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The call clicks dead, but the echo of his threat lingers like smoke in my lungs. And I already know I’ll go. Because I can’t let him anywhere near Eden.
I’ll sort this out, pay him off, and come home to my wife. Because I’m tired of being tainted by the ghosts of my past.
EDEN
It’s amazing how as soon as you have a diamond on your finger, the whole world seems to act like it’s 1953. Because right now I’m surrounded by a group of women in the coffee shop, cooing at my held out hand, asking me about carats and clarity and another c-word that I’ve already forgotten.
“What do you think, Mylene?” Autumn asks. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“I think marriage is for chumps,” Mylene replies. “Now are you going to order or what?”
I exchange amused glances with Autumn, who’s delighted I agreed to meet her for coffee. Even though the only reason I’m here is because West had to go to a meeting on the mainland.
“I guess you won’t be coming to the bachelorette party then,” Autumn says to Mylene.
“Is the other person going?” Mylene asks and we all know who she’s talking about, since she refuses to say Eileen’s name.
“She’s invited, just like you are,” Autumn replies. “And we’ll take two iced lattes please.”
Mylene mutters something under her breath and turns to the coffee machine. When she’s done, she hands us our coffees and the pastries Autumn’s ordered, and we head to a booth.
“So,” Autumn says, grinning as she slides in. “I know something you don’t know.”
I sigh and sip my coffee. “Spill it.”
“Zach is coming back for the bachelor party. Asher told him to be here.”
My stomach dips. Three brothers against West isn’t fair. Hudson’s thawing, but Asher is still as furious as ever. And Zach will have questions. “What about Wyatt?” I ask, hoping it won’t be all four that West is up against.
“Sadly he can’t get away.Yet. But this is going to be so much fun.” She actually claps her hands together, just as the bell above the door rings.
Sadie walks in, the breeze from the door lifting her red hair. She grins as soon as she spots me.
“Hey! I hear you got engaged,” she says, walking over. “Congratulations.”
“Married,” Autumn corrects her smoothly. “She has been for months. She just didn’t tell us.”
“Married?” Sadie looks between us, her brows arching. “Then why’d you invite me to her bachelorette? Isn’t that back to front?”
“Because this is Liberty and we never miss the opportunity to have a good party,” Autumn says.
Sadie laughs, shaking her head. “Well this could be interesting. Count me in.” She waves as she heads to the counter, and Autumn leans in, conspiratorial.
“See? It’s going to be perfect. We can get Sadie drunk and find out why she’s really sworn off relationships.”
The bell over the door rings again, and Bennett ambles in, hood up, still looking half-asleep. He spots us and heads right over, swiping one of Autumn’s pastries before she can slap his hand away.
“Hey.” He sits down next to us, and Autumn frowns at him.
“We’re having girl talk,” she tells him.
“Go ahead. My mom used to do it all the time.” He waves at us. “I’ll just listen.”
“Bennett! I’m serious.” Autumn clucks at him.
“West told me to keep an eye on Eden, so I am.” He shrugs, unapologetic, biting into the pastry like it’s his duty snack.
My chest warms and pinches all at once. Of course West did. He’s always worrying about me. And let’s face it, he probably gave Bennett the job to get him off his own back.
