Page 5 of Axe-identally Married
“Ahem,” Gus grumbled. “It’s Doctor Savard. Show her some respect. She’s not a kid anymore.”
My pulse pounded.Willa?
I’d known her my entire life. Smart, cute, very serious, and far from my biggest fan. In fact, I’d venture to guess she hated my guts after the fallout with Lila. Willa and I had never had a single thing in common. She’d been one of those perfect kids. A straight-A student and president and captain of every academic team. Not to mention that after high school, she’d gone on to graduate from college and then medical school, carrying on her family’s legacy. She didn’t just think she was always right; she knew it.
Butdamn.
I turned, regarding her again as she took a sip of champagne. Heat gathered in my groin in a way that could very easily get me in trouble since I was wearing nothing but a pair of swim trunks. Because I had no idea what she’d been hiding under that doctor’s coat.
“She’s an excellent doctor,” Gus said. “I learned that the hard way.”
“You’re gonna have to explain,” Jude said, his tone subdued, as always.
Gus adjusted the brim of his baseball cap while Owen was back to making moony eyes at Lila. “I had to have an STI test.” He shuddered. “But she’s a great doc. I was mortified the entire time, but she was nothing but professional.”
I could see it. The Willa I knew was stern, coldly professional, and brilliant. It figured that a body like hers would be attached to such an intimidating personality.
The topic of conversation turned to football pretty quickly, and I pretended to be absorbed in the book I was reading.Daring Greatly. Debbie had given it to me, and everyone in the knitting group was always going on about the author, Brene Brown, so I figured I should check it out so I knew what the hell they were talking about next time.
But damn, was this book fucking me up. I’d spent the plane ride reading and thinking and experiencing far too many emotions. Brene said courage was contagious, but I wasn’t even sure what courage meant anymore.
All I knew was that I was the opposite of courageous. I was a coward.
I’d hidden behind my talent and my dad’s money for most of my life. And when things had gotten tough, when I’d been faced with the consequences of my actions, I’d spiraled and lashed out, hurting the people I cared about.
I loved Debbie more than I loved just about anyone in this world, and I appreciated that she wanted to help me, But I was pretty certain that I was a lost cause.
So rather than engage with the group, I read and snuck looks at Willa.
Eventually, Gus, Finn, and Jude headed back up to their rooms to shower. Owen had arranged for a chef to create a gluten-free tasting menu for the whole crew, so a quick rinse-off was probably a good idea. But the weather was incredible, and the view, with the ornate fountains and topiaries, was hard to ignore. All this decadence was a far cry from the landscape of rural Maine.
But all the Italian marble in the world did not hold a candle to the woman on the other side of the pool. It was bad. It was so wrong to stare at her. But I was fascinated.
Of all the women to catch my attention, Willa Savard would be the last one I expected. But I’d clearly been blind my entire life. Because bodies like hers were the kind that had been painted on the sides of bombers during World War II.
Owen stood and towered over me, glowering. “Stop staring and put your tongue back in your mouth.” At his annoyed tone, I immediately flashed back to childhood, back when I was the baby brother tagging along and always getting it wrong.
With a nod, I lowered my head and sightlessly stared at my book. The last thing I wanted was to argue with my second-oldest brother. This was his weekend, and our relationship, which had previously wavered between hostile and nonexistent, was just beginning to improve.
For months, I had been on my best behavior. I could keep myself on Owen’s good side for the next couple of days, then he’d be back in Boston, and I could go home and hash all this out with my therapist.
She’d challenged me to identify my values and priorities. What I’d known from the beginning was that my family was at the top of my list. I’d do anything to repair the damage I’d done and build strong relationships with my brothers and with Debbie. So I had to suck it up and behave.
Owen offered me a hand, and I accepted, hauling myself to my feet.
I grabbed my hat, book, and hotel keycard from the wrought-iron side table next to my chair. Then I followed him toward the lobby.
As we approached the elevators, he stretched his arm out, stopping me with a hand against my chest. Expression serious, he pushed his glasses up his nose and regarded me. “Please don’t.”
I said nothing. At this point, I was used to his lectures.
“She’s not some puck bunny. She’s a doctor.” Brow arched, he angled in closer, the subtext clear. She was too good for me. She was Lila’s best friend and the town doctor. And I was, well, me.
Washed up.
A loser.
The family fuck-up.
