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Wes
Itneverfailed.Everytime I had somewhere I needed to be, people did their damnedest to hold me up. Finn was doing a custom kitchen job for Dale Samson on the other side of the island. Because we were well past Memorial Day, and I refused to ride a bike, I had no choice but to walk the three miles across town. By mile two, I decided I’d be running for mayor next term and revisiting that “no cars in the summer” rule.
I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my arm. It was hotter than hell out, even with the ocean air blowing in from the beach. This wasn’t normal June weather. Selene said the curse would attack our minds first, that it drew strength from fear and discord, so it could’ve been messing with the temperature. Nothing put people on edge faster than an unusual amount of heat. I could feel my own annoyance rising the longer I spent in the sun.
But the sooner I could get to Dale’s, the sooner I could get back to my air-conditioned office. If people would stop holding me up, maybe I’d make it there by tomorrow. It didn’t help that every citizen in town had a question about this project or that project. Since my brother Cole was a surly bastard and no one wanted to deal with him, all those questions fell to me as the second-oldest Latham.
When our dad announced his retirement last year, we figured we’d have a few years to ease into the role of being the big bosses on the island. Then he went and had a mild heart attack, and the doctor demanded he cut loose anything that caused stress. Namely, the running of Zodiac Enterprises and all the businesses that fell under that header.
Cole was technically in charge of operations, but since he lacked people skills, we didn’t let him out of the office very often. Though he was great at delegating and yelling at anyone who tried to screw us over. It was part of his charm.
Tourists crowded the sidewalks and spilled onto the street. A horse and carriage that offered tours around the island was parked outside the Astrology Import—another Latham venture, specializing in zodiac-themed merchandise and customized star charts. The butter-yellow storefront blended into the sorbet orange exterior of the Apotelesm Wax Museum, which featured figures of the god and goddesses of the zodiac as well as their human lovers and the original descendants. We had an eclectic mix of businesses on Stardust Parkway.
I crossed the street and ran smack into Paige, who was coming out of the credit union. She teetered like a baby deer on her thin heels, so I grabbed her arm to steady her, then promptly dropped it when she flashed me a vibrant come-on smile. Fucking fantastic. Of all the people I wanted to avoid right now, she sat at the top of my list.
She held a hand over her chest. “Oh my God, Wes. I’m so glad I ran into you. Literally.” She let out a laugh that made my eyelid twitch. “Did you hear the news? I hope Finn is okay.”
I had no doubt her concern for Finn was faker than that innocent tone she used to get what she wanted, and I wasn’t in the mood to play politics. “I’m kind of in a hurry, Paige. So, if this isn’t important, I really have to get going.”
“How can you imply that the return of Thora Chase isn’t important?” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought Finn was your best friend, but if you don’t care, someone should be there to provide him a little comfort.”
The last thing that would help Finn was Paige’s brand of comfort. While I’d made it a point to stay the hell out of other people’s relationships since I fucked things up with Audrey four years ago, in this case, my gut said I needed to make an exception. “I think it would be best if you stayed back from him at this time.”
“Stayed back?” Her features screwed up with fury, cutting sharp lines into her otherwise beautiful face. A deceptive mask that hid a viper underneath. “Who are you to tell me what to do? I don’t give a shit if your last name is Latham, you’re not going to run me out like you did your own brother, just because you wanted to screw his girlfriend.”
I should’ve stuck to my rule of minding my own business. Her voice had reached ear-splitting decibels, and a small crowd was starting to gather. Just what I fucking needed. I rubbed my temples, where a headache was already brewing. “I don’t have time for this.”
“I bet you’d find a way to make time if I was Audrey Raynor. Everyone knows you’ve had a hard-on for her since high school. Too bad she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Nope. Not today, Satan. I pushed past a middle-aged couple who had their phones out, recording the whole goddamned circus. Knowing my luck, I’d probably end up as some viral meme on Twitter. Welcome to Zodiac Cove, folks. Where the locals want to screw their brothers’ girlfriends. The sad part was, Paige wasn’t wrong. And that’s what made me lower than the scum crusted to the floor of a public restroom.
She wasn’t finished yet, though. Not when she had the spotlight. She’d do anything to keep all eyes on her, and couldn’t resist spewing one more shot of poison. “It’s pathetic, the way you pant after her. But I guess there are some things the Lathams don’t get to control after all.”
This was the kind of shit I stepped in every time I got involved in other people’s relationships. Finn was as much a brother to me as my blood ones, but he was on his fucking own with that one. And may God have mercy on his soul.
I cut through a back alley and took a less populated road. I’d had enough of people today. The extra time on my trek pissed me off, but it was better than having another run-in with Paige, or having someone stop me to ask if what Paige said was true, all the while knowing damn well it was true. One of the downsides of living in a small town.
The speculation about my feelings for my brother’s ex didn’t bother me, I’d been dealing with that ever since Seth left town. But I didn’t want Paige’s bullshit to get back to Audrey and cause her to freeze me out again. I’d somehow gotten her to agree to have dinner with me. Didn’t matter that it was only so long as we didn’t call it a date. I’d take what I could get.
I was fully aware that she had me wrapped around her finger, and it probably did make me pathetic, but I was powerless in that regard. She owned me. I’d been in love with her for over a decade, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to shut it off. Hell, everyone on the island knew the score. Except Audrey.
And while I felt like shit for the way things had gone down with Seth, especially because she ended up hurt, I wasn’t sure I’d do anything different.
People said I talked him into leaving, but that wasn’t true. He was going to leave regardless. He had wanderlust in his blood. The only difference was, if I hadn’t stepped in where I didn’t belong, he would’ve asked Audrey to go with him. Not because he wanted to marry her or build a life with her. It was an ego thing.
As a kid, he only wanted to play with a toy once he saw me playing with it. As we got older, that need to win turned to sports, grades, the last goddamn drumstick at dinner. Everything became a competition. Including when I fell for Audrey.
He knew I planned to wait until after she graduated high school to ask her out, so he purposely pursued her before then. At first, he did it just to piss me off, but then he went and fell for her too. By the time I found out, it was too late.
I spent the next five years trying to get over her. When Seth told me he was leaving Zodiac Cove and wanted to take Audrey with him, I couldn’t just let him go without saying my piece. I’d already done that once and it cost me everything.
Unfortunately, Seth told her about our conversation. I stood by it. He would’ve been a selfish bastard for asking her to leave her home, her business, her friends, and her grandma, but she hated me for getting involved. I couldn’t even blame her. It hadn’t been my place.
If I was a better man, I would’ve stayed out of it and left the decision in her hands. But I wasn’t, so here we were.
I expected her to be pissed at me, but I thought for sure she’d eventually cool off and understand that I’d only been looking out for her. Instead, when I showed up at her condo, she told me off, then slammed the door in my face. After that, she cut off all communication.
It damn near killed me.
