Grabbing the wine bottle, I refill our empty glasses before picking up the one that had been waiting for Eddie and pouring him some.

We spend the next few hours talking and laughing. Having all the people who I love together in one place is one of the best feelings. I hate knowing I won’t see Eddie much after tonight. Even if I weren’t moving to California in a few days, I still wouldn’t have moments like this often. He’s living a transient lifestyle now that he is traveling full time for work. The plus side though is that he will often be on the West Coast, LA specifically, when he’s on location.

“I still don’t know how you two have managed to dodge reporters for this long.” Eddie laughs. “I saw a few pictures of you guys together while you were down South, but none that show Willow clearly enough. Shockingly, there hasn’t been any mention of Kane Masters and his new mystery woman.”

“He kept her tied to the bed,” Kirby jokes, pointing her finger and narrowing her eyes toward Kane. “I swear when we weren’t on set I hardly ever saw her. Even when she was in the same house as I was. Those two would disappear for HOURS!”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Eddie whines at Kirby before turning back to where Kane and I are cuddled together on the couch. “So when you weren’t locked away doing sordidly delicious things to our Willow, how exactly did you manage to keep your relationship locked tighter than the nation's secrets?”

Leave it to Eddie to throw that out there. Sure, it’s something I’ve wondered myself, but I figured Kane had his reasons, and if I had doubted our relationship, then maybe it would bother me, but I just left it as it was.

“Just because I haven’t gone out of my way to give them the pictures they want doesn’t mean I’m trying to keep her or us a secret.” Kane answers Eddie with a strong conviction in his voice. I smile at Eddie, hoping that is enough for him to lay off. I should have known better, though; Eddie seems to be on a mission.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with all the rumors flying around about Mia Post, does it?”

Eddie’s question makes me tense. I try not to, but Kane’s still holding back when it comes to explaining more about Mia and his relationship—or better yet, explaining to me why he refuses to give me more when those rumors in question are thrown in my face.

I trust him, but it’s hard to get upset when he just asks you to call upon that trust and drop it.

Kane shifts; the legs holding me between them flex with his movements. “No, Eddie. There isn’t some nefarious reason for me to want to keep my private life out of the media. Mia and I are friends. Because of the closeness we’ve had through years of friendship, the media chooses to make it seem like more in order to sell their garbage.”

I can tell Eddie wants to press him about Mia. Part of me wants him to, but I know if Kane won’t tell me everything yet, there is no way he’s going to tell Eddie. I just have to trust he will tell me when he’s ready. I’m starting to think that maybe they did have a relationship at one point that was more than just friends, but it just didn’t work. I could see why he wouldn’t want to tell me about it; Mia is a beautiful woman, and I’m pretty sure she would intimidate anyone if they were faced with a friendship and old flame.

“I can get the whole keeping your private life to yourself, but surely, you know that it would be much easier to shut up the lies if you and Willow were seen, and the relationship brought to light, I don’t know, denied the latest round of slander?”

“It’s not that easy, Eddie. Not when you’re dealing with people who will do whatever it takes to sell their shit. I do not intend to shield my relationship with Willow, not at all, but I also knew that building something with her was more important to me than trying to start that and have to fight off the media.”

“So? Does that mean now that you two are officially a couple, oozing love every second you’re around each other, and all kissy kissy, that you plan to take it public?” Eddie sighs, clearly exasperated, and waits for Kane’s response.

“I haven’t been keeping her or our relationship from going public. I just haven’t been going out of my way to catch their attention while we were filming. I also didn’t want to thrust that on her until she was ready to deal with that madness.”

“Eddie.” I interrupt Kane before he can continue to speak. “I know you’re trying to be all big and bad here, looking out for me and all, but please just drop it. I know Kane’s intentions are pure, and he’s right. I wouldn’t have handled it. A month ago, I wouldn’t have been ready if I had to deal with so much public influence. He and Mia are friends and have been since they were teens. It’s natural that the press would look at that as more, but Kane’s asked me to trust him and I do. I need you to do the same.”

Eddie has the decency to look slightly embarrassed before giving me a nod. “I’m sorry, Wills. I just worry about you.”

“And I love you for that, but I’m okay. Really and truly okay.”

He studies me, his handsome face letting me know just how anxious he’s been about my relationship with Kane.

“He loves me, Eddie. Loves me so fiercely that I don’t doubt it. I don’t need him to turn that into some media frenzy or public stunt. I know it’s as real as it comes. You don’t need to worry about me. Not anymore. I’m so happy I’m almost floating. Not just with my relationship with Kane or my life, in general, but I’m so happy in my own skin that I feel like the lightest person in the world.”

Kirby makes a choking noise that makes me think she’s about to start crying and reaches out to grab her glass, taking a long sip. I know she gets it, but she’s also witnessed me become the Willow I am today. Eddie hasn’t, so I understand his questions.

“Eddie,” I implore as I lean forward. Kane’s arms drop from where they had been resting on my torso and rest at my hips when I reach out for Eddie’s hands. “I’m ready to move on from my past, and I know you’re worried about me because of everything you had to watch me suffer through, but you have to stop. It’s taken me a while, but I’m free of that pain. I can see that I was trying to search for the feelings I felt lacking, but I didn’t realize I was the one who held the key to them. I’m strong. I stepped out of that comfort zone I was stuck in, and just like you said it would, my life began.”