Page 70 of Fast and Dirty

“Tobias,” he turns towards my best friend. “I can actually say it’s nice to see you again. Your recent company has proven to be of great value to me.”

“What are you doing here, assface?” I seethe with narrowed eyes and want to blow chunks all over the stupid smug face he’s giving me.

“I’ve acquired some property here in town. I was just finalizing the paperwork. And that attitude of yours is one of the first things we’ll work on when you move back home.”

“I’m not moving back!” I snarl like a petulant teen. “Andwhat do you mean you bought property? What the hell would you want with anything in Coyote Creek?”

“Oh I don’t know, from what I hear there’s a beat-down old bed and breakfast that could be a lucrative opportunity,” dad counters, and I can gell he’s got a couple Prozac on board.

“Wineberger!” I bark over at the next booth where the mayor is asleep, his plate of half-eaten bacon and eggs in front of him.

“What?!” He jolts awake, his hand coming down and flipping the plate so that the remainder of his breakfast goes flying.

“Did you sign the Inn over to this dipshit?”

“Did I… ohhhh yeah,” Wieberger seems to have his memory dawn on him. “I do remember a few words and a fat check. He said he had great plans for the place. Sounded like a win/win,” he shrugs before nestling back down in his rascal chair and letting his head tip back.

“You comatose, senile bag of farts!” Anges bellows at him with a shaking fist

“Big plans, huh?” I look up at the rich jackass with my hands planted on my hips. “What could you possibly have planned for an old Inn in a tiny town you’ve never heard of?”

“Simple,” the pompous piece of shit folds his hands in front of him with a smug smile that I want to slap off his fat flushed face. “I’m holding it over your head. It’s a great opportunity, really. See, the Wellingtons are willing to give the marriage to Preston another shot.”

“Eww!”

“But obviously, you need some persuading,” he continues, not missing a beat. “That Inn is officially mine to do with as I please. And if you want it to still be standing by this coming Friday, you’ll come back to the city and fix what you broke.”

“So…” I gulp and swallow back a little vomit. “I still have to marry that bag of dicks?” I sputter.

“Only if you want these dear town folk to keep that relic of a building standing,” he lifts a shoulder like it wouldn't matter less to him but I know better. He wants this. He needs it. But thatdoesn’t mean if I don’t go along with it he won’t follow through. If anything, it will give him all the more reason.

Agnes looks ready to spit nails, and I remember her wedding and the memories she has of that place. And I know she’s far from the only person who the Inn means something to.

She nudges her shades down on her face, giving her the Terminator effect as she brings her phone to her ear and turns for the door.

No. I can’t let this happen.

West

After havingmy heart ripped out my Agnes’s urgent phone call, I bolt the short distance from the shop to Agnes’s house to find Kira maneuvering through the front door, a bag over her shoulder and her suitcase wobbling behind her as she tries to get it over the threshold.

“West,” she breathes out as her shoulders slump. “I was going to come see you. I… I’m leaving. I’m so sorry. I don’t want to but I have to,” she raises her hands up, her expression helpless.

“You don’t have to. Stay here. I heard everything. Don’t do what that dipshit says. Don’t let him win.” I take hold of her arms.

“West, he figured everything out. He has me backed into a corner. He’s going to demolish the Inn if I don’t do what he says. I can’t do that to Coyote Creek!”

“This town loves you,” I tell her, trying to give my voice a soothing quality, and who knows if it’s more for her benefit or my own. “I love you,” I amend my statement with conviction as I take hold of her arms and look her deep in the eye. “I love you, Kira,” I repeat, solidifying the sentiment. “No one, not me oranyone else here is going to blame you if we lose the Inn. People are more important than buildings.”

She draws in a deep sigh, mulling over my words. She nods down at the wood planks of the porch before looking back up at me, a sheen of mist covering those crystal pools.

“I love you too, West. And I love everyone in this town. But if I selfishly stayed and let such a big part of the towns history be demolished, I could never love myself.”

“Everyone will love you enough to make up for it.”

She shakes her head, “But there would be blood on it. It would be tainted; every time someone walked by where the Inn used to be, they’d remember I’m the reason it’s not there anymore. This town has given so much to me but I won’t let them sacrifice that.”

“Kira-”

---