Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(30)

“I’ll be more aware now.” My line tugs, signaling a fish on the other end, and I wrestle with it, finally pulling it out of the water. Cary is waiting with the net. “Thanks, man.”

“I miss fishing,” he admits.

“What else do you miss?”

He smiles. “Your mama’s fried chicken.”

“Hell, I miss that,” I say with a laugh. “I’ll have to request it the next time I see her.”

“I miss my wife.” He stresses the my, and the smile falls from his lips. “My son.”

“They miss you, too.”

He tips his head to the side, and the sun disappears behind clouds. It gets even colder than it was before.

“It’s awfully convenient of you to worm your way into my spot there, don’t you think?”

“I’m not worming my way anywhere.”

“I’m out of the picture, and now you can take over my life? Maybe you pushed me into that tree well on purpose.”

“Fuck you,” I roar, standing from my chair and flipping it over. “You know that’s a load of bullshit.”

“And now you’re trying to be a daddy to my son. What, just because you’re loaded, you think you can be a better dad than me?”

“You’re not here,” I remind him. “And you were always jealous that Willa had eyes for me. That she was my girl first. Funny how as soon as I left town, you poached her.”

“That’s right,” he says with a smug smile. “And she fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.”

“You’re a dick.”

“Like looking in a mirror, ain’t it? So what, are you gonna marry her? Adopt my kid?”

“If I want to.”

“Just remember, I was there first. I’m Alex’s daddy. And at the end of the day, I’m the one Willa wishes was in her bed, in her body, making her moan.”

“I’m going to fucking kill you.”

I stomp after him, but he disappears. I’m still on the lake, but the ice is broken, floating on a current. There’s a whirlpool up ahead, sucking in everything that comes close to it.

I’m going to get swallowed.

I lay down, trying to paddle the other way, but it’s no use. I’m spinning now, hurtling out of control.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My alarm is going off, pulling me out of the worst nightmare of my life.

And I’ve had some doozies.

I rub my hands down my face and pad into the bathroom to start the shower. I’m covered in sweat.

And I can’t get warm.





Chapter Nine


Max


“YOU HEARD ME, I’m coming to Seattle.” I stand before my tall windows, staring out at the lake as the caterers hustle behind me, getting dinner set out for my family, who should be arriving anytime. “I’ll be in the office tomorrow. I need you to get the house open for me and arrange for the plane to be ready to go at six mountain time in the morning.”

“Will do,” Charles, my assistant, says. He’s been with me for about five years now. He works from Seattle where my main office is but can commute anywhere I need him at a moment’s notice. Since I sold a lot of the company, I rarely need him with me these days.

I have some new ideas brewing, however.

“Need anything else?” he asks.

“I’ll text if I think of anything,” I reply. “See you tomorrow.”

I end the call and turn in time to see Celia, the manager of Ciao, walking toward me with a clipboard. Celia is young and smart and runs a tight ship.

“I think everything’s set,” she says with a smile. “I just need a signature here.”

I don’t even glance at the bottom line, I just sign my name and pass it back to her. “Thanks for everything. It smells amazing.”

“It’s our pleasure, as always.”

She marches out with her team of three that came to help. They were in and out in twenty minutes.

I ordered three pans of lasagna, salad, and a massive amount of garlic bread. It’ll most likely be too much food, but I won’t have to worry about anyone leaving hungry.

I’ve been off all day. That’s the only way I can describe it. The dream freaked me out, even though I know it’s only a dream. It wasn’t real. Cary didn’t visit me to tell me that I’m a son of a bitch for having feelings for his wife and kid.

I know that.

But I feel guilty and weird all the same. So, it’s time to get away for a few days. Bury myself in some work, take a deep breath, and think.

I’ve already pulled out my overnight bag. I only take a few things with me since I have a home there with everything I need.

The doorbell rings, and I pull the door open to find Alex and Willa smiling at me. It’s like a stab to the heart.

“Your house is so big,” Alex says as he rushes past me inside, making me grin.

“Hello to you, too,” I say as Willa joins me, and I shut the door.

“It’s, like, huge,” Alex says, running to the windows and looking outside. “Mom! Look at the lake.”

“I see it, buddy.” She looks at me and shrugs. “We need to get out more.”

“It hadn’t occurred to me that he hasn’t been here before,” I admit. We always spend our time together at Willa’s house.