Love On A Dollar

Chapter 4: Owen

Noah's POV



Noah: Homestead, Florida

I text her with a little crocodile emoji beside it. My heart races as I wait for her to respond, praying this text app works and I didn't just text her with my actual number. Twenty seconds later her little dots are waving at me, typing her response.

Willow: No way! That's where I am!

Dammit Willow. I told you not to tell these people where you are.

Noah: Oh really? Guess your dollar didn't make it far.

I know it did, but this persona I'm taking on, doesn't. Plus this will get her riled up. I need her to want this dollar back. I need her to beg for it.

“So, is it a girl or a guy?” Charlie asks, his curiosity too high for his own good.

“Can't tell yet.” I shrug, not wanting to give anything away.

Willow: I shall have you know that it's traveled all across the United States.

Noah: I have a hard time believing that.

My phone suddenly floods with the many pictures she had received over the year of this same dollar bill in a different city.

Willow: See, everywhere.

Noah: How do I know it's this dollar in those pictures?

Willow: Are you serious?

Perfect, she's getting upset. I smile, maybe a little too widely as Charlie leans forward to see over my shoulder. I need him to leave.

“Don't you have an early morning tomorrow?” I remind him as we near ten.

“Yeah, but I'm not an old man. I'm fine with less than eight hours of sleep, Dad.” He rolls his eyes at my nitpicking, clearly not catching the hint.

“You might not be that old, but I am. Having a kid ages you faster than you realize. I am ready to pass out.” I fake yawn only to end up turning into a real one part way through, stretching my arms out.

“If you wanted privacy you could just say so. I feel like I missed out. Give me the number, too?” He reaches for the dollar but I snatch it back.

“No way! I'm not into sharing.” I shake my head, guarding the dollar as I hide it behind my back.

“Lame.” He sighs, as he gets off the couch, taking his box of pizza with him. “See ya later. Let me know if she's hot. Or maybe don't. Lie to me and tell me she's fugly.” He laughs as he opens my door and leaves.

Willow: You can see my writing on the dollar in most of the pictures.

She texts me again, clearly being impatient. I have her attention and this small pause in texts made her mad.

Noah: Alright, I'll believe you. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

Willow: Who says I wear panties?

Willow, are you seriously getting s****l with a stranger?

Noah: Don't you?

Willow: I am just saying, you don't know if I am a girl or a guy.

Noah: Something tells me you're a girl.

Willow: I mean you're not wrong, but you didn't know for sure. : P

Not wanting to force a conversation and trying to stay clear of information I already know, I didn't respond.

Willow: You're not much of a talker, are you?

Noah: Not with a stranger.

Willow: We're neighbors.

Her text scared me, fearing she knew who I was already. What did she mean?

Noah: Should I be worried that you know where I live?

Willow: You told me where.

I laughed out loud, covering my mouth for fear of waking Millie. Willow, you are too much.

Noah: I told you the city. Not my address. We're not neighbors. We are city mates at most.

Willow: Tomato, Toma-toe

The way she spelled that so that I knew what she was saying, made my smile widen further.

Noah: Big difference, little homie.

I hit send before I could second guess that awful nickname, slapping my forehead. i***t.

Willow: Little homie? So we're not strangers then. Tell me your name, city mate.

Noah: You first.

Time to put you to the test, WillowBee.

Willow: Call me CeCe

Again, my lips stretch wide as I realize she has given me her cat's nickname. But s**t, what name do I give her?

Noah: In that case you can refer to me as Owen.

Because she's going to be Owen me her love soon. I make myself laugh.

Willow: Well, Owen…can I have my dollar back?

Noah: Nope. My dollar now.

William: Are you for serious?

I love when she says that. It's so Willow.

Noah: Deadly. I'll frame it and keep it forever as the dollar that's traveled the world. I'll even print the pictures you sent and frame it around it as proof. Thanks for those BTW.

There's a stupid smirk on my face as I send the text already knowing how upset she'll be. Since she lives right above me, I am sure I'll hear her throw some kind of tantrum soon.

Willow: Dude, you can't be serious!

Noah: Didn’t I just say I am deadly serious?

Willow: Oh my gosh. Please don't. I'll give you $100 for my dollar back. You'll end up making $99 just for giving a dollar away.

Noah: No way. This dollar is special.

I don't know why I was enjoying toying with her like this. Maybe because in reality I don't get under her skin the way I am now. It's nice.

Willow: What would it take to get you to let me have it back?

Noah: Who knows?

Willow: Oh my gosh. Please!

She sent me a gif of the exact hands she does when she's begging. Hands clasped together with the person's eyes closed and head slightly bowed. She definitely watches too much anime.

Noah: CeCe, are you absolutely certain you want this dollar back? Because it's going to take a lot of work.

Willow: 100% certain!

Noah: I'll send instructions every day with what you need to do. I want picture or video proof. And be honest.

Willow: Deal!

You have no idea what you just signed up for, WillowBee.

____________

“Good morning, sweet angel!” I can hear Willow's voice from the baby monitor I had yet to turn off.

Last night had kept me awake with excitement as I thought of the million things I could have Willow do. They all needed to be things that either improved her life, taught her some kind of lesson, or made her believe in relationships. I think I know what to start with, but who knows if she'll actually do it?

Normally, I get Millie up myself, but I snoozed my alarm a few too many times. Now I'm running late to work and need to haul ass. Thankfully, Willow always does a great job at getting Millie up and ready. She even goes as far as fixing her hair in intricate and cute ways. You'd be surprised Willow did it, considering she barely brushes her own hair. Most of the time, she just runs her fingers through her hair and calls it a day.

“Which one, Millie? The pink one or the white one?”

I can just picture her holding up two little outfits in front of the crib for Millie to pick from.

“Peenk,” Millie chooses, although whether or not she knew which one was the pink one, who really knows for certain?

“Yes, Queen! Pink is so your color.” Willow is always so animated with Millie as if she can really understand every word she speaks to her. Willow seems to love pink ever since her friend colored her hair. Only now instead of a full head of light pink, she sports dyed bright pink tips with her natural black hair a top.

“Let me give her a kiss goodbye before you start getting her ready, please!” I yell from my room as I shove my feet in my shoes. I know once she starts, I won't have a chance to.

“Hurry up! A girl’s gotta look nice.”

“She's not even two yet. Besides, she always looks nice.” I retort as I open Millie's door, seeing the two girls I love most. My baby and my future wife, because make no mistake, Willow will be mine.

“That she does. I just make her look extra good.” Willow smiles brightly at Millie, wrinkling her nose to make a funny face. Millie's little giggles fill the room, causing my heart to melt as I pick her up and kiss her chunky cheek.

“Daddy loves you. I have to go to work now. Be good for Willow. No boys allowed. Got it?” I boop her nose, seeing her little dimple as she smiles. “No, boys for you either, Willow.” I point at her, to which she only rolls her eyes.

“Never. Boys are only good for one thing.” She then mouths s*x, not wanting to say the word around Millie. She's good about censoring herself around my daughter.

“We're good for more than just that, WillowBee.”

“Not in my experience.”

In her experience, she's chosen guys who have only wanted her for her body and nothing more. Every time she would catch them with some other women in their bed. She told me the story when I asked why she doesn't believe in boyfriends. She had ten of them cheat on her back to back. I'd probably give up then, too.

“Don't worry, someone will come along and change that.” I hand her Millie, leaning close as she takes her. I rest my forehead against Millies, which puts me in proximity to Willow's face. Feeling a little bolder than usual, I kiss Willow on the cheek and leave the room. “Be good, both of you!”

I close the door behind me, and head right for the site. To top my good mood off, it's demolition day and I get to break things. At lunch I will text Willow her instructions. Time to show her some relationships do work.