Page 2 of Willa

David

“Ican’t,” I tell Mitch. “I’m playing tour guide to my sister and one of her friends from college this weekend.” I look at my watch. They’re due any minute.

“How’d you get roped with that?” Mitch asks.

“She’s my sister.”

“Let her take care of herself, catch an Uber. Give her the key to your place and fly back east for the weekend. You’re never here anymore, man. You’re always in San Francisco.”

“That’s where the majority of my clients are.”

“Your clients don’t need to see you face to face. You can manage their money from anywhere.”

“Would you hand your trust fund over to someone you never saw face-to-face?”

Mitch snorts. “Fine. You win. Just think about this weekend, okay? Connie will be there.”

Mitch sing-songs that last sentence like it’s the temptation that will tip the scales in his favor. But really, it’s another reason not to go. Connie is just… not for me. She’s beautiful and everything, but she’s looking for something serious and I’m… not. Not with her. She’s also looking for a big bank account, and I’m not willing to let her drain mine.

But a lot of my friends think we’re perfect for each other. I guess it goes to show how well my friends know me. I’d prefer someone much more down to Earth. I don’t have a lot of patience for a high maintenance woman.

“I’ll think about it,” I hedge to get him off the phone. “I have to go. Andrea will be here any minute.”

“Alright. Later, man.”

I press the button to disconnect when the building concierge buzzes to let me know my guests are on their way up. I pushed a button to unlock the front door and text Andie to come in and get settled in the guest room, then meet me in my office.

Mitch interrupted my work and I need to finish looking at a contract before I can even consider signing off for the day. Andie’s here for a four-day weekend and I promised to take a little time off. I need to get as much off my plate before she demands all my time.

“I know,” Andie’s voice floats down the hall. “Wait until you see the view from our room.”

I shake my head. I thought my little sister would end up in a house in the suburbs, picket fence and all. But with the way Andie stares out my windows every time she’s here, she just might end up in the city.

“This place is huge.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My heart stutters to a halt before thumping again double time. I know that voice. It haunts me. My sister wouldn’t dare. She’d told me she was bringing a friend from college. Willa is a friend from preschool. A friend that — Andie told me in no uncertain terms — never wanted to see me as long as she lived.

I did the right thing. I’ve told myself a million times that I did the right thing. Yet the sight of Willa in a lacy bra and panty set still taunts me.

I close my laptop. I’m not going to be able to absorb one more word until I see this guest. Maybe she just sounds like Willa.

My dick tells me that isn’t the case. But my dick doesn’t have x-ray vision, so I stand from my desk and listen to their conversation as I make my way down the hall.

“What d’you want to do while we’re here?” Andie asks.

“Everything.”

“You can’t do everything in San Francisco in four days.”

“Okay, then I want to do everything you can fit into four days. Alcatraz for sure. And Golden Gate Park. Fisherman’s Wharf. ”

Just as the girls come into view, Willa — and it is Willa — pulls a stack of panties from her suitcase and turns toward the dresser.

I bite back a groan. I’m never going to survive the weekend. I’ve always been drawn to Willa in one way or another. When we were small, I liked how she was such a contrast to my sister.

Willa is shy and quiet and kind. It was a welcome change to Andie’s loud, demanding nature. I never minded having Willa around, even when she used to pepper me with questions. She always wanted to know what I was doing, what I was reading, what I was learning.

She was so inquisitive, but in a way that said she was really interested. Answering her questions became second nature until she and I had formed a sort of friendship of our own, separate from her being Andie’s friend.

I’d known she had a bit of a crush on me, or at least I thought she had. I did my best to keep things platonic. I thought I succeeded in keeping things along that vein for both of us, until I saw her in her panties. I realized in that moment that I wanted Willa at least as much as she wanted me. Maybe more.

She was still so young, though. The law might change on your eighteenth birthday, but it’s not like a switch is flipped and you’re suddenly mature enough for an adult relationship, a sexual relationship.

Once I realized how much I wanted her in return, my hope had been to put her off for the moment, not forever. But after that night, Andie told me in no uncertain terms that Willa was off limits.

I told myself it was for the best. I told myself that it wouldn’t last forever, that eventually, Willa would be ready for something more. I thought I’d continue to see her at Christmas and Thanksgiving, that I’d bide my time.

That never happened. There were no more Thanksgivings and Christmases where Willa joined us. And the few times I asked my sister about her best friend, she narrowed her eyes at me and told me it was none of my business.

It only took me a few minutes to realize that I’d given up the chance to be Willa’s first. I could have beat my own ass. I’d kept repeating her age in my head, telling myself it was the right thing.

Willa isn’t eighteen anymore. And now I can see all the ways she’s grown up. Her brown hair was longer. It falls down her back in loose waves, almost to her waist. Her hips are wider, her breasts a little bigger, but I’m sure her green eyes are exactly the same.

When she turns back to her suitcase, she catches sight of me and freezes. A gorgeous pink color floods her cheeks. So she does remember. But does she still want me?