Bliss stared back at her, startled. “You know what happened?”
Willa smiled wryly. “No, they don’t confide in me, but I overheard you at the hospital telling Jewell they’ll never forgive you.” At Bliss’s worried expression, Willa attempted to soothe her fears. Since The Last Riders made it a point to keep their business private, and Bliss was already in trouble with the club, Willa wouldn’t want them to think she was gossiping. “I only heard that before I went in to see Lily. I don’t make a habit of snooping.” Bliss relaxed at her words. “Go talk to Lily. Avoiding her isn’t going to make it easier.” Willa gave Bliss a small nudge in Lily’s direction. “By the way, she loves the peanut butter candy, too. She was constantly asking for it when she was pregnant, but because she was eating so many cupcakes, Shade drew the line at the candy.”
“That’s why you made a double batch? So I could bribe Lily into forgiving me?”
“I made enough for the whole clubhouse to forgive you.” Willa smiled, unconsciously showing her dimples.
Bliss gave her a strange look before heading toward the kitchen where she had stashed the candy for her.
Willa noticed Lily had sat down on one of the large couches next to Beth, who wasn’t looking well. She walked toward them so she could talk to them then make her escape from the torture of being in such a large crowd.
As she moved forward, she felt someone staring at her. Always sensitive to being the center of attention, she glanced to the side and caught Lucky’s eyes on her.
When she had heard the name the other club members called him, she thought the name suited him much better than Pastor Dean. When she had looked at his tall, muscular body and face that held a ruthlessness he kept carefully concealed behind a fa?ade of affable charm, she had never been fooled. Not once. Not from the first moment she had walked into the church several years ago and seen Pastor Saul’s replacement behind the pulpit.
The sun had been shining on his chestnut-colored hair that was slightly longer than most pastors she had ever seen. His hazel eyes had stared at the congregation as if he had known their innermost secrets. Willa had sat, stunned in the pew, feverishly wishing for his sermon to end so she could escape the feelings going through her body that were completely inappropriate to experience during a church service.
Willa hastily dragged her eyes away, concentrating on diverting her thoughts. She had long ago learned not to focus on Lucky, too afraid her expression would reveal her secrets. There was nothing more embarrassing than when a popular man realized the fat chick had a crush on him. She tried to never wish for something she couldn’t have, and he was as unattainable for her as being a size six.
Willa waited patiently for Lily and Beth to notice her, not wanting to interrupt the sisters’ conversation.
Lily saw her first, giving her the gentle smile that never failed to make Willa or anyone else feel as if she was her best friend, even though she knew it wasn’t true.
“Willa, thank you for coming. My cake is amazing. I made Shade take a picture before I let them cut it.” Lily’s sweet voice enfolded her in genuine warmth.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re home,” Willa returned sincerely. Her eyes went to Beth, who winced slightly when she shifted to a more comfortable position on the couch. “Are you all right?” Willa became concerned at Beth’s pallor.
Beth nodded her head. “I’m fine. I must have pulled a muscle,” she answered evasively.
Willa caught the surreptitious look that Lily sent Beth at her answer. The sisters weren’t very good at lying. In fact, they sucked. This was why Willa really didn’t consider herself their friend or anyone else’s, for that matter.
She always fell in one of two groups. One was where they took pity on her, drawing her into their group. The other was where they took advantage of her to get what they wanted. Lily, Beth, Rachel, and Winter were in the former group. They felt sorry for her and tried to include her, but they didn’t consider her a friend enough to really confide in her. They kept her at arm’s length, something someone who didn’t belong to their club couldn’t breach.
Unlike the rest of the town, Willa didn’t want to know their secrets. She simply wanted to be a friend they could trust with their confidences, and know she wouldn’t spread the gossip to the entire town. She was too used to being the object of malicious tongue-wagging to ever bring that down on someone else’s head.
Willa gave them both a strained smile. “I wanted to say hello before I left. I need to leave to pick the kids up from school.” Willa made up the excuse to get herself away from the uncomfortable situation.