Page 120 of Everything Has Changed
“So sure you would do the damage, aren’t you?”
Piper squares her shoulders. “Damn right. I’ll fight for my family.”
Jackson continues to stare at her blankly until I see a small twitch of his lips. “I know you would.”
Matt clears his throat and taps the table. “Where’s Logan? I need to talk to him about something.”
No one has a chance to continue the conversation when the lights begin to dim and a round of applause starts at the far end of the room
We turn our attention toward the side of the stage to see Mr. and Mrs. Spencer walk up the side steps hand in hand. Their matching black masks are simple. The same with her floor-length black gown,though I just know her whole outfit costs more than mine and Piper’s combined. But it’s timeless and elegant, the perfect vibe for the mayor’s wife.
They step up to the microphone, and a hush goes over the crowd as the music is turned down.
“Welcome to the first ever Willow Grove Gala.” Mr. Spencer’s voice rings out into the room as everyone claps. “It’s so wonderful to gather everyone here for a special night. I know you must be wondering, ‘Richard, why now? Why not in all the years you’ve been mayor?’” He chuckles into the microphone and everyone echoes him. “To that I answer, because tonight we can finally celebrate the future of Willow Grove. We have been working tirelessly over the last few years to build this town into what it is, but I saw the potential. And so did a lot of other people too.”
Murmurs build within the room at what he could be talking about. The only people that seems not to be growing in excitement surround this high-top table with me. We all share a look, but it’s Matt who has my hair standing on end.
“Did you already know?” I whisper.
His sullen expression tells me he did but it also tells me it’s not good.
“Settle down, everyone. I’m not going to leave y’all in suspense for too much longer, simply because I’m too excited to hold it in anymore. But first, I want to welcome the future of Willow Grove. Everyone, give a big round of applause for my son, the man that will carry on our family legacy—if he runs unopposed, of course.” The tone of his voice says his joking, but the look says he’s anything but. Not that anyone would run against a Spencer. Notions of that possibility died out after Steven was reelected and everyone realized whose town this was. Not that it mattered. Until now, I guess. “Logan Spencer and his fiance, Camila Antonio!”
I think the room erupts into cheers, but I’m not certain as my hearing goes out and my vision tunnels. I slap my hands against the side of the table to hold myself up. But it’s not needed when my best friend and my brother immediately slide their arms around me.
“Fiance? What the fuck is going on?” Jackson growls in my ear.
I can’t respond as my eyes track Logan in his tailored suit with a masked expression walking up the side steps just like his parents. And just like his parents, he is hand in hand with Camila, who glides behind him effortlessly. Their masks are the identical pair to his parents’. Camila’s dress is the perfect daughter-in-law match to Margot, who looks on with a proud expression as they step up to them on the stage. Everyone shares a hug, but my eyes are still glued to where they touch.
I knew this day would come. I ran through every scenario as I lay in my old bedroom at my grandmother’s last night. None of them included less than twenty-four hours later hearing the words Logan, Camila, and fiance in the same sentence.
“Aren’t they such a beautiful couple, everybody?”
“I think I’m going to throw up,” I mutter to no one. Matt hears me though, and slides his empty glass in my direction. If I weren’t so paralyzed I would give him a smile, but I currently can’t feel my face.
My gaze finally leaves their hands, but my traitorous eyes decide to keep going north until I reach Logan’s face. His eyes look out into the crowd, fixated on something, but I can tell he sees nothing. His jaw is tight while his lips stay plastered in a politician’s smile.
Silently, I will him to look at me. To tell me it’s not true. To drop her hand.
As if he hears me, his eyes refocus and slide across the room until they find mine. I’m too far away to study the swirls, but I know those hazel eyes are churning as they bore into mine. Almost pleading, but not loud enough to stop anything from happening.
I wrestle with myself as to if I want to pull my gaze away or not. But ultimately I decide to stay right there, locked in a battle that no one can win as his father speaks around us.
“Come February, I will pass along my title to my son with pride. But that’s not all. We are here to announce today that Willow Grove is growing. Beginning next month, we are breaking ground just north of the heart of our town on a luxury resort.”
Behind the stage, the gold curtain that was draped along the wall drops to the floor. Loud gasps echo through the crowd as everyone takes in the sign.
Coming soon! Triton Works, LLC presents Willow Grove Park, a brand new luxury resort!
Mr. Spencer leads the crowd into a booming clap, though it’s slow to start as everyone whispers amongst each other. You can tell who is part of the insider knowledge by the excited whistles and shouts of happiness. But you can also tell who is weary of this change because of how quiet they remain.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Spencer speaks into the microphone again. “We will share more information soon enough, but I promise this is going to be the greatest thing to happen to this town. Now, enjoy your evening!” With a quick clap the classical music resumes at a louder volume. I watch along with everyone else as the Spencers, plus Camila, descend from the stage. The people greeting them with open arms and handshakes are clearly not from around here, if their perfectly tailored suits and shiny Rolexes are anything to go by.
These are the men and women who will benefit the most from this. Not the ones that continue to stare dumbfounded at the sign mocking us from the stage wall.
“Wait,” Piper says quietly, and I pull my gaze from Logan finally. Sound rushes back into my ears, almost flattening me out. “North ofhere? Isn’t that all Porter Agriculture land? They just expanded their dairy farm last year.”
“It was,” Jackson confirms.
