Page 105 of Feel It in the Air

I didn’t ask any of them anything. Willa was the one who sent out the alert via the sibling group text—how she knew is anyone’s guess—leading everyone but Jace and Ewan to jump in. I’m sure when the two of them get back from their hunting trip and check their messages, they’ll weigh in as well.

He seems unperturbed, that nonconformist, I-couldn’t-give-a-shit attitude proudly on display. “But that bitch is hiding something. Why else choose that moment to say something?”

It might not have been an opinion I asked for, but it is one that I agree with and something I’ve been thinking about on and off all day. If Teresa snapped that picture Monday night, what made her wait until that moment to out us? Especially if she’d really felt like I’d been treating people unfairly.

Her dislike of Margeaux was deeper than that. No, I don’t believe outing us was ever her intent. It was all about having something on Margeaux and using it as a threat.

But then something changed. I wish I understood what.

“So, whatcha gonna do on your vacation?” Anton pokes.

And there’s the instigator. Fucker…

“I’m not on vacation,” I snap.

“It’s kinda like a vacation.”

Milo scrunches his face, shaking his head no. See, he gets it. Administrative leave is not a vacation. It’s like death row. Just sit and wait while they decide your fate.

Now you have to make a choice. One that defines the rest of your life.

Auggie’s words ring out in my brain, echoing off each angle, settling in my heart. The truth is weighing on me more now than it did earlier. Because now I know the answer.

Margeaux is my choice.

I look up at Milo, studying him. He stares back, curiosity in his eyes, our silent conversation not going very far.

Love makes a man do funny things. Conceptually I’ve always known this. I’ve heard my parents’ story. I witnessed Nash make a fool of himself for my sister. I held Milo back as he and Brandt almost beat the shit out of each other when Brandt found out about his best friend and sister. But understanding never really took root.

Until now.

“California’s not so bad, right?” I ask, knowing there is no way he’ll follow my thought process.

“So I hear. Never been.”

I nod, pushing up from my stool. I’d stop to explain, but I’m not sure that my thoughts even fully make sense to myself right now, much less if I tried to articulate them. All I know is that I need to get out of here. I need to get back to the one person who can make sense of all of this.

Details can be figured out later. Right now, the only important thing is getting my girl back. There’s little I can do on a professional level right now. But this…this I can control. Sort of.

Teresa only wins if we lose our jobs and we break up. She won’t get both.

I need to get back to Hayes House. Need to show Margeaux that I’m here for her. Show her that I’m not giving up on us.

Turning to go, I stop dead.

My heart skips a beat, sending my pulse stuttering through me, all my thoughts jumbling like bumper cars, trying to straighten themselves out. Standing before me is the last person I expected to see in Pour Decisions tonight.

Margeaux.

“This seat taken?” she asks, casually gesturing to the open spot between Anton and me.

“Depends,” I choke out.

I’m seeing things. I have to be. I want to reach out and grab hold of her, but I stop myself, afraid that she’s a figment of my imagination. Or that she’s not here for the reason I want her to be.

“Totally fair.” Taking a step closer to me, she smiles, her green eyes glassy with emotion. “Let me assure you, I have absolutely nothing to sell, and even if I did, I’m a horrible saleswoman. I have no questions regarding your relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But I am damn good at woman-splaining things. Like, damn good.”

I choke out a laugh, loving her answer. It’s so perfectly her.