Chapter 11
eleven
. . .
Hugh
I’d planned on putting distance between Lila and me after what happened out at Cottonwood Cove, but between living together, working together, and her brother pushing us together, that had not been the case over the last week.
We hadn’t talked about what happened again, but I couldn’t stop fucking thinking about it.
Thinking about her.
We’d watched movies last night after she got back from spending some time with her dad and having dinner with her girlfriends.
I knew that Kline was still flirting his ass off with her, but she didn’t seem interested in him.
Brax had shown up at Reynolds’ last night with two women tourists, who were in town checking out some property.
He was all jazzed about them, and they were both attractive and nice enough, but I just wasn’t feeling it.
I’d tried. I’d flirted and had a few drinks.
But I kept checking my phone to see if Lila was on her way home yet, and I couldn’t get into it. Hell, common sense told me to go out and get laid. That would be the surefire fastest way to get her out of my system.
But I didn’t want to do it.
I couldn’t have her, but I didn’t want anyone else, either.
Brax was all over my ass this morning, asking what was up after I’d ducked out early.
Brax
What the fuck is your deal, jackass? They were both hot.
You should have taken Jaqueline home. I don’t have to hook up with her friend for you to close the deal.
I chuckled because I knew he was pissed. The dude always liked to have a wingman.
Brax
She wasn’t going to leave her friend. Unlike you, she’s not a dick.
You can’t close the deal without me?
Brax
Apparently not. Because you’ve bailed the last two times, and I’ve gone home with a bad case of blueballs, dickhead.
Brax
Don’t use emojis to avoid the fucking question. What is your deal, and how much does it have to do with the hot little roommate you’re shacking up with?
Fuck. Off.
Brax
Dude. No judgment. I know you. You’re fighting it. And I get it. Our boy is a crazy motherfucker, especially when it comes to Lila. If something is going on, you can tell me. I’ve got you.
I knew he did. But this was done, and there was nothing to tell. It was no one’s business.
Nothing going on, brother.
Brax
When did the most honest dude I know become a liar?
No idea what you’re talking about. You want to come to Sunday dinner tomorrow? My mom is making your favorite.
Brax
Nice deflection. And you know I will never turn down Alana’s fried chicken. Hells to the yes. And I’m here for you when you want to tell me what the fuck is going on.
Thanks for that. You’re being ridiculous, though. Nothing to tell.
Brax
Fine. What are you doing today?
Going with Lila to check out that treatment center for her dad.
Brax
Of course, you are. What a wonderful friend you are to her, you douche sack. You leave me high and dry with a raging boner, and you’re going to skip around a treatment center with your best friend’s little sister. Dude. This is madness.
STFU, dick weasel. Trav asked me to go with her. You can ask her yourself. She’ll be at Sunday dinner.
Brax
Of course, she will. You two are practically inseparable.
Well, your theory is fucked because Trav and Shay will be there, as well. And Georgia, my cousin Dylan, and her fiancé, Wolf, are driving in for dinner, too.
Brax
Damn. Dylan’s so hot. You don’t think she’ll tell the Navy SEAL that she kicked me in the balls in high school when I hit on her, do you? I’m a lover, not a fighter.
I doubt she remembers. She’s kicked a lot of dudes in the balls. I think you’re safe.
Brax
I laughed when I read his message. Lila walked into the kitchen, and I tucked my phone into my back pocket.
“You ready?” I asked her. She was wearing a white sundress, and her long waves were falling down her shoulders and back.
Her tan skin stood out against the dress, and she looked fucking gorgeous.
It didn’t matter what she wore: a dress, jean shorts, running shorts and tee, or a fucking canvas sack. She looked good in all of it.
And don’t even get me started about her birthday suit.
I’d never get the vision out of my head of Lila walking down to the water with her tight little ass on full display under the light of the moon.
I’d tattoo her ass on my arm if I didn’t think her brother would kill me.
“Yes. You sure you don’t mind going with me?”
“Nope. Will you be taking a tour?” I asked.
“It’s not really like that. They are all about the privacy of their clients. I’m just going to meet with the lady who works there and check out the layout of the facility and pick up some paperwork to take to my dad.”
“All right. Sounds like a plan. You seem a little nervous,” I said with a chuckle as we walked to the car.
“I’m not nervous. Not at all.” I opened her door, and she climbed into the truck. I reached for her seat belt and pulled it across her body.
She groaned. “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t need to be buckled in?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. You keep telling me that. What can I say? It’s a habit from buckling in Gracie when I have her, I guess.” It wasn’t. I did it to be close to her and because I knew it annoyed her. I liked seeing her all riled up. It had become part of our daily shtick.
“Whatever.” She yanked at my hair and laughed. “You’re full of it, Bear.”
“Yeah?” I asked. My nose grazed hers, and I fought the urge to nip at her sweet mouth. “Well, whatever it is, you seem more relaxed now, so it worked.”
I closed her door and got in the truck. We drove to the outskirts of town to Havenwood, the treatment facility she’d found for her dad. We talked all the way there. She told me she and the girls were still going to that biker bar tonight, and I wasn’t thrilled about it.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I said, as we coasted down the highway, the ocean on one side of us and the most beautiful mountains and tree line on the other. I loved growing up here. The mountains, the water, all of it.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about it. Kline’s coming with us,” she said, and my head whipped in her direction, and she raised a brow. “Do you have a problem with that?”
I cleared my throat. “Of course not. I just thought you weren’t that into the dude.”
“Well, unfortunately, Del knew something was up the other night, and she’s sort of the master at knowing when I’m lying. So, long story short, she thinks I had an epic make-out session with Kline, and she invited him to join us.”
“You let her think that you got off to making out with that little fucker? I don’t know how I feel about that,” I hissed.
“Well, I certainly couldn’t tell her the truth. So, there you go. He and I are friends anyway, and he was down to go, so it’ll be fine.”
I didn’t like it.
The dude was getting credit for my magic schlong.
My lips.
My hands.
Fuck me, this is ridiculous.
We pulled up to the facility, and I did my best to shake it off.
Lila pulled out her phone and dialed a number before holding it to her ear. “Hi, this is Lila James.”
She was quiet as she listened.
“Perfect. We’ll meet you out front.”
She ended the call and let out a few quick breaths before turning to me, her eyes wet with emotion.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my hand grazing hers on the seat between us.
“This could be the beginning of something new. A fresh start, you know? I feel really good about it.”
Fuck. I knew she was putting all her eggs in one basket, and that worried me for her. Her father had been to the restaurant a few times, and Lila stopped by his house every day after work to check on him. She loved him, and I understood her need to help the man.
But I also knew you couldn’t help someone who didn’t want to be helped. I knew he said he did, but I wasn’t certain it was true or if he was just saying what she wanted to hear.
He was completely unpredictable.
“One step at a time, Snow. Let’s go check it out.”
We both got out of the truck, and a woman walked out the front door of the large ranch house set on a couple of acres of property.
The trees surrounding the place offered a lot of privacy, and I imagined this was a peaceful place to try to figure out your shit.
I glanced over in the distance and saw a man walking near the tree line.
“Lila?” the woman called out and held up her hand.
“Yes, hi. You must be Lauren. It’s so nice to meet you. This is my friend, Hugh.”
I offered her my hand when we got closer. She was probably in her early forties, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, so they clearly kept things casual here.
She shook my hand. “It’s great to meet you both. I’m glad you brought a friend because the process can be overwhelming and—” She paused and guided us to a bench a few feet away. “It’s just good to have support.”
We all sat down on the metal and wood bench, with Lila in the middle. “Yes. I mean, I want support for my father, first and foremost. I’m not worried about myself. And I feel like you could really help him, you know?”
Lauren’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “You’d be surprised, Lila. This can be just as hard on the families as it is on the addict. So, I know you aren’t worried about yourself, but I am. And I have a hunch Hugh is, as well, or he wouldn’t be here.”
I smiled the slightest bit because she was right, and Lila was so used to being stoic and strong that she’d forgotten that she needed support sometimes, too. Maybe she should add that to her fucking list.
“I get that. And yes, I’m lucky to have Hugh’s support. I told you via email that my brother is not on the same page as I am with all of this.”
“You did. And I know how that goes. Everyone deals with this in their own way. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Loving an addict is not an easy journey.”
Lila swiped at the single tear rolling down her cheek, and I moved my hand closer to where hers rested between us, my pinky finger wrapping around hers. I wanted her to know I was here.