Page 31 of Wicked & Wildflower

My sister chews on her lip. “So why are you telling us now?”

“Guess it’s not as easy to pretend as I thought it would be.” I shrug. “Didn’t feel good about holding it in.”

My sister smiles knowingly. “That good, huh?”

Leo and I both glare at her, but I don’t confirm or deny.

We’re all quiet for a moment before Leo busts up with a rough laugh. “So you’re telling me that my mom inadvertently set you up on a one-night-stand with her own son?”

I wince. “Sounds about right.”

He laughs again. “You going to tell her about it?”

“I’d prefer not to.”

He snorts as my sister asks, “Is it awkward between you and Everett now? You’ll be working together, you know.”

“It hasn’t been,” I say honestly. It has been…fun with him. When I’m around him, I laugh. A lot. He makes things feel lighter, although I don’t know what things will look like after the way I treated him at the beach. “He took Lou out for surf lessons, and you know he was there when Dad cornered me at Heathen’s. He stepped in and made Dad leave.” I snort. “Everett told him he was my boyfriend, actually.”

Their eyes go wide as they stare after me, willing me to go on.

“He didn’t mean it,” I quickly add.I mean, I’m fairly certain he didn’t mean it. “He was just saying it to get Dad to fuck off. Intimidate him, I think.”

Neither my sister or her fiancé look entirely convinced, but they nod all the same. Suddenly, Leo slaps his palms onto the counter as he stands straight. “Well, great. I’ll let Everett know you’ll join him at the Hayes Foundation Banquet then.”

“The what?”

My sister’s mouth splits into a grin as she lightly claps her hands together.

“The foundation in Zach’s name. They raise awareness for water safety, provide free equipment like lifejackets at parks, host training in schools, free swim lessons for children and parents, and help fund lifeguard stations in underserved coastal communities. They have an auction on the anniversary of Zach’s death every year.” Leo’s face tightens as he pushes off the counter and heads toward the hallway to his and Darby’s bedroom downstairs. “Heathen’s is a main sponsor, and Everett needs a date.”

“Why would I need to be Everett’s date?”

Leo pauses in the doorway, crossing his arms. “You said that Everett told your dad he was your boyfriend, right? To intimidate him? Make him leave you alone?”

I nod. “I assume that’s what has kept him away thus far. He would never take Darby or I seriously, but a man with more money, status, and power than he has, or a man like Everett who’s taller, larger, and more threatening? That’s the kind of shit he’ll cower under.”

“Exactly.” Leo’s face twists into something like disgust. “I’m not going to pretend this is some kind of star-studded event, but there will be cameras. Some reporters. Anyone who’s looking for us will find out we attended. You might as well continue playing that part if you want your father to stay fucked off.”

My sister nods next to me. “Yeah, that’s smart.”

“Plus,” Leo continues. “It’s never an easy night for any of us. I hate to tell you that I’d like you to be a distraction, but I think it would help if Everett had something else to focus on than the day of the year and the reason for the event.”

My heart drops at that. I didn’t know Zach, obviously, but the heartbreak is written clear across my brother-in-law's face, the same way it was written across Monica’s when she spoke of him. They all loved Zach, and they still feel his loss deeply.

“Of course,” I say. “Whatever you guys need.”

He gives me a grateful smile. “Okay, I’ll let Everett know when I see him tomorrow.”

“Actually,” I call out as Leo pushes off the door, “can I talk to him about all of this first?”

Leo nods, a small smirk on his face as he turns the corner toward his bedroom.

Inhaling a shaky breath, I pull out my phone and send the message:

Can we talk?

14

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