Chapter 28
WYATT
The sound of papers being shuffled fills the quiet as I flip the pages of the contract in front of me.
I’m in the boardroom at the office with my brothers, Reed, Tanner, and our attorney, Maxwell—Max—East to review the Evergreen contract.
If everything checks out, we can sign and exchange the land in sixty days.
These sorts of things move slowly because of the requirements we have to fulfill before any sale can be finalized in this state. Today’s meeting is just one of many that we’ll have until we sign on the dotted line.
I shift in my seat, ignoring the heavy feeling in my body. It’s been lingering for the past few days, any time I think about the land and Maddie in the same breath. Like it’s telling me this is a mistake.
Hell, I know it is.
There’s no maybe about it. I knew it the second I decided to undercut her, but I powered through, convincing myself that it was the right thing to do.
But now, I can’t help but think that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I only went behind her back to Jim because I made this personal to me.
Getting one over on the Harts for everything they’ve done—my accident and Autumn’s broken heart—felt more important.
The air conditioner kicks in and the tightness in my chest squeezes a little harder. I don’t know how to make this better or if that’s even possible at this point.
“The title is clear,” Max says, his voice even as he turns a page. “Everything is standard contract language, which I’m not worried about.”
Reed shuffles his papers, the sound too loud in the quiet room and grating on my senses. “Good. I’ll put the deposit through on Monday and then it’s just a matter of signing the contract and closing.”
Knowing it’s coming and hearing it out loud are two very different things. I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the headache that’s been there all morning.
Once the contract is signed, that land becomes ours and I’ll have to live with what I did for the rest of my life. Sure, Maddie doesn’t seem broken up about it now, but it’s eating me up inside and she was furious when she came to my place when she found out.
Tanner nods. “The surveyors can be out as early as Tuesday, and they’ve confirmed they can get the boundary markers in place by the end of the week.”
The boulder sitting on my chest presses in even more until it feels like it might crush me. It’s getting harder to breathe and I can feel my panic clawing at the column of my throat.
Kade shifts back in his chair and asks, “Has there been any pushback?”
They’re all oblivious to my spiral.
Max shakes his head, setting his pen down on the stack of paper in front of him. “No. We’ve not heard a peep of protest from the county, or anyone else for that matter. It should be a smooth transfer given the location of the plot and that it won’t impact on anyone directly.”
Except for Maddie.
Who could have won the land fair and square if it wasn’t for me.
That thought is what breaks me.
I stand, my chair rolling back with the force and knocking into the wall behind me. “If you’ll excuse me.” I hold up my water glass, ignoring the confused looks from Grayson and Kade as they both look at the still full water jug in front of me.
Striding from the room, my vision blurs around the edges. I aimlessly stumble down the corridor. My breath feels short. I’m lightheaded. Is this what a panic attack feels like, or am I just so consumed by my guilt that it’s eating me up from the inside?
There’s no getting around signing this contract. I know this, but there has to be a way I can right my wrong.
“You okay?” Grayson asks from behind me, his tone laced with concern.
I’ve made it to the small kitchen in our office building. My hands are braced on either side of the stainless-steel sink. I stare down at the gleaming basin and the dirty coffee mug inside it.
“Yeah. I just needed a drink,” I reply, the words sounding hollow to my own ears.
“There’s water in the boardroom, Wy.” It’s an observation, but it’s coated in concern. Grayson pauses, and I can tell he’s deciding if he should push for more before asking, “What’s going on?”
I turn to face him. For a split second, I consider not telling him anything. I weigh up whether lying to him is for the best, because how can I tell him that I had sex with my enemy? Twice.
But this is Grayson. The pillar of our family from the age of twenty-one when our dad passed away.
He’s always been there for his siblings.
I know, deep down in my gut, that he won’t judge me for sleeping with Maddie.
Hell, he might even have some advice on how to get her out of my head.
Although whatever his advice is clearly didn’t work very well for him, considering he pined over Avery for twelve years.
I close my eyes for a moment, gathering the courage to admit to myself, more than anyone else, that Maddie Hart has gotten under my skin and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“I had sex with Maddie,” I announce, watching him as the words hang in the small space between us. What surprises me more than anything is how I don’t want to take them back, how I feel lighter than I have since it happened, because I got to tell someone about it.
Shock flitters across Grayson’s face before he schools his features. “As in Maddie Hart?”
“One and the same,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back against the counter.
“Like, last night?”
I shake my head. “It’s happened twice in the last two weeks.”
Grayson scrubs a hand over his jaw and nods. “Okay.” The corner of his mouth lifts in a smirk as he adds, “I mean… she’s not the worst person you’ve slept with.”
I roll my eyes and turn back toward the sink.
“I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Honestly, I thought you of all people would understand what I’m telling you.
” I grab the glass I abandoned on the counter and turn on the faucet with a bit too much force.
Water splashes my front, soaking through my shirt. “Fuck,” I exclaim.
Grayson’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Look, I’m sorry for teasing you, but I think you’re making this into a way bigger thing than it needs to be. I assume you’re feeling some kind of way because of this deal, and that will pass. This is business, Wy.”
I move away from him and to the doorway, desperate for some space. He doesn’t get it and I can’t blame him. This isn’t like me at all. A sense of hopelessness creeps under my skin, but I push it down and say, “You’re right. I’m thinking too much into this. I can separate the two.” I can’t.
“It’s okay if you want to step back from this. Kade and I can handle it.” His gaze assesses me, as if he’s searching for any hint that I might fuck this up.
“No, I’m fine. It just feels like she’s wormed her way into my head and it’s…” I pause, searching for the right word.
“Different?” Grayson offers.
“Yeah. That’s one way to put it,” I sigh, hating the way she’s making me feel so out of control.
Grayson comes to stop in front of me. “We’re not signing anything today. Why don’t you go home or go for a ride and clear your head and then, when you’re ready to talk, I’m here for you, with no judgment. I promise.”
Maybe getting out of here isn’t such a bad idea. I think I need to go find some peace of mind with this deal and there’s only one person who can give it to me right now.