my _ necked cranes as I look at the three floors of the lake house. In broad daylight, there is no way to hide the imperfections that plague the home. Peeling paint and rotting wood siding do not bode well, especially when combined with the canvas covering most of the roof. Most of the windows look dated and their wooden frames are decrepit from old age. Vines crawl along the exterior walls, completely out of control as if they want to swallow the house whole.
Maybe that’s for the best.
The house is a disaster. As it stands, I’ll be lucky to find a buyer willing to buy the place.
All you need to do is find a person willing to take the risk. That’s all.
I let out a tense sigh before ringing the doorbell. Lana needed She took a full minute to open the door, eyes barely open and hair disheveled as she stepped out onto the porch wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt that barely reached her mid-thigh. The material falls loosely over her curves, accentuating the shape of her breasts.
Blood rushes through my body, straight to the source of my most recent problem. I wipe my face with the palm of my hand. “Please tell me you’re not in the habit of opening doors dressed like that.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” She looks down. “The fact that you’re barely wearing anything.”
She crosses her arms, which only pushes her breasts up. “You’re the one who shows up on a Saturday morning without an invitation.”
I need the keys to the guest house. My molars are crushed.
“Oh.” Her lips press together. “Give me a second.” She disappears into the house before returning a minute later with a keychain.
I reach out to grab it, but she clutches it to her chest. “Wait.”
“That?”
“How long do you plan to stay?”
I smile “Are you already trying to get rid of me?”
“No, although I’m sure the mice that stay in the guest house will do that for me.”
“Mice?” My eyes open.
“A whole family of them.” She has an extra special sparkle in her eyes. She shrugged as if the idea of mice didn’t repulse me. “No problem. Merlin will love the challenge.”
“Who is Merlin?” “My cat.”
His head tilts to the side. “You have a cat?” “Surprised?”
“That you can take care of a living, breathing organism? “Absolutely.” She delivers her venom-coated words with a vicious smile that does wonders for my cock. The blood flows straight to the source, making the front of my pants uncomfortably tight.
I reach for the keys again, but she grabs them with a tight fist. “Wait.”
“Why? Then can you insult me some more?”
She takes a deep breath. “I have one thing to ask you.” “That?” I stopped tapping my foot.
“Don’t talk about selling the house when Cami is here.” My forehead wrinkles. “She does not know?”
“No, and I plan to keep it that way.” Her gaze falls to her shiny red nails.
What are you hiding, Lana?
“She’s going to find out eventually, especially when I’m packing things into boxes,” I press.
His jaw ticks. “How I handle things with my daughter is none of your business.”
“Fine. I won’t tell Cami about the house. But if she asks me questions…
He doesn’t bother to let me finish the sentence. “Deflect like you always do. It’s one of the few things you’re actually good at.”
“I seem to remember you thinking I was good at more than that.” I fight my frown with a smile, though his words pierce what little confidence I have left.
Her nostrils flare as her cheeks turn rosy. He almost threw the keys right in my face before slamming the door shut.
It’s worth it.
 |
Lana is a disgusting liar. She checked the guest house twice for mice and found not a single creature. The house is in much better condition than I thought it would be after being abandoned for a few years. My grandfather built it for visitors long after he moved in, so the modest 1,100 square foot floor plan is more modern compared to the main house. With three bedrooms and its own private dock, it’s the perfect hideaway.
I let Merlin out of his cage and set out his litter box and water bowl before spending the whole day cleaning the house from top to bottom. Although I considered hiring a team to help me, I decided to do it myself to keep my mind occupied. It’s not like I have a job or any real responsibility besides completing my part of the will.
I lose track of time. It’s not until my stomach growls that I finally stop cleaning and drive into town for dinner. Most of the restaurants are already closed, so I only have one option left.
Dinner.
The doorbell above me rings as I open the door.
“You again?” Isabelle sighs from behind the counter. A couple of people turn on her stools to look for who she’s talking about. a, only to look once her eyes land on me.
“Nice to see you too, Isabelle.”
“The feeling is not mutual.” She walks towards the hostess stand at the front of the restaurant.
“You know, I’m starting to think that small towns aren’t as sweet and charming as people make them out to be.”
“Oh, we are… to anyone but you.”
You hurt me. I rub the spot over my heart with a pout.
She smacks my head with one of the menus before showing me a corner table in the back. There are only a few people sitting in the entire place, all of whom watch me take my seat.
“What can I get you to drink, Hal?” She taps her notepad with the tip of her pen.
“It’s Cal .”
“Stay long enough this time and maybe I’ll get it right eventually.” “Is that the reason you hate me now?”
His lips turn downward. “I do not hate you”. “Are you sure?”
“My mom raised me better than to hate anyone, including trust fund babies like you.”
My head tilts. “Then why don’t you like me?” “For the same reason most of the city does.”
Well, at least she’s honest. “Is it because of my drinking?” She scoffs. “No, although that doesn’t help at all.”
“And?”
“It’s because you broke Alana’s heart.” My smile slips.
“We are a small town here. When one of us hurts, we all do.” She tilts her head in the direction of a man gliding into the restaurant in an electric wheelchair. “When Fred had trouble buying a new wheelchair, we all pitched in to buy him a fancy electric one.” She points her pen at a woman wiping the counter with a rag. “Betsy married there a rich stranger with a heavy fist and the inability to understand the word no . And do you know what we did to him?
“Did you cut him into small pieces and scatter his remains in the forest?”
His lips twitch. “We wish. Wyatt and the new sheriff kept us in line, so we were forced to do things legally. He ran him out of town by hiring a fancy big city lawyer. They all pitched in to pay the fee and it was worth it.” “Worth every penny because now Betsy and her children are free to live their lives.”
I swallow. “That’s good.”
“The bottom line is that we take care of our own here. If Alana doesn’t want you around, who are we to make you feel comfortable?
My lips press together.
“It doesn’t break our sweat after seeing what happened to Alana the last time you left.”
Shit.
My stomach churns, acid rising up my throat.
You have to get out of here.
My eyes flicker to the door.
Isabelle enters my eye line, forcing me to look at her.
“We’re the ones who had to watch Alana fight heartbreak the last time you left. She stopped going out, lost weight, and barely spent time with anyone other than her mom and her two best friends. It was as if she were
fading before our very eyes. Not that she would ever tell you that because that girl is too sweet for someone like you.
The desperation to escape the clutches in my throat. I reach for the vial in my pocket, only to pause when Isabelle catches the movement.
His eyebrows arch. “I’m not sure why you came back or what you want with our girl, but the whole town will be watching closely. One slip and you will wish you had never come back.”
My tongue feels heavy against the roof of my mouth. “I’m not here to hurt her.” “For your sake, you better hope not. I’ll be back with some water. She steps away from her, letting me process everything she said.
My eyes close as I fight the urge to take a sip from my flask.
You don’t need to drink every time someone says something you don’t like.
My hands shake against my lap.
Alcohol will not change your reality.
I’m not looking to change it, but to cope with it. Yet no matter how many deep breaths I take or what I tell myself, Isabelle’s words poison my chances of getting through the meal without drinking.
It was fading before our very eyes.
The acid in my stomach bubbles with every memory of how much Lana fought after I left. How she fought to live thanks to me.
Did you really expect her to move on from one day to the next?
No, but I wanted more for her than me and my problems.
I take out the flask and take a drink before putting it back in my pocket. My phone vibrates.
Iris
As good as I expected. What are you doing?
Hey! How was her day?
Her text comes back a minute after Isabelle stops by to take my order.
Iris
Watching Declan prepare dinner. At least one of us is going to have a home-cooked meal tonight.
You sound jealous.
Maybe because I am. Not about Iris and Declan per se, but how my situation compares to theirs. I know it’s not right. It makes me feel sick to be anything but happy for them. But there’s a part of me, one I rarely like to acknowledge, that wishes I had what they had.
I want to be happy. I try so hard, but no matter how big I smile or how hard I laugh, I always feel empty. It’s a cold, chilling feeling that consumes me late into the night, until I’m forced to welcome my old enemy.
addiction _
My phone vibrates for an incoming text message.
Iris
He simply burned himself taking the bread out of the oven and then proceeded to curse in five different languages.
My sadness dissipates with a laugh.
Shouldn’t you be helping him?
Iris
We’re a modern couple, Cal. He cooks. I see. He cleans. I also observe
Is that the key to a successful marriage?
Iris:
That and a big cock. I choke on my sudden intake of air.
“I thought it was you sitting here, but I wanted to make sure.”
I look at Wyatt, whose body casts a shadow on my phone. His dark hair peeks out from under his officer’s hat, playing with the edge of the collar of his uniform.
“Wyatt.” My teeth grind together.
He takes off his hat like a gentleman, tempting me to take it off my head. “I heard you were back.”
—Did Alana tell you?
he denies with the head. “Cami.”
Of course he did. “What do you want?”
“Just thought I’d stop by and give you a warm welcome to Lake Wisteria.” I raise an eyebrow. “Does such a thing exist?”
“Everyone here is a good person.”
“As long as you don’t bother them,” I complain.
The crackling of Wyatt’s police radio interrupts us, and he adjusts the volume with a quick turn of the knob. “Speaking of which… I wanted to warn you to stay away from Alana and Cami.”
“A warning? How absolutely unoriginal.
He leans forward while holding on to his holster with a tight grip. “Do you have a death wish?”
“No, although I’m sure you’d be more than willing to put a bullet in my head. After all, you didn’t mind stabbing me in the back as soon as I left.
His eyes narrow. “What do you mean?” You and Alana.
“What about us?” He doesn’t even blink. “How long did it take you to go after my girl?”
“She’s not your anything.”
My fingers dig into the soft flesh of my palms. “Alana might be yours now, but I will always be her first in every way that counts.”
First kiss. First love. First heartbreak. No matter how hard Wyatt tries, he can never erase our history, even long after he leaves this godforsaken city for the last time.
With the way he looks at me, it feels like he’s reading my soul. “You are jealous?”
“Jealous of you? For what?” I give him a casual glance.
“My question exactly.” Her lips curve upward, only fanning my irritation like one fanning a flame.
Isabelle arrives with my burger, saving me from Wyatt and his discerning gaze.
I gesture towards my plate. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather dine in peace without your toxic masculinity stinking up the place.”
“Of course. Nice to see you, Percival.” He tips his hat.
Him calling me by my middle name reminds me too much, all at once. My stomach churns, and the food in front of me becomes inedible.
I turn it over. Fuck you, Eugenio.
“I think I’ll fuck Alana instead, but thanks for the offer.” He winks.
The bastard. My right eye twitches.
“Maybe I’ll even go there tonight.” Her eyes light up. “It’s not like you could hear us all the way from the guest house, right?” I always kept my aggression on the ice and away from others, but all it takes is Wyatt smiling at me, talking about fucking Lana, to push me over the edge.
I get out of my seat and reach for him. Either I’m out of practice or he learned some new moves because he ended up slammed into a table, hands cuffed behind his back in five seconds. It’s embarrassing how quickly he takes me down, so I’m thankful only five people are witnesses.
As if reading my mind, Isabelle picks up her cell phone and snaps a photo. If that ends up on the Internet, Declan will hang me from Dreamland’s flagpole for all park visitors to see.
Wyatt picks me up and pushes me towards the entrance of the restaurant. “Welcome back, asshole.
