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Maverick’s laughter booms around me, like the last nail in today's coffin, and Finley looks at me, his lip curled up in disgust. I thought I could come back and live a quiet life for a year before escaping.
How fucking wrong was I?
Chapter Four
Iask Indi to drop me off at my childhood home after everything that happened at Penny’s rather than at my aunt and uncle’s stupid-ass mansion. I don't want to be near my cousin or anything else relating to the other people in Echoes Cove. I just want the sanctuary that my old home brings. Technically, this is still my house since, you know, I own it now. I just can’t live here because of the stupid term in my dad’s will stating I must live with my legal guardians, which is complete and utter bullshit if you ask me.
I use the code to open the gates, making sure to re-lock them behind me, and make the long walk up to the house.
It looks exactly how I remember it. It’s like something from a haunted house movie, but I love it. The house itself is a tall dark stone building, with the windows and door arched in a paler stone. Finished with dark gray window frames and a matching door. I’m pretty sure my parents had a ‘we want to be scary’ vibe going on when they picked this place. If I remember correctly, even the back balconies are black wrought iron and a bit pointy on top. Dad used to joke it was to keep the boys away from my room.
If he only knew.
The door opens before I even reach it. I pause, wondering who the fuck is in my house already. Once it's open fully, Smithy steps out and grins down at me. “Miss Octavia, it’s so lovely to see you. Welcome home! I’ve been wondering if I’d be seeing you.”
I run up to him and hug him tight. He’s much older than I remember, but I guess being away from here for five years coupled with a child's memory will do that. Smithy was the house manager when I was younger, but he was also like a surrogate parent. He was there for me when my mom left, when my dad drank too much… even just when I fell and needed patching up. He might have been the house manager, but to me, he was so much more.
“I had no idea you were still here, otherwise I’d have come to see you sooner,” I tell him as he squashes me against his chest. Just over two weeks I’ve been in this godforsaken town. Seeing him would’ve made it feel more like home. I could kick myself for being too chicken to check the house out before now.
“Of course I’m still here. Who else was going to keep this place in working order and ready for your return?” He grins down at me before ushering me inside. I follow him to the kitchen, which looks exactly as I remember it—all black and white marble tops and white cabinets with silver handles. It’s maybe a little more updated, appliance wise, and I don’t remember the espresso machine, but I’m not sad about it. As I’m taking everything in, he pours me a glass of peach iced tea with extra lemon slices. I love that he remembers my favorite drink. I sit on a stool at the center island, and he sits opposite me.
“If I’d known you were here, I’d have fought harder about living with Vivienne and Nate. I’d much rather be here with you.”
“I thought your father put me down as your guardian in his will. I assumed you chose to be with your family after going through such an ordeal.” He smiles sadly at me, and I nearly spray tea out of my nose with the derisive snort I let loose.
“Those people are not my family. I’m going to call the lawyer to see what he says. If I can be back here, I’ll be here before the end of the week.”
He smiles widely and claps his hands together. “Nothing would make me happier, Miss Octavia.” The genuine happiness in his tone hits me a little harder than it might have before, and I fight the urge to rub the place on my chest just over my heart. Damn. I didn’t know how much I missed being wanted. “Now then, have you eaten? I can whip you up some mac and cheese. I assume that’s still your favorite.”
I groan at the memory of his mac and cheese and find myself wishing I hadn’t already eaten. “I had a burger at Penny’s with a new friend, but now that I know you’re here, I’m definitely coming back to eat tomorrow. If that’s okay?”
“This is your home, Miss Octavia. You’re always welcome here. Feel free to bring your friend with you.” His smile reaches his eyes, and it warms my heart. I missed him more than I ever thought possible. I freaking adore him.
“That I can totally do. Am I okay to go have a look around?” I know this is technically my house, but if he’s been here the last five years, it feels wrong to just stomp about the place.
“Of course, this is your home. Do as you like. I packed your father’s things away. I didn’t want you to have to do it, but I’ve put the boxes in his old study. I left your room alone, but if you’re coming back here, we can update it or even move you to the master.”
I hadn’t actually considered any of this, and it’s enough to make my mind reel with the possibility. But I’m glad he’s packed away my dad’s things. I still haven’t been through the stuff that he had on tour with us. I imagine that was all brought back here too. I definitely don’t have it in me to go through the boxes. Picking at that wound isn’t something I’m strong enough to face yet.
“I’ll speak to the lawyer and make sure that it’s okay that I do move back here. I don’t want to lose access to anything. If he says I’m good to go, I’ll sit down and think about where to go from there.”
“Sounds perfect,” he says as he stands, taking my empty glass and putting it in the sink. “It will be nice to have some life around the place again.”
“It’ll be good to be home.” I smile up at him before heading upstairs. The thought of being able to move back here, away from Blair, makes me happier than I’ve felt since I found out I had to come back to Echoes Cove. I might actually be able to relax in my own space rather than being on edge twenty-four fucking seven.
I head straight to my room and cringe as I step inside. Yep, this room definitely isn’t suitable for me any more. There’s a single bed with a white canopy, and the entire room has a pink and white theme… None of this is even close to the person I am now. I smile at the blossoming tree still outside my window, then frown from the memories this room pulls to the forefront about Lincoln and the others.
This definitely isn’t my room anymore. And those are not memories I need haunting me, especially when it’s clear the guys have no intention of even being civil toward me.
I pull my phone from my pocket and send an email over to the lawyer who’s been in charge of my inheritance and my father’s estate, asking him to give me a call as soon as he can. Hope blossoms in my chest, and I do what I can to quash it. Hope can be a dangerous thing.
I head toward the master suite on the other side of the house. My heart aches in an echo of the emptiness on this side of the house. There isn’t even any furniture in here. I don’t remember Dad having much in here before anyway, but this still seems extra barren. He rarely spent time here because of his insomnia, but my heart still pangs a little from being here in the room that was once his. I’m pretty sure I’ve cried every tear I have in my body for him, and so I find myself flickering between anger and sadness. I suppose if I give myself a moment to really consider everything, I’m overall just kind of sad.
I know some people might find it weird to move into a room like this considering the circumstances, but it feels right to me. I don’t really remember ever seeing my dad in here, so it's not like there arethatmany memories to dredge up in this room. Plus, he left the house to me—he’d definitely want me to make use of it. I pad over the cream carpet to the wall of glass that looks out over the backyard and open the door that leads to the balcony.
If I lean just the right way, I can see the tree that stands by my old bedroom window. I push away thoughts of the guys that threaten to rise and focus on the rest of the view of the yard. The pool sits covered and undisturbed in the middle of the expanse of yard, and the loungers dot the edge. The outdoor kitchen still gleams. Smithy really did keep this place spick and span, and I can’t help but smile. I’m glad that someone had some love left to give to this place.
My phone chimes, pulling my attention away from my slow perusal of the property. I glance down, and my butterflies take flight in my stomach at the sight of an email from my lawyer confirming he’ll call me in half an hour.
