Chapter 20 #3
I cock my brow. I take the dress off the hanger and start to walk it behind the booth to put into my backpack. I can wear it to Madoc’s party.
But Noah has other ideas. “Put it on now,” he shouts after me.
I stop, hesitating. I don’t want to be bending over or having the wind blowing up my dress.
I look out, seeing Lucas laughing and hanging his arm around Madoc, my eyes drawn to the V disappearing into his shorts. Moms, sisters, wives, college girls—they all circle the pit, watching the guys. Lucas is the only single man I see playing.
I take the dress behind the booth, pull it on, and remove my shorts and T-shirt underneath it. I let my hair down and pull out the lipstick I used on Codi. I dab a little on, already relishing the cooling breeze riding up my thighs.
Coming out from behind the booth, I notice that Noah is gone. But I feel Lucas’s eyes almost immediately.
I don’t look, just enjoying the butterflies in my chest.
Trust me, Noah had said.
About what, I’m not sure. But the day is young. I’m sure I’ll find out.
“Good job, kiddo.”
Madoc yanks me in for a kiss on my head as I try to wipe down the display tables.
It’s just after four, and many people are still partying in the park, but it’s almost time to greet those who’ll be moving on to the next celebration at his place.
Then, they’ll head to High Street, followed by Camp Blackhawk, and Fallstown.
He holds up the last Patriotic Parfait I had, the layers of blueberries, rich cream, and strawberries half eaten.
“These were amazing,” he muses.
He’s not drunk yet, but he’s putting his weight on me, which means he’s very relaxed. Best get him home so Fallon can get some coffee in him before he faces the rest of the night.
I lay a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll bring some to the house in a bit.”
I saved a special batch for the family.
I throw off his heavy arm and finish stacking all the empty trays.
“Some shorts under that dress would be a good idea,” Jax calls out as he passes by. “It’s blowing around a bit.”
Madoc scoops out the rest of his parfait. “It’s why I don’t wear mine on windy days, Quinn.”
I laugh.
Jared comes up with Tate and their kids, everyone in my family about to head out. “Can we help before we go?” he asks me.
But Jax cuts him off. “I thought you were heading to Fallstown to start up there so I can go to Madoc’s party with my wife.”
Jared shoots him a look, and I dip my hands in the water basin, rinsing them off and drying them. “I’m fine,” I reply, gesturing to Codi. “We’re good here. I’ll be along soon. But thank you.”
“I’ll help,” Lucas says suddenly.
I look at him, his neck and chest shiny as he wipes off his face with his shirt.
We could finally be alone.
But just when I’m about to shrug my shoulders oh-so-nonchalantly and say “sure,” Farrow finally shows up.
“We got it,” he blusters.
He tosses Lucas a look as Noah follows, both of them stepping up to the booth.
Lucas’s brow furrows as disappointment hits me. Madoc pats him on the back. “I need you at the house anyway.”
I take my trays and walk away, hearing Madoc warn Farrow behind me. “Don’t touch my sister, or I’ll…annex Weston.”
“You can try.”
My family leaves, and Codi starts carrying things to his truck with Noah.
Lucas yanks on his shirt as he leaves with Madoc and the rest, and as soon as he looks back at me, I look away. He’ll be good and mad by the time I get to Madoc’s. Void of reason or control.
Noah stops at my side. “You know why I did that?”
Why he stopped Lucas from helping me clean up, he means?
“Yes.” I’m squealing in my head. “Thank you.”
We load up the truck with everything left and tear down the tables and tent. Taking everything back to the shop, Codi, Farrow, and Noah help me unload. I hand off some treats to Farrow to take to Madoc’s, anxious to get over there, but I force myself to linger at Frosted just a little longer.
Codi stays with me, both of us washing every dish, counting out the register and separating the deposit, prepping for tomorrow.
Rivertown next door is already setting up a station on the sidewalk for drinks later tonight, and the police have put up blocks at both ends of the street. Speakers are being set up now.
“Mace is outside somewhere,” Codi tells me. “I’ll stay here with her.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
She gives one of her nods and fastens the laundry bag for pickup in the morning.
We leave the shop, lock up, and I slide onto my bike, watching her melt into the crowd on High Street.
Tossing my phone into the basket with my backpack, I pedal for Madoc’s, inhaling the heavy air cooled with the slightest breeze.
The wind blows through my hair and dress, and a light layer of sweat dampens my arms, back, and neck as I cruise into my neighborhood.
I close my eyes. Just for a moment.
Then two.
Winslet MacCreary drove this road. I don’t know for sure, but it may as well be true.
She lived here, and soon, the sun will set, drinks will flow, and monsters will come out to play again.
Who would I have been in her day? The quiet one who wasn’t involved and never knew what was happening until it was too late? Would I have been her friend?
Or would I have been someone she came after for revenge because I was always a follower and never a leader?
Nevertheless, she’s watching me now. Maybe.
I open my eyes, the low rumble of an engine far behind me barely audible in the wind. But it’s there.
My heart thrums in my ears as I pass lantern-lit yards and keep going to the next house. Then, the next.
No other lights. No headlights beaming from behind, but the growl of the engine grows louder.
Closer.
The sound of distant thunder rolls, deeper than the engine somewhere behind me, and I comb my hand through my hair.
Every inch of my skin hums as the hair rises. It’s that feeling you get when you’re a kid and being chased, about to be tagged. Scared, but also thrilled. Like I feel when I’m alone with Lucas.
Closer…
Closer…
Turning down Madoc’s driveway, I see kids running around with sparklers on the lawn to the right and stop, listening to the car’s engine get louder and louder… I tighten my fists around the handlebars.
Then, the sound starts to fade. As if it’s passed by and is driving away.
I look behind me, the empty road beyond lonely and quiet.
I blink, a mix of adrenaline with something like disappointment washing over me.
Did I want it to follow me? Like with Deacon, I don’t know if I feel fear necessarily anymore.
I mean, it’s had plenty of opportunity to run me down or chase me off the road, and it hasn’t.
Maybe it’s him. Maybe it’s not. But I’m getting braver, hungry for answers now.
Pumping the pedals, I cruise to the front door and park my bike, grabbing the diary out of the backpack, as well as my phone. The driveway is filled with cars, and the party bus pulls out, off to pick up another batch of Shelburne Falls citizens who don’t want to drive tonight.
I head around the side, hoping to avoid my brothers for as long as possible.
Music blasts from the speakers, several lawn games going on, and Madoc has two bars that I can see spread out on the property.
He probably has another one in the house and another by the pool.
People dance, the sound of billiards drifts through the open basement doors, and I smell cigar smoke somewhere.
Madoc’s taken to sucking on one when he’s really relaxed.
Stopping, I take in the scene for a moment, a familiar sense of love for this town and how everywhere just feels like family.
Everywhere is home.
Everyone knows everyone, and everything is just so happy. I dig in my eyebrows, feeling the sky press down on my shoulders.
Walking up to the pool, I spot Hawke and everyone standing waist-deep, all of them enjoying a drink under their parents’ watchful eye.
Dylan sees me first, and Hawke follows her gaze.
A couple of years ago, I heard he had a party here, complete with soap suds everywhere.
I missed it. I stayed at school most of that summer, getting ahead on extra classes.
It wasn’t their fault I missed it. I did it to myself.
“You gonna let me in my tower yet?” Hawke nags.
“My tower.”
While it’s possible I never would’ve known it was there without him, he never would’ve gotten access to it if I didn’t own it.
I hand him the diary. “It was on the kitchen counter in Carnival Tower.”
He narrows his eyes, setting his drink down and taking the book. Quickly, he opens it, turning pages and then fanning the rest.
He looks up at me, surprised. “I’ve never seen this.”
“Winslet MacCreary didn’t die in the river,” I tell him, flitting my eyes to Hunter, then Dylan. “And I don’t think it was the Doran brothers who put her there.”
Kade snatches the book, but Aro steals it from him, Dylan hovering at her side as they look through it.
“I think she made it out of the car,” I say to them, “let people believe she was gone, hid out under everyone’s noses in Shelburne Falls somewhere, and sought revenge on the Pirates who tried to murder her.”
Everyone stops and gapes at me. “Pirates?” Hawke repeats.
I nod. “You read it and tell me what you think. It’s…difficult to understand.”
I rise, not wanting to get caught up in the third degree right now. They can look through it themselves and get back to me.
I start to walk away but stop. “Stay together tonight,” I tell them.
“Why?” Kade asks.
“Something feels weird.”
Maybe I’m overthinking, but chaos provides opportunity. And the more the drinks flow, the more poor choices will arise.
I leave them, trying not to scan the area for Lucas. I know he’s here, but he’ll be cautious with my brothers around. I don’t want to be cautious.
Plus, I’m hungry. Starving, actually. Heading to the basement, I slip through the door and to the refrigerator to grab ingredients for pizza. I scarfed down some oatmeal at four this morning before I left Weston, and all I’ve had since was three spoonfuls of parfait.
Carrying the cheese, sauce, and dough already prepared on a pan out to the patio, I preheat the pizza oven, feeling him close. And the more I try to keep my gaze averted, the more aware I am that I have to force myself not to search for him. Every second. Don’t look for him.
Every moment. I’m still not looking for him.
But I turn around, and he’s standing there. Staring at me.
Rounding the little island, he backs me into the corner, out of view, as the scent of his shower and fresh clothes waft off him.
His hand grazes my thigh where my brothers noticed the bruise this morning. “I didn’t mean to hurt you last night,” he whispers.
His chest presses into mine, and I can barely breathe. I open my mouth, lost in the shape of his lips. And remember how demanding his mouth is when it has a hold of mine.
“What do you want me to say?” I ask, giving the screw one extra twist. “That it’s okay?”
I don’t feel the bruises. I wouldn’t mind more.
He bears down, his head hovering over mine, and my entire body tingles as his fingers drift up my leg, caressing the bruised skin.
“Do you like my dress?” I taunt.
His hand glides up, flattening against my stomach, coming so close to my breast, and then snaking around my waist, raising my hem. My panties are visible to anyone who might walk by.
I tease him. “Do you like my dress?”
I know he does, and I want to hear him say it. I want to know he’s been thinking about how accessible my body has been all day and he hasn’t been able to touch me.
But also, I kind of like how it seems he barely notices the question, lost in his desire.
His breath falls on my mouth as he licks his lips, looking down at me like I’m a drug and he’s already addicted.
He tugs at the fabric, balling it in his fists tighter and tighter until I hear a tiny tear.
Yes.
“Lucas!” someone shouts.
Farrow?
I blink, feeling the ridge of Lucas’s groin press between my legs.
“Someone’s here to see you!” Farrow shouts from somewhere.
I pant, and for a moment, he doesn’t move. He can’t leave me. He can’t stop. He’s going to lift me up and rip off my clothes…
But he backs away.
And I clench my teeth in anger.
“I’m coming,” he calls out.
Holding my eyes, he lets me go, and my body almost leaves the wall as if being pulled as he goes. Don’t leave me.
Damn him.
Hawke doesn’t drop Aro. There’s nothing more pressing to him than her.
And it would take an earthquake to get Hunter off Dylan.
I deserve better than this.
I stand there—for one second, then two.
An earthquake.
What if there is one thing more pressing to him than me? Just one thing? The one thing that made him leave eight years ago. Still unresolved.
Taking a step, then another, I follow him, peering around the corner and seeing him climb the small hill toward the front of the house. Slipping behind the tall hedges between the basement and the hill, I crouch down and crawl, following after both of them.
Slowly sinking one hand and knee after another into the black mulch, I hear Winslet, as if those memories in the diary are mine.
*dark
*water in the air
*scent of earth
*keys like claws
I curl my fingers into the dirt, lifting my eyes to find glimpses of him and Farrow through the thistles.
Farrow turns to him, standing close as if he has something private to say, but his body language is cautious. Not confident.
Since when do he and Lucas have shared secrets?
Farrow pants to Lucas, out of breath as the silence stretches.
Then I hear him say, “He knows where the body is.”