That’ll be interesting.”

“Liam’s cool.” Willow shrugged, completely unaffected.

“Wait…” Alexis held up a hand to Willow’s face. “What did you say your name was?”

“Willow,” she replied hesitantly, unsure where this was going.

Her mouth popped open and she stared at Willow in awe. “Duuude.”

“What?” Jacob, Chase, and Alyssa all said at the same time.

“Willow…Liam…” Alexis mused. “Your dad’s in Willow Creek, right?!”

Willow’s eyes popped out and she looked about ready to run away. She hated this kind of attention.

“No, you’ve got the wrong person.” Willow shook her head and brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder.

“No, no.” Alexis was adamant. “I know the drummer,” Willow rolled her eyes at this, “has a kid named Willow. And Mathias’ son is a surfer in California named Liam. I’m not crazy. This can’t be a coincidence.”

Willow looked like she was two seconds away from chucking a hard object at Alexis’ head.

“Willow—” I began, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.

“What do you want?” Willow finally muttered. “Autographs? A picture? Blood type?”

Alexis’ dark brows furrowed together. “No, I don’t want anything. I just think it’s cool that you’re the Willow. It must’ve been so cool growing up with a rock star for a parent.”

Willow appeared shocked by what she had to say. When she finally regained her composure she said, “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

Alexis frowned at this while the others looked on in confusion.

“I’m so lost.” Jacob rubbed his head, like the gesture would help him to gain clarity on the situation.

Alexis huffed a sigh. “Her dad is the drummer from Willow Creek, right?” She glanced at Willow for clarification.

Willow nodded and picked at a loose thread on the tablecloth thrown haphazardly across the wooden table.