Shut Up and Kiss Me (15 page)

“
In all seriousness, though,” Richard continued, “I was with a girl once. We’d been together three years when I joined the army. I was only a teenager back then, but whenever I did fuck up, I always went out of my way to make it right again.”

Surprised, Will turned to face him. “How come you never told me about her?”

His eyes focused on the windshield in front of him, Richard shrugged. “After my first tour in Iraq, we started having problems. By the time I was home for good, she’d already met someone else and married him.”

“
Shit,” Will muttered. “I’m sorry…”

“
Nah,” Richard said, shrugging. “It wasn’t meant to be. We both knew it. If I hadn’t realized that, I would never have come here, to the city. I would have stayed back home and fought for her.”

Will nodded slowly. “So what you’re telling me is, if the woman is worth it, no matter what happens, you fight for her.”

“
That’s what I’m telling you…sir.”

Will had been thinking the same thing all along, because deep down he knew that the problem wasn’t just Mila knowing the truth about him, but instead was his family knowing about her. No matter what, his family wasn’t going to accept her, and putting off bringing who he really was to light was really just avoidance of the shit storm that was going to happen—not once Mila knew the truth, but when his mother found out.

Will had said he
was picking me up
in something nicer than a cab that night, and he hadn’t been wrong. The sleek black car pulled up to the curb outside my apartment and I took a deep breath, watching as Will got out and jogged toward my building. Standing just outside the door, he glanced up, finding me in the window, and smiled. The kind of smile that made my insides melt and my troubles disappear. He looked incredible tonight, wearing a dark gray dress shirt and matching pants, but there was something else about him, something vibrant in his demeanor that, even from up here, I could see.

Smiling, I stepped back from the window. I had been smiling all day, hardly able to think about anything else but Will.

Looking down, giving myself a once-over, I took a breath and reached for my purse and jacket. My heels tonight were taller than what I normally wore, and I was wearing a skirt instead of jeans. My blouse was nearly sheer, giving just a hint of what lay underneath. I wasn’t exactly trying for sexy, but neither did I want to appear demure. It was more of a “please don’t resist me” look. Because I really needed him to not resist me tonight.

Nik
ki poked her head out from the bathroom, her makeup only half done. She grinned when she saw me. “I won’t wait up,” she said, smirking.

“
Please don’t,” I said in a singsong voice, disappearing into the hallway with a wave.

I headed down the stairs, as quickly as possible in those monstrous heels, eager to see Will. His smile turned to a grin as I stepped outside, his eyes appraising me from head to toe, his nostrils flaring slightly as he slowly took in my outfit.

“
Ready?” he asked, extending me his arm.

“
Ready,” I whispered, looping my arm through his.

Will held the back door of the car open and I smiled at him as I climbed inside, the supple leather seats cool against my bare thighs. He slid in next to me, closer than he needed to be, yet not nearly close enough.

As the car pulled away I leaned against him, inhaling deeply, smelling his cologne and the scent of his shampoo. Looking up, I found his hair still a little damp around his ears, and I loved that—loved that he didn’t feel the need to try and change who he was for me, that he showed me exactly who he was, and wasn’t ashamed of it in any way.

Yet…at the same time, it also made me feel guilty. Guilty because I was a lie. Everything I was, who I pretended to be—it was all a lie. I straightened in my seat, my smile slipping away.

“
Everything okay?” Will’s deep voice, wrought with concern, made the guilt I was suddenly feeling that much worse.

“
Yes. Just hungry,” I lied, smiling at him.

He returned my smile, although I could sense that he didn’t quite believe me. Thankfully, though, he said nothing more.

We pulled up outside a well-known Italian restaurant, a place I’d only read about before. It was a widely talked-about venue, always serving the crème de la crème, and always surrounded by paparazzi. Actors and actresses, politicians, and the obscenely wealthy—they were the sort that dined here. Not people like me, simple waitresses from Queens.

Will exited the car first, holding his hand out for me to take. Swallowing hard, I placed my hand in his, grateful for the support as he helped pull me from the car. Almost immediately the driver pulled away, leaving me standing there feeling somewhat naked as I took in the scene before me. Women in fashionable dresses and men in expensive suits were huddled together talking, some laughing loudly, some smiling for the photographers as the line of cameras continued to flash. I glanced up at Will, wondering why he’d brought me here. Was this a place he frequented?

Another car pulled up behind us, a small and sport red vehicle. A well-dressed man exited the driver’s seat, tossed his keys to a waiting valet, and strode confidently past us, disappearing into the restaurant.

I stared after him, my mouth slightly agape. “Was that…was that…?”

“
Yes, it was,” Will answered, grinning down at me. “Nice, right?”

Nice wasn’t exactly the word I would have chosen for having been mere feet from one of the most famous actors in the world. Feeling overwhelmed, I simply nodded.

Squeezing my hand, Will tugged me forward, past the groups of gathered people and inside the restaurant. A tall man in a crisp black suit holding a clipboard greeted us at the entrance.

“
Good evening, Mr. Townsend,” he said, bowing his head. “Right this way, sir.”

Will started to follow him, startling me into moving. I followed quickly, feeling somewhat taken aback; the man had known Will’s name before he’d even glanced at his list.

“
Will.” I tightened my grip on his hand, feeling even more uncomfortable as the vastness of the entrance lobby seemed to swallow us whole. It was grand to say the least, with rich fabrics hanging from the windows and expensive chandeliers hanging from infinite ceilings. And everywhere there were people milling about, people wearing clothing and jewelry that practically screamed money and importance, leaving me feeling silly in my cheap outfit, suddenly wishing I was anywhere other than there.

Glancing down at me, Will gave me an award-winning smile and walked on, not at all realizing how uncomfortable I was.

The man in the suit stopped just outside a large set of double doors, handing us off to a woman waiting there.

“
May I take your jacket?” she asked, stepping forward.

Will glanced down at me as I found myself taking a small step back. “I’m okay, thanks,” I mumbled, suddenly clinging to my jacket and purse for dear life.

“
Right this way, then,” she continued, flashing us a smile over her shoulder as she pulled the double doors open with a flourish.

Will pulled me inside, into the heart of the dining room, his demeanor calm and confident as we strode past table after table. I tried to breathe, tried to find the confident woman that I had been just earlier that day.

The ceiling was neck-breakingly high, yet the many elaborate lights strung above were dimmed intimately, making the atmosphere seem warm and private. I teetered along after Will, my heels clicking loudly on the marble flooring, avoiding the gaze of anyone who might have been looking at me, and wondering what on earth a girl like me was doing in a place like this.

Loud laughter drew my attention across the room, my wide eyes landing on another familiar face. Just last week I’d seen her, an award-winning actress from one of the many movies Will had taken me to. Shocked, I glanced up at Will, who seemed unaware of just how close we were to her. Stilling holding onto my hand, he walked straight by her table without so much as a glance in her direction. Then it dawned on me how many celebrities he must run into, managing a nightclub. Suddenly I felt silly and childish. Here I was gawking and here he was oblivious.

“
Here we are,” the woman said, stopping beside a lavishly decorated table strewn with lit candles and ornate dishware. Pulling out a chair, she gestured for me to sit, and after I’d done so, she extended the same courtesy to Will.

“
Wine?” Will asked, and I nodded politely. Nodding at the woman, he said, “Your best
Barolo, please.”

“Very good, sir,” she said, and turned away.

Will turned back to me, and for a moment we simply stared at one another.

“
Why does tonight feel so important?” I asked. Because it did. The night had a special quality to it that all of our other dates hadn’t had. It wasn’t the car or the restaurant—it wasn’t any of that. It was us, here in this moment together. Like we were on the very precipice of something important, a realization that seemed to worsen my ever-growing nerves.

“
I don’t know,” he said, looking thoughtful, “but I agree, tonight does feel special.” Reaching across the table, he took my hand in his and cleared his throat. “I do need to tell you something important. And I’m hoping you won’t get upset with me.”

“
Upset with you?” I mumbled, feeling suddenly nauseous. Pulling my hand from beneath his, I brought it to my lap.

“
I haven’t been entirely truthful with you,” he continued.

What little breath I’d had left in my lungs instantly evaporated.

Then, the woman chose that moment to reappear, and with her a bottle of wine. Pouring both of us a small amount, she gave Will another nod and left.

I picked up my glass and drank the entire contents, feeling like I suddenly, desperately needed the courage that a drink would give me. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or leave me guessing all night, Will?” I asked.

In the midst of pouring me another glass, he nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry. The thing is, Mila, I brought you here tonight to show you a different side of me.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Well so far I don’t like this new side. Or where it’s brought me.” My nerves were now shot; I had already been feeling exposed and uncomfortable, and now this? I couldn’t help but lash out, even after trying so hard to remain calm.

“
I deserved that,” he said quietly, glancing down at the table. “I don’t know why I thought this place was a good idea.”

“
Me either,” I snapped. “So please, tell me what’s going on.”

Will stared into Mila’s expectant expression, the words waiting just on the tip of his tongue, ready to tell her everything, but she looked so uncomfortable—nervous and feeling obviously out of place here. What had he been thinking bringing such a shy, reserved woman like Mila to such an extravagant place? This hadn’t been at all the way to go about telling her who he really was.

“
Let’s get out of here,” he said suddenly, much to the surprise of both Mila and the young waiter who’d appeared beside their table.

“
What?” she asked, glancing nervously at the frowning waiter.

“
Sir,” the waiter started, but Will cut him off.

“
For the trouble,” he said, pushing back in his chair and getting to his feet. Pulling out his wallet, he discreetly folded several hundred-dollar bills and gave them to the waiter with a tight smile, knowing it was more than enough for both the wine and a tip. Then, sidestepping the waiter, he offered Mila his hand.

“
Will?” Mila’s expression, much to his disappointment, went from confused and upset to downright angry. “What’s going on?”

“
There’s something I need to tell you, something important, but I’d rather not do it here, but somewhere more personal. I don’t know why I thought bringing you here to tell you would be a good idea, so I’m sorry. Let’s go, please.”

In the space of a heartbeat, Mila appeared to think a thousand thoughts, and question every single one of those thoughts before pushing back her own chair, and just as the waiter hurried to assist her, she was on her feet and smoothing the wrinkles in her skirt.

Smiling, Will offered Mila his hand. She looked beautiful tonight, and the thought of her realizing that he’d lied to her—over something so trivial, no less, and could result in him losing her before they’d even had the chance to really begin—caused his stomach to flip.