Page 12 of Westward

I did love this town, and I knew the people here loved me right back. But sometimes they were as subtle as a hammer.

And as I looked up towards where the Ashford family stood, I knew exactly why people were whispering.

Atlas and Callum stood close together, laughing with one another, both broad-shouldered with narrowed hips. Callum was slightly taller, his arms just an inch longer. Perhaps that’s what was needed as a tight end. I didn’t watch football often. I only had for Callum’s team when he had been playing. No, I was a hockey girl.

Was being the operative word.

Atlas’s profile was to me, and I did my best not to study the long line of his jaw, the scar on his right brow that still haunted me. There was an Instagram account about that stupid brow, and while most people joked that it must be Atlas running it, I knew it wouldn’t be him. No, Atlas didn’t like every single part of notoriety.

At least not the Atlas I knew.

Then I noticed what he’d added to his looks, and I barely held back a groan.

When Atlas and I were sixteen, I had wanted a second piercing of my ears. My parents had been adamant that I was not allowed to. So I had gone to Atlas’s parents and tried to plead my case.

I didn’t do that often, but sometimes my parents’ age was a factor in the decisions that they made. If it had been for a reason that made sense, I wouldn’t have asked Atlas’s mom for help. But my parents hadn’t thought a woman should have a choice about something like that. That a second ear piercing was one step closer to hard drugs. It wasn’t lady-like.

I resisted the urge once again to roll my eyes at that.

So Atlas’s mom had talked with mine, and somehow my parents had seen the light. I had gone in for my piercings, and Atlas had sat right beside me, at the tattoo shop in Denver, one of the town’s favorites. And then, with a wink at his mom, who let out a long sigh, he got his ears pierced as well.

Just small studs, and every single girl—and a few of the boys—in school had swooned at the sight of him.

He didn’t wear them while playing, and I thought they had closed up over time. But now he had small silver hoops, just subtle ones that didn’t even glint under the light, and I hated him.

He was not allowed to continue looking so damn hot. Not when it was hard enough to be in this town with him around.

“Are your parents coming?” Teagan asked as we shifted towards the group.

I looked down at my phone and nodded. “Yes. They said that they were going to make it here on their own.” I let out a sigh. “I tried to tell them that I would drive them here, but God forbid my dad not make it to the town hall on his own, like the adult he is.”

Teagan winced. “I don’t have any experience with aging parents, but I do with stubborn men.” She gave a pointed look to her many brothers, who were now surrounding them. “If you need any help, let me know.”

I squeezed Teagan’s hands because I knew that slight comment about parents might not sound significant, but to the Ashfords, it was.

Years ago, the town had been founded, and the Ashfords had been one of the main families. The town lore was that the patriarch of the Ashford family had paved his way. But as generations had grown, so had the mystery.

Once, the Ashfords had been town royalty. And then Teagan’s father had come along. A murderer, a bastard, and the town drunk. He’d hurt his children, my friends. And while some of them had gotten out, some hadn’t. But now he was dead. And his adult children were prospering.

“Hey there, Elizabeth.” Rune wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed, and I turned into him, hugging him right back.

“I thought you would be working.”

“The mayor asked me to be at this one because we have a few things to go over.” The roughness in his voice told me that he had tried to back out and failed. The grumpy man sure loved this town but hated town activities. Too bad he owned the Summit Grill, and therefore, as a proprietor, had to participate often.

“By the way, is Will doing well?” I asked. There was no use in being subtle. Rune and many of the town understood that I thought of my students as my ducklings, and I wanted them to fly away and find their futures.

“He’s doing great.” Rune’s smile looked genuine. “He’s as grumpy as I am sometimes, but he can handle being flustered when we’re busy. I’m glad I’m going to have him for this summer. Even though he won’t tell me what he’s going to do next fall.”

I winced. “I don’t know either. Not fully. I don’t think he has a support system, and he won’t let me help. There’s a guidance counselor, but there’s only so much she can do.”

Rune gave me a tight nod. “Okay, then. I will do what I can to see what his plans are. I can out-grump him.”

“Now that’s a sentence that I believe,” Atlas said as he came forward, only a slight limp evident. He elbowed his brother, and Rune slapped Atlas on the back of the head.

“Hey, nearly a minor concussion here.”

I sucked in a breath, unaware I had done so until Atlas looked at me, his eyes going kind.