Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(87)

“Neither the fuck are you. So that’s it, isn’t it? You don’t want to ask her to stay. And with how insane Travis has been about her leaving here, I get it. I know she has a big opportunity back there. But why not ask her? Let her make that decision for herself.”

“Because she’ll feel bad. It’s who she is. She wants to take care of the people she loves, and I won’t be an obligation. What, so she can resent me in twenty years? No. If she wanted to be here, she’d tell Travis to fuck off, and she’d be here. She’s excited for this opportunity, and she deserves that.”

“Do you remember how I said I’d be staying in Los Angeles after vet school? I’d enjoyed city living, and I had no intention of coming home.”

“I remember.” I nodded.

“But things change, Hugh. You came back to help Dad, and you don’t regret it. And I found myself deep in diaper duty and not doing exactly what I thought I’d be doing. And guess what?” he asked.

“What?”

“I wouldn’t change a fucking thing. I may have lost Presley all those years ago and managed to fuck that up. But I got a second chance the day Gracie was born. And I’d move to a deserted island if it meant she’d be happy. So, I changed course. I came home, and I don’t regret it. It’s okay to change your mind. You did. Maybe she will, too.”

I looked away as I thought it over.

She wouldn’t.

Lila James had always known what she wanted, and she went after it.

“All right, I appreciate you talking this through with me. I’m going to enjoy these last two weeks with her, and I’ll move on once I know she’s settled and happy.”

“That’s the plan?” he asked, looking completely disgusted.

“That’s the plan. Don’t judge it, brother.”

“Fine. I’ll be here when you realize you fucked up.” He shrugged as we both pushed to our feet.

“And this stays between us? I don’t need Georgie and Brinks in my business.”

“Of course. I’m a vault,” he said.

“Thanks. All right, I’m going to head home. How about you?”

“Gracie is sleeping at Mom and Dad’s tonight. I’m going to meet a friend for a drink at the bar.”

“I’ll bet you are. I’ll call you tomorrow,” I said.

“Yep. Thanks for dinner.”

I gave him one of those half-bro hugs and clapped him on the back before heading out the back door. I’d left my truck at the house, and it was a nice night to walk home.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I saw a text from Lila.

Snow



Hey. Just left my dad’s and got back to the house. You want to meet me at the cove for a little skinny dipping and a trip down memory lane? <winky face emoji>





I chuckled.

Hell, yeah. On my way now. And this time, you won’t be grinding on my dick. You’ll be riding it.





Lila



Promises. Promises. I’m almost there. <eggplant emoji>





Just as I slipped my phone into my back pocket, it buzzed again. I continued walking toward the cove and looked down, surprised that this text wasn’t from Lila.

Cage



Hugh’s in love, and he’s too much of a <cat emoji> to do anything about it.





Georgia



Awww… Did Hughey finally admit his feelings?





Finn



Is he in love with Mrs. Runither or Lila?





Brinkley



I’m guessing Mrs. Runither, right? <laughing emoji>





What happened to you being a vault, dickhead?





Cage



There are no secrets between the Reynolds siblings, right? And if I can’t get through to you over the next two weeks, then hopefully one of these fools will be able to make you see the light.





Finn



There are no secrets between said fools? Should I tell Hugh that you’re the one who told Mom that he wanted a journal last Christmas so he could document his feelings every night?





Cage



No. That one was actually supposed to stay in the vault, you loose-lipped bastard. And it made Mom happy. I swear Hugh got hives when she pulled him aside and told him how proud of him she was that he was getting in touch with “all those feelings.” #winningthesiblinggame





I thought it was Brinks who pulled that one. You’re just scoring all the points tonight, brother. #onceadickheadalwaysadickhead





Brinkley



Hey, Cage, since we’re confessing… Georgie was the one who scraped all the paint off your fancy, black Lexus last year, and we let you think it was one of the Wilson teens.





Georgia



Why are we confessing? It was better to let him be disgusted by “some loser, stoner teenager” than to know his sister doesn’t like to look over her right shoulder when she backs out of the driveway.