Page 94 of Save Me
“You’re coming here later, though, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll be the one on foot, carrying all my belongings.”
“Oh my God.” That’s right. He just lost everything. His home, his job, his car.Everything.
For me.
“I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be. Didn’t like it much anyway.”
“Liar.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead. “It might be a bit busy around here today.”
“How bad?”
He pulls away and walks backward toward the cart. “There’s about thirty teams coming through and reporters in the mix.”
“What about them?” I point upward at the banners. I’ve been to plenty of town council planning meetings. I’ve spoken to Gayle Anderson and Theo Wilson on numerous occasions. They smiled and nodded and promised that my concerns were valid and would be considered, that the council wouldn’t allow Mermaid Beach to be taken over by big corporation. All while their kids and grandchildren will be camping under the stars and planning trips to Paris, on Henry Wolf’s dime. “You let them say what they want. Trust me, none of them wants this to go to court.”
I watch him drive off. Is he right?
“Lover Boy really just torched his life for you.” Frank sounds impressed, which is even rarer than getting him to smile.
“Was it for me, though? Or was this about them?” Ronan has never hidden his dislike of Henry, and after what I learned last night, I’m beginning to think it has more to do with Abbi than anything else.
Is he still in love with her?
“Nah, Parker, I think this was all aboutyou.”
I frown as I peer at Frank. “Since when do youdefend any guy I’m seeing? And since when have you ever thought my crazy signs are anything but crazy?” When he saw the banners this morning and learned of our scheme, I expected him to climb up the ladder and cut them right down. But instead, he sided with Ronan and abandoned his Sea Witch responsibilities to plant himself in a chair out here, like a sentry.
“A lot of changes are coming.”
“Yeah, no shit. It’smywomb that’s hosting a surprise invasion.”
“That’s not the only invasion.” He gestures to the folding camp chairs, signaling for us to take a seat. “There’s no good time for you to find this out, but there’s something you need to know.”
23.Ronan
“Well … fuck.” Connor smooths his palms over Darla’s steering wheel as we wait for Britt and Dani to emerge from the airport’s front doors. One positive to my newly unemployed status is that my calendar is suddenly wide open.
It took me the drive to the airport to fill him in on everything that’s been going on. I got to this morning’s grand finale as we were pulling in.
“So, like, you’re finished here, at Mermaid Beach?” he asks.
“I’m guessing all Wolf Hotels.” I can’t see how going back to Miami’s Outdoor Crew is an option anymore.
“This sucks!” he explodes. So far, Connor is showing more emotion than I have.
“Yeah. It was a good run while it lasted.”
“What amIsupposed to do? I came here with you.” The wheels are churning in his brain. “Dude, we live in his fucking house!”
“Sloane has a trailer you can use.”
His flat look makes me chuckle.
