Page 63 of One Little Lie
One of the men steps forward to hand me the keys. “You can just leave it at the ferry when you leave, and someone will come over to grab it. Otherwise, your brother has taken care of everything.”
Of course he has. He’s the good one.
I nod, and they head back to the second car just as Rylan pokes her head outside.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say without glancing back. “Colton sent the car for us. I’m just going to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a bit.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I feel her eyes on me as I round the corner. I have no self-control with her, and I fear I never will. Pulling out my phone, I text Preston.
Halton: It might be time to set up the overseas office.
Preston: No.
Halton: No? You’re the one who has been pushing this. I think you’re right. It’s time.
Preston: It is. But not for you. You have shit to work out.
Preston: And until we find the mole at the WB, we need you here.
Fuck. It’s like my world is crumbling around me. There’s a mole in our company that’s costing us millions. Pacen’s father has been dicking around with GG’s mountain, and now Rylan is back, destroying all my resolve with a single glance.
Halton: It’s not really your choice. And what shit do I have to work out?
Preston: If you have to ask, with your current situation as it is, you have more to work out than I thought.
Preston: And it is my choice. I’m CEO, and your big brother. Get your head out of your ass and find your happy.
Halton: Wtf is that supposed to mean.
Preston added Ashton at 4:14 p.m.
Preston: How does Halt find his happy?
Ashton: (Picture sent)
I gape at my phone in disbelief. Staring back at me are tiny faces. A lot of them. All my brothers, their friends, me, and Rylan. Everyone is smiling into the camera, but my eyes are on Rylan. Happiness explodes from this picture in every twinkling eye, every toothy grin. I’m probably sixteen here, and while everyone smiles for my dad, I’m smiling at my future, my forever. Or so I thought.
Halton: What the fuck is this supposed to mean?
Ashton: When you figure out why you were so happy in this picture, you’ll find your way back to the life you were meant to have.
Preston: Find that happiness and hang onto it with both hands. Don’t fuck it up again, Halt. This picture is you. The very best version of you, and we all know it. Find this boy again and fix your mistakes.
Halton: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Preston: Yes, you fucking do. Don’t miss out on happiness because you’re too stubborn to accept it or too arrogant to admit your faults. We all have them. We all fuck up. But we’re Westbrooks, and we fix shit. Fix your shit, Halton.
Ashton: Fix your shit.
Halton: What if my shit can’t be fixed?
Preston: Then you’re not looking at the whole picture. You, of all people, know you need to try all the equations.
Preston: Luv you, little brother. Welcome to the chaos … but fix your shit.
Ashton: Welcome to the chaos.
