The Road That Leads to Us (Us 1)

“I don’t know what to say,” she confessed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“That’s okay.” I pressed my lips to her forehead and she breathed out a happy sigh. Her eyes fluttered closed at the gesture, her lashes sweeping against her cheeks.

I held her close. Letting her know I was here, and I still would be when she was ready to talk whether that was now, an hour from now, weeks, or even months.

She inhaled a shaky breath before speaking. “I’m not worried about disappointing my parents. I know they’ll understand. They just want me to be happy.”

When she grew quiet once more I prompted her with, “Then what’s the problem?”

She turned in my arms to face me, and her hands grasped at my sides like she needed me to hold her up.

I was her pillar.

Her strength.

Her unwavering source of stability.

She looked up at me with wide blue eyes—eyes that showed so much, the map of her dreams, hopes, and fears.

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“I’m terrified of disappointing myself.” Her straight white teeth seesawed across her full bottom lip.

I reached down and plucked her lip from the confines of her teeth.

“That’ll never happen,” I told her honestly, smoothing my hands through her blonde hair.

“You sound so sure,” she whispered skeptically.

“Because I am. Willow,” I began, “you’ve always known what you wanted, and for once you don’t and I know it seems scary, but that’s life. You don’t always know the next step. Sometimes you’ll stumble and fall, but guess what?” I brushed my lips against her ear and she shivered. “You will always get back up. This is simply the first stumble. You have some scrapes, maybe a bruise, but it’s not life-threatening. This was the wrong path for you, and now you get to choose a new one. Some people aren’t that lucky. Count your blessings.”

She stared up at me, her eyes wide and understanding. “Thank you, Yoda.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Oh, Willow, why do you always have to go and ruin the moment?”

She smiled up at me—a genuine smile that showed all of her teeth. “It’s a talent.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. Growing serious, she said, “Thank you for talking about it with me. I feel better now.”

“Good.” I bent my head and kissed the end of her nose.

She let out a happy sigh at the gesture and I cracked a half-smile.

I brushed my fingers over her cheek and she leaned into my touch.

“You’ve got this, Willow. If there’s anyone that can kick the ass of this thing called life it’s you. You’re brilliant. Never forget that.”

She grinned up at me, all sadness gone from her eyes. “You sound like you’re signing a yearbook.”

I groaned and lifted my arms in the air like I was addressing a crowd. “She does it again folks!”

Her cheery laugh filled the air and I had to grab her, and pull her towards me, where I lowered to press my lips against hers. Her laughter died, swallowed by my mouth, and she let out a soft moan. Her fingers grasped at the fabric and she stood on her tiptoes, pressing into me. My hands slid to her waist, my fingers curling under the edge of the sweatshirt and over the soft skin of her bare stomach. Her breath caught as my hands slid a fraction higher.

Her hands left my shirt and wound around my neck, the movement causing her breasts to push into my chest.

I picked her up and her legs went around my waist. I pushed her back against the nearest wall, angling my mouth over hers. Her breaths came out in soft little pants that I couldn’t get enough of.

She tugged on my hair and I growled, kissing her harder.

I didn’t know how to stop.