Page 20 of Wildly Yours
“But it isn’t history, Mom. He’s trying to get back into a position of power. And besides, you ended up leaving that job after that happened, didn't you? His actions hurt you.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts. He has to be stopped. If he becomes mayor, who is going to hold him accountable if he does it again?”
“What do you want me to do? I agreed not to say anything if he left the council.”
“Did you sign anything to that effect?”
“Not that I recall.”
I spread all the documents from the file across the table while Buzz clears our pie plates.
“Our son is right, Callie. Unless you signed an agreement, which surely expired after all this time, the town has a right to know about the man who wants to lead them. Think of the new admin, Meredith.”
We comb through everything in the file. There is only a brief mention that Mom would stay in her position, and Blake would resign. Nothing that says she can’t discuss it.
“Why doesn’t anyone in the town seem to know about this? Surely someone remembers him resigning from the council unexpectedly?”
“Because he told everyone he was resigning to focus on his family. They practically gave him a parade for being a man who prioritized his marriage.”
If I recall correctly, Blake's kids moved away after high school and rarely come back to visit. Maybe there's more rot in that family than we know about.
I lean back in my chair and look at my parents. Two solid people who love my brothers and I unconditionally, even after all the years of chaos we created. We're so lucky to have them. I just wish Buzz was my flesh and blood. I wish this good man was the one who made me, instead of the monster we escaped from when I was a baby. The one whose DNA courses through my veins. The one whose rage lives and breathes through me, threatening to erupt.
Maybe I’d have a different life if Buzz was my father and not just my dad.
Chapter Eleven: Serena
Ikeep looking through the files until Meredith calls down to let me know she's locking up. I walk up the stairs and am met with a subtle grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm noticing that you're wearing something different than when you walked in today."
I look down and see I've got on Cody's hoodie as I walk into my office. My back to Meredith, I fist the front of it and pull it to my nose, inhaling his scent.
"Wow. You have it bad."
My face flushes as I spin around.
"It's not that. The scent reminds me of something. That's all."
Her face screws up in a suppressed grin. "Can I do anything else before I head out for the day?"
"No, thank you, Meredith. I'm going to head to the bookstore for the author reading."
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow Serena."
I follow her to the door and lock it behind her. The building is quiet, and the sun has dipped below the trees, causing it tobe darker in here than it should be given the time of day. I turn off the lights in the front area and return to my office to get my jacket and shut off the lights, when I hear a banging on the door.
The hair on my arms raises. I've never felt unsafe in Owl Creek, but after spending two hours in the cold basement sorting through dusty files, my body alerts.
I step into the main hall and see Cody standing on the other side of the glass door. His broad shoulders fill the frame, and his eyes are lit up with an internal flame I've never seen. I feel myself pulled toward him, while the sense of danger lurking still flits across my skin.
Should I be afraid?
When he walked out today, I didn't know when I'd see him again. The fact he returned so quickly is kicking up a storm in my mind. Do I let him in? Is there something I should worry about? Is there something I need to know?
