Page 115 of Wayward

The door slams when I’m in the middle of a report.

Dante sinks into an oversized leather chair opposite me. “You wanted to have a meeting?”

“Yeah. Zane and Haley should be home soon.” When we moved farther away from their school, I wanted to arrange for them to have a car service or at least buy them parking, but they both insist on taking the bus.

Dante leans back, his fingers drumming on the armrest. “All right, what’s this about? You’ve been edgy all week.”

I take a deep breath, setting my laptop aside. “I’ve been thinking about our future. All of us. We’ve been in Pittsburgh for a while now, and I know we’ve talked about going back to Miami, but?—”

Dante’s eyebrows shoot up, and he stands. “But what? You want to stay here? Not to jump too hard into a no, but fucking no.” His nose crinkles, and he holds the side of his head. It’s the same way he did the day I tried to fill in for a sick cook on his truck. “I grew up here. And if there was one thing I didn’t want, it was to stay here.” He blinks twice. “Fuck.” His shoulders drop.

“Dante?”

“I mean fuck in a good way. I hate to admit it, and I’m never going to say it again, but I kind of like it here. I like knowing the neighborhoods and having people I’ve known since I was anasshole teenager come and eat my food. Shit. I actually like it here.” He flops back into the chair.

Before I can respond, the sound of the front door opening catches our attention. Zane and Haley walk in, their laughter filling the room. They’re both dressed casually, Haley in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, her hair slightly windswept, and Zane in his usual dark jeans and a fitted tee.

“Have you started talking?” she asks.

“Yes and no.” Dante’s eyes flare. “I’ll go get the Viking.” He takes the stairs up two at a time.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Zane asks, taking a seat on the arm of the sofa next to me. Haley slides in next to me. Sam closes his computer and moves over. The stairs creak, and soon we’re sitting in a circle.

My throat goes dry. “I’ve done two things. And I hope none of you are mad.”

“That depends what they are,” Dante answers.

“Right, I sold Rockwell Tire. It will be announced tomorrow.”

“Whoa, Rocky and Em . . . ?” Haley asks.

“I got their blessing, of course, first.”

There are nods around the room.

“Congrats.” Calvin slaps me on my back. “But did you think we were going to be upset or something? That’s your money. Do what you want with it.”

There’s more nodding.

“Right, mate. What’s the second thing?” Zane crosses his leg over his knee.

“That one is a present of sorts. I’ve made a trust with the money. And the trust has made a purchase.” I take the envelope out of my bag on the floor. “Here, Haley, you open it.”

Zane leans forward, brows furrowed like he’s trying to read the future through the envelope. Calvin props his elbows on hisknees. Even Sam is quiet, waiting. Haley’s hands tremble just slightly as she slips her finger under the flap.

She licks her lips. “I feel like I’m on an award show with all of you watching.”

“You’ll be graduating soon. And Zane’s able to take classes online?—”

Haley’s eyes bulge. “Is this . . .” She turns the page to the map and holds it out for everyone to see. “Did you buy our island?”

“I did.”

“Shut the front door.” Haley jumps. “This is . . . this is fantastic.” Her voice cracks, and I see it—tears she tries to blink away. “I didn’t think we’d ever get back there,” she says softly. “It was ours, but it never felt real. Not until now.”

“And after you’ve graduated, we can take a trip.” I pull her into a hug.

“I can’t wait,” she says into my shoulder.