Finally Read Online Free PDF Page A

still running. She turned off the engine, understanding that she couldn’t delay this any longer.
    Hanging out with Willa had grown more diffi cult by the outing. Not because she got on her nerves. Not because she was self-absorbed. And, not because Willa didn’t care about her. The diffi culty arose in the opposite of those reasons. Fun, thoughtful, smart, and genuine, just to name a few fi tting adjectives. Problems cropped up on the rare occasions when Willa glanced at her unreserved. Then it was clear that Willa did care. That struck her the most.
    24

    Finally
    If they’d met under other circumstances, she’d be confi dent of Willa’s sexuality. Instead, everything about their relationship defi ned friendship. In the months since, they’d become good friends, caring friends, but the frustration of not knowing if Willa would rebuff her advances compelled her to act. Knowing for certain if Willa was straight or gay, even if she wasn’t interested, would erase the smothering tension she felt in her presence lately.
    Not knowing ate away at her like a virus.
    Once she’d gotten to know Willa’s sister, she’d tried talking to her, but Helen wasn’t much help. A high school boyfriend came up in casual conversation, mentioned specifi cally to point out that Helen discovered more about Willa from other people than from own her sister. She also named Chip, whom Quinn met at the restaurant two months ago. Helen summed up her sister with one word: private. But that made her all the more appealing to Quinn.
    That Helen mentioned only boyfriends wasn’t encouraging, but Quinn had two boyfriends in high school and as a freshman herself. Perhaps Willa wasn’t ready to come out yet. Still when those unguarded moments slipped, she could swear that Willa had feelings for her. Especially last week at the airport when Quinn had labeled tonight as a “date.” A momentary spark lit up Willa’s eyes only to be blinked back into polite interest.
    Just then, the red door to Willa’s house swung open. Helen and Willa’s friend Zoë ambled down the front steps together.
    They ran a part-time gift basket company out of the spare room in Willa’s house, so they were often present before many of Quinn’s visits.
    She sucked in a calming breath, wiped the remaining fi lm of dampness from her palm, felt to make sure her face wasn’t hot with color, and stepped out of the car.
    “Hey, Quinn,” Helen called out. “Will’s inside. We’ve wrecked her house crafting all day and made her fold some of 25

    Lynn Galli
    the cards that we embossed when she got home. She hated every minute of it. I’m not sure she’ll ever let us back in.”
    Quinn laughed. “She’s in a great mood, huh?”
    “Will? I don’t think she’s ever been in a good mood.”
    “Now, now,” Zoë interjected. “There was that one time when she saw a guy get into a fender-bender while trying to cut into the line of cars he’d just passed up. I’m pretty sure there was a smile then.” Most of Willa’s friends loved giving her a hard time for feigning toughness.
    “I forgot about that. She did actually smile,” Helen confi rmed in mock seriousness. “Anyway, hope you guys have fun tonight.
    Door’s open. She’s on the phone and might not hear you knock, so just head in.”
    Quinn waved goodbye as they piled into Zoë’s car. The red door stood ajar, inviting her inside. Many times, she’d seen Helen or Zoë waltz through the front door without knocking like her house was a sit-com set or something. Quinn wasn’t as comfortable with the action, but maybe Helen had given Willa a heads up as to her arrival.
    Pushing through the door, Quinn heard her voice from the kitchen. “...need that product description for the business plan to start shopping it around to venture capitalists. We’ve been stuck for months. Just take that stuff from your brain, and throw it onto paper. We can’t get anywhere without your part of this.”
    With her back turned,