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Everyone moves the party to the living room as I get to work on Audrey’s hair. They all sit around continuing to eat and drink and laughter flows, relieving the tension I know has been prominent throughout the weekend for each of us. For different reasons obviously but it’s nice to let it all go.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Tyler
“You’re fucking with me.” Liam’s voice booms over the suite and we are all immediately on high alert.
Spencer stands only a few feet away staring at Liam with his nostrils flaring. “He isn’t here, and he’s not answering his phone either.”
“Wait, are you sure he isn’t in another room?” I ask, trying to give Linc the benefit of doubt. Why I don’t know because he’s fucked this entire weekend up with his need to work instead of being by his brides side.
“I checked with the front desk. He never showed up.” Spencer confirms.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Liam says, and I have no doubt he might.
“Hold on now.” Jasper, Mr. Reasonable himself stands and places his hands on his hips. “Maybe he had car trouble. Or maybe there was an accident.”
Shit the idea of that makes me nauseous.
“He’s still in Charleston.” Spencer’s words hang heavy in the air as we all look at each other one by one.
I can’t believe it. Angry words are flying around the suite, Liam making threats, and Spencer no longer on the side of his best friend. I think if the two of them could get to Lincoln right now they’d pulverized him.
And all I can think of is Audrey.
“I can’t believe he’d do this.” Spencer fists his hair and squeezes the back of his neck.
“What the hell are we gonna tell Audrey?” I ask placing my hands on my hips, then fisting them only to put them on my hips once more. My mind is racing. “Because that’s what he expects us to do right? He wants us to do his dirty work. Wants us to be the ones to break her heart so the hard shit is over before he has to face her.”
Spencer’s phone pings with a new message. “My friend confirmed that Lincoln's car is still in the parking lot of his and Audrey’s place.”
My chest grows tight. “Why would he do this?” I throw my hands in the air, completely baffled. “He loves the shit out of Audrey. We all do.” I guess I can’t understand how anyone could do this to someone they love. Or to someone they even like, it’s mind boggling.
“The problem is he doesn’t love her more than he loves himself.” I can sense the disappointment in Liam’s voice. Truth is, I know without a doubt in my mind that Liam would never hurt Audrey the way that his brothers has. And again it confirms that she is in fact with the wrong brother.
* * *
There is a solemn feel that has settled over the entire resort. I know it's only for our group, but it still feels like it's hanging over every little thing. The food is tasteless, the breeze stale and there is little laughter. Audrey has disappeared to her suite to be alone; the guests have all left early and are already heading back home.
But the alcohol seems to be flowing and I think we are all doing our best to drown out our feelings.
I still can’t seem to clear the visions of Audrey when we all went to the suite the ladies were all staying in to tell her that her groom wasn’t coming.
The asshole was home, taking the cowards way out while the woman he was set to marry was feeling like her world was imploding on her.
Lincoln humiliated her, he broke the heart of someone each one of us cared about deeply and I think we were all trying to figure out how he could do that. All of us knew already there was no way we could make it right. So, becoming numb is the goal for now.
I had a feeling when we returned back home to Calloway shit would get ugly fast when the two West brothers are once again back in the same zip code.
Sitting alone at a small table to the left of the bar, I notice Amara walking along the back wall moving toward the exit and walking out onto the beach. Her head hung low, her shoulders slack, and my chest grew tight. I know she is feeling some of the same things we all are. But Lincoln is her cousin and battling her hatred for him has got to be challenging.
I stand and make my way to the exit, stepping outside into the ocean breeze. Up ahead I see a flash of yellow just as Amara turns the corner and steps out onto the sand.
Reaching the end of the walkway, I pause, watching her closely.
Her blonde hair blowing in the breeze as she wraps her arms around her body and looks up at the night sky.
She is breathtaking.
