The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(52)

Folding the note Lana had left Ash into the worn creases where I’d opened and read it and then folded it again, I slipped it into my pocket. I didn’t go anywhere without it. Having it close to me reminded me that when I found her, I could fix this. She’d misunderstood and it was my fault. If I’d have opened my eyes and realized I was in love with the girl this wouldn’t have happened. Unfortunately, Lana hadn’t known. She thought I still loved Ash.

“Sawyer, you ready?” my dad called from the foyer. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave Grove. What if she came back and I was gone? Besides, how the hell was I supposed to concentrate enough to throw a football? This week was going to be a disaster.

“Coming Dad,” I called back. I grabbed my phone so I could look again at the picture Ash had texted me from our trip to the mountains. Lana had been hiking up the rocks toward the waterfall in Cheaha and Ash had snapped a picture of her just as she’d glanced back laughing. It was the only picture I had of her. I’d had it printed and framed so I could keep it by my bed. Some nights staring at it was the only thing that kept me going. I slipped my phone into my pocket. I had my note and my picture. It would have to get me through the next few days.

When I got to the bottom of the steps, Ethan was standing in the foyer talking to my dad. His eyes met mine and something felt off. There was something I was missing.

“Ethan?”

He shuffled his feet, “Hey Sawyer I, uh, forgot you were heading out today.”

I hadn’t been to a field party, or anywhere else for that matter, since Lana left me. “Yeah, practice is starting up.”

“I came by to ask you something but it can wait until you get back.”

“You’re here now, might as well ask.” God help him if he asked me if Lana was available. I’d break his damn neck.

“Uh, it’s about Lana,” he began.

I looked over at my dad, “Can you give us a sec, Dad?”

Frowning, my father nodded and grabbed one of my bags and before heading outside.

“What about Lana?” I asked, making sure he heard the warning in my words.

Ethan sighed, “Not sure how to ask this,” he began.

“I’d choose my words carefully, bro,” I replied.

He nodded, “Yeah, I’m getting that loud and clear.” Clearing his throat, he shifted his feet again. “Do you, uh, love her? Lana, that is.”

The fact he’d felt the need to clarify it was Lana he was asking about pissed me off. I didn’t like her being compared to Ashton. She was so much more than what I’d had with Ashton. There was no comparison.

“Yes,” I clipped out.

“I mean, do you love her more than—”

“Don’t you f**king say it,” I snarled. That was a cliff Ethan didn’t want to step off. Ethan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Okay. I get it,” he backed away and moved toward the door.

“That’s all you wanted to say? Find out if Lana was available? You know she left me right? No one can find her.”

Ethan swallowed hard and shook his head slowly, “Uh, no, I mean I heard something. I wasn’t sure.”

“I gotta go if that’s all you needed.”

Ethan turned and headed out the front door. “Good luck in Florida. I’ll uh, see ya when you get back. Looking forward to hearing about it. The rest of us are going to have to live vicariously through you and Beau now. Since our football days are over.”

His voice was still tense but I could tell he was trying to calm me down. If I was a good friend, I’d apologize. Right now, I couldn’t. I’d do that next time I saw him. Slipping my hand in my pocket, I rubbed Lana’s letter gently between my fingers. I had to find her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lana

My freckles were just getting worse. SPF 80 wasn’t even helping. Sure, my skin wasn’t red but my freckles were getting a tan. Not something I wanted. Even so, this was good therapy. Laying out here in my safe shaded area made me feel like I was hidden from the world. I was hidden from everyone who had the power to hurt me. Too bad it was a fleeting thing. I’d have to leave at the end of the month and head back to Alpharetta and my mother. I did not want to think about that. Facing her, after hiding away for over a month, would be difficult. But I was still checking in.

She kept trying to get me to talk about Sawyer. It always ended with me hanging up. I figured she’d eventually stop it. Maybe when we got the wedding invitation from Ashton in a few years she’d finally let go of her hopes that Sawyer Vincent was interested in me. My stomach rolled and I fought off the sick feeling that thought instigated.

“Lana?” A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts and I shifted around to see Ethan standing behind the chair where Jewel normally lounged. in She wasn’t here today. She’d taken off on a shoe-buying splurge.

“Ethan?” I replied in shock. I hadn’t expected to see him again.

“Hey, uh, sorry to just show up but you can’t exactly be reached by phone these days.”

Oh. He’d tried to call. That surprised me. “It’s okay. Do you want to sit down?”

He looked down at the chair beside me and thought about it a minute before he walked around and took a seat. He must intend to stay awhile.

“So, what’s this about? Is there something you wanted to tell me?”