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“I didn’t say that,” Lydia muttered. “Not in those words, anyway. You’re twisting them.” She turned her head, her eyes catching Griff’s. “It wasn’t a mistake. It never has been. She wanted to come here.”
“She wanted to hurt her dad. And probably me, too. God knows I hurt her enough.” For the first time, the smile slid from Josh’s lips. “I’m just hoping I can make it up to her and get her to come home with her head held high.” He shrugged. “I can’t help but feel this is all my fault.”
“So that’s why you’re here? To make up for being such an asshole?” Lydia’s laugh was short. “When did you die and become Mother Teresa?”
“Isn’t Mother Teresa dead?” Carla asked, frowning.
Griff’s nails dug into the hard skin on his palms. Not that he felt it, not really. He was too damn confused for all that.
Autumn bought this place as a mistake? Though he’d never asked her outright why she’d purchased the pier and come to Angel Sands, it still felt like a lie. The kind of story she should have told him while they were curled up in bed together, their voices heavy with sated desire.
So why didn’t she tell him? He could understand her being a little embarrassed about it, but they’d been naked together so many times, for god’s sake. They were way beyond being embarrassed about things they’d done.
He swallowed hard, remembering something she’d said to him after the first time they’d kissed at the top of the cliff.
I’m making bad decisions left, right, and center at the moment.
She’d been talking about buying the pier, he was certain of it now. But not just about the pier. More than one decision. At least two.
The second one was kissing him.
You were a mistake. You always have been. The voice in his head sounded exactly like his mom’s.
It made him feel sick. Like the kid he’d been when he’d cried in the hospital, the only one in the pediatric ward not surrounded by adults who loved him when he’d been injured.
A mistake.
A bad decision.
It all added up to the same thing. He wasn’t wanted.
“I gotta go,” Griff said, shaking his head, though the messy thought refused to move.
Lydia reached out for his arm. “You should wait to talk to Autumn. She’ll be out soon.”
“I can’t.” He shrugged her off in the same gentle way he’d eluded Ember. When you’re as big as he was, you knew how to stop from hurting others inadvertently.
Funny how he couldn’t stop himself from hurting, though. Not when the word ‘mistake’ was battering around in his head like a pinball on speed. He heard it in his mom’s voice, a little bit screechy, and a whole lot of painful.
For all his life he’d gotten in the way of her plans. Was he getting in the way of Autumn’s, too?
Christ, he needed a drink. Or five.
* * *
“The pier isn’t for sale,” Autumn said, looking from her father to Mr. Carlsson and back again. “I’m sorry for your wasted journey.”
“Of course it’s for sale.” Her dad did that lying laugh again. It grated her nerves like cheese. “As I explained, Autumn has gotten attached to this place. Who wouldn’t? It’s a beautiful property in a beautiful town.” His steely eyes slid to Autumn’s. “Hence the agreed price.”
“Dad…”
“Actually, could you give us a minute?” her father quickly said, striding over to the door and pulling it open. He beckoned at Josh, who was standing with Lydia and Carla of all people. Autumn frowned, wondering where Griff was.
“Josh, can you take Mr. Carlsson on a tour of the pier?”
“Now?” Josh asked, frowning just a little.
“Yes. I want to talk to my daughter alone.”
