Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
My jaw drops. “Holy shit, man! For a wedding? You should’ve just run off to Vegas or Hawaii or something.”
“I wish we had,” he agrees gloomily. “This is going to haunt me, but it got so out of control so fast. I didn’t know what Mom and the wedding planner were doing, or what Jed was adding to the list because it . . . it . . .”
“It was easier to not know,” I finish for him. “Been there, done that. I understand how that goes better than anyone.” He looks at me sadly. “You’re going to be beholden to him now. He won’t give you a contract, but . . . it’ll be there. A big fuckin’ debt sheet, your balls listed as the collateral. That’s his game, and he led you right into the trap like leading a pig to slaughter.”
“A really fancy slaughter,” he corrects. “With a band.”
“Just like the Titanic. They’ll play while you sink into Jed’s control.” Winston presses his lips together in agreement. “Does Dad know? About Jed paying?” I’m honestly scared of the answer. Has Dad learned nothing from what happened with us?
Winston shrugs. “I don’t think so. He probably figures Mom has it under control because he’s been too worried about the optics of the wedding to worry about who’s paying for it. I mean, with the whole town split down the middle about this subdivision and bringing in fresh blood—and money—it’s a really shitty time to have a big blowout bash of epic proportions. People are already gossiping about the cost, the guest list, the whole thing.”
“And you just want to marry the woman who straightened out your shit, and live your happily ever after?” I summarize.
“Yeah,” Winston sighs. “So . . . welcome home, big brother.”
I scoff, and take a bite of my burger. “I wish I could say it’s good to be back, but that’d be a lie. The only reason I’m here is because you said please, you damn fucker.”
Winston laughs darkly. “Thanks, Wyatt.”
“Anytime.”
We fall into silence, digging into our meals. My mind turns all the information over and over, looking for angles and strategies, for Winston, Dad, and even Jed. Not because I’d ever help Jed, but because by thinking the way he does, maybe I can figure out what the hell he’s up to. Because he’s always up to something. He only does things that benefit him. That’s a sure thing.
“How’ve you been?” Winston asks after a bit, probably looking for some good news in the day.
I shrug, trying to encourage my brother without making my plain, normal life seem like a victory to lord over him. “Good. I work, I go home, I work, I go home. It’s . . . peaceful, I guess is the right word? I like earning a dollar with the sweat of my own brow and the work of my own hands.”
I look down at my once soft and smooth hands, noting that they’re covered in scars and rough calluses now. I consider each mark a badge of honor. My honor. Here’s my education, my lessons taught and left on my flesh forever.
“Never would’ve guessed you’d end up the hard-labor type,” Winston says around a mouthful. “Mom and Dad would shit themselves if they knew.”
He’s probably right. I do custom woodworking, using centuries-old methods of joinery and responsibly sourced heritage woods. It was slow going at first, but I’ve made a name for myself in certain circles, ones that have nothing to do with my family.
My brow furrows at Winston’s last comment. “They don’t know? I figured Jed told them years ago.”
“He knows? I had to hire a damn investigator to track you down!”
Of fucking course. When I left, determined to strike out on my own, Jed hunted me down, trying to guilt-trip me into coming home, but I refused. He even tried to throw me some pity contracts, saying he wanted to support my “little business,” but I turned them down.
“He tried to play his games with me too,” I explain simply. “I thought I’d gotten away scot-free, but I guess he’s holding that card for another day.”
“Sounds about right,” Winston says with an eye roll. I’m sorry that he’s getting to know firsthand how convoluted this family can be. I really hoped that wouldn’t be the case.
You knew. You just had to save yourself.
It’s an ugly truth to admit, even silently. But it’s a little like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping anyone else in an airplane. I had to escape for my own well-being. I meant to come back and save Winston and Wren someday, but it never seemed like the right time, and I told myself that they could’ve walked away on their own too.
They didn’t have to wait for me.
But maybe that’s all bullshit to excuse my guilt, because they got trapped. And my leaving made the trap that much stickier for them to get out of.