Page 38 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

“Then he deleted it,” Austin says bluntly.

“That snake,” I slam my hand down on the desk and Austin jumps.

“Calm it,” Austin lowers his voice, his eyes drifting over his shoulder.“You could be jumping...” he trails off as he faces me.

“Really?” my brows raise and he nibbles on the inside of his lip.

“Or you're right on the money and you have every right to be suspicious.”

I sigh, scrubbing at my face again, this time a little harder than before.

“Do you think he killed Conrad?” I ask him as bluntly as intended.

Austin sighs, waiting a moment before he answers. I feel like a shitty friend asking him things like this when he is going through his own grief.

But he worked closely with Marty. If it was a year ago, I would have been having this conversation with Riggs.

My question bounces around in his mind, but his eyes are steady as they pin to me.

“No,” the response slips from his lips quickly, and I wonder if the word tasted bitter on his tongue.

“Out of towner?” and I get a shrug of a shoulder as he slips back into the chair, kicking his boots onto my desk.

“Maybe,” hands in his lap, thumbs resting over the top of each.

“This is not helping me,” I groan, sitting back in my own chair, tilting my head to the side.

“You're the sheriff, isn't it your job to work out who did what?” and I don't miss the slight venom that laced his tone, but I ignore it.

I chose not to respond, just give him a roll of the eyes.

“I didn't mean...”

I hold my hand up and shake my head

“You don't need to say a word more.”

Guilt flashes across his eyes and I know better than to act out on his impulsive words.

He is bitter at everyone.

The world included.

He lost a great love, yet everyone else is moving on around him and finding the second half of themselves.

But not Austin.

He is stuck here, in this permanent hell.

Silence crackles around the hostile room and as the seconds slip past, the more the agitation is nipping at the base of my neck.

“Check that number,” Austin says when he lets his boots drop from the desk then pushes away, standing.

His eyes cast down to me, my lips twitch and there is so much more that could be said, but neither of us breathe a word.

I give him a soft nod.

“See you tonight, yeah?”

Swallowing, I nod again.

Honestly, I was in no mood to go out drinking with anyone other than Morgan, but I'll smile and stay quiet and let my thoughts fade into the abyss whilst everyone around me enjoys themselves.

He doesn't say another word before he walks out and leaves me sitting in my own silence.

I only agreed to go out tonight because Morgan asked. She wanted to give our new neighbors a warm welcome, but after the week I have had, I could do with just nursing a whiskey at home by myself.

Sighing, I slip my phone across the desk and unlock it, opening it up and looking at the number I jotted down.

I debate whether I should call it or try and find Marty, to speak to him and find out whether I should push for a little more information. See if he trips himself up when it comes to Conrad.

He knows something.

The more I think about it, the more I realize he is yanking our chain.

He is—or was—the closest thing to Riggs until Riggs pushed him to become livestock commissioner.

He has the governor in his pocket, he knows who runs where and who's pushing what livestock.

But then so do we.

Marty is a good way in with the suits, he can tell them everything that is going on and we wouldn't even know it.

They say keep your friends close, your enemies closer, well this might be the case when it comes to Marty.

Glancing out the window, I let my mind drift for a moment.

I could have this all wrong, maybe it's just because I am so desperate to find who killed Conrad and who the mole could be that all roads lead to him.

Sure, I had my suspicions, and I thought it was Conrad but look how wrong I was there? Maybe I needed to take a step back and just let everything settle.

There is no point jumping the gun.

I could go for Marty and be blindsided by who was actually orchestrating.

Because let’s be honest, Marty is probably the puppet.

Snapping away from my thoughts, I pick the papers up and slip them back into the manilla envelope, closing the tie and slipping it inside my drawer.

That's enough conspiracy for one day.

Waking my computer up, I check my admin and lose myself for an hour or two before I am packing up my desk and locking it for the weekend.

Driving my truck home, my mind drifts to Morgan. The way she lights up my world in a way I couldn't even explain, even if I wanted to I don't think I would have the words to describe it.

Aspen made me feel things, but she was my first, and your first love is always the one that makes you grow, helps you learn... Aspen definitely did that.

Soft country music fills the cab of the truck and my long finger drums against the steering wheel as my eyes cast over to Crooked Creek.

Memories flash in front of my eyes of our childhood, the way we spent hours outside, causing trouble but most importantly having fun, being kids, doing everything we shouldn't.

But then we grew and as teens, we thought we knew everything. We thought we were adults and how stupid were we to think that.

My chest aches, and I suck in a deep breath as prom night flicks through my mind, playing out like a home movie.

Sitting in my room, my fingers locked as I heard my dad shouting at Riggs. I had no idea why he treated him differently, but for whatever reason he did. We all knew it. We all could see it but none of us stood up and said something.

The sound of heavy footsteps float away and I sit, waiting for my bedroom door to open. Riggs always comes in here when it gets too much with Dad. Kind of like his escape I suppose.

The door handle goes, and I see the worn work boot and I know it's my dad.

“All okay?” I ask, eyes lifting slowly and I know that it's not okay. I just heard what had gone on and my dad had broken Riggs' heart in three seconds flat.

I knew how excited he was about tonight, we all did. Me and Tripp were laughing because he was so nervous and wanted it all to be perfect.

We knew that Riggs crushed on Aspen but would never act on it because she was Austin's kid sister, but once she admitted that she had feelings for him, well, all bets were off, lines were about to be crossed.

“Get your tuxedo on,” my dad doesn't even look at me, just grunts and nods towards my closet.

“Why?” I act dumb because I am in disbelief that he would be so cruel.

“Because you're taking Aspen Warren to prom,” he says bluntly, and I feel the air whoosh from my lungs.

“But,” I don't have a chance to finish my sentence because he cuts me off.

“No buts, you're taking her.”

“Dad...” I stand, not to protest but maybe to get him to reconsider his decision.

“Get dressed Pacey, this is happening. I will not have Riggs ruin what I have with Buck. I will not have him break her heart and jeopardize what I have worked so hard for...” he trails off for a moment and that's when his eyes skate to mine. “Get dressed.”

He steps back, closing the door behind him and my chest aches.

I know how much he wanted this, and my dad has taken that away from him because he is fucking selfish.

My fists ball by my side and I squeeze my eyes shut as I try and calm my racing heart.

A soft knock on the door has me unclenching and I inhale heavily.

“Come in.”

Sighing in soft relief when I see my ma.

“Pacey,” her head tilts and I can see the anguish on her face.

I shake my head from side to side, dropping my eyes to the floor.

Her soft, warm hands are on the side of my face as she lifts me up to look at her.

“I feel awful,” I whisper as a tear runs down my cheek and I feel like an asshole because I have always liked Aspen, but I love my brother and knowing that I am taking this night away from him doesn't sit right with me.

“He'll understand,” she tries to make me feel better as I roll my lips.

“I don't think he will ma,” I admit, sadness dropping from my tone.

She pats my cheek then thumbs a tear away.

“Now get dressed my sunshine boy, Aspen will be waiting,” and I see her sad smile which crushes me even more.

Letting my face drop just as she steps back, I wait for her to leave the room and only when I know she is gone, do I pull myself together and get dressed for tonight.

I should be happy.

I get to take the girl of my dreams to prom.

And maybe, just maybe... she might realize that she likes me how I like her.

Once dressed, I walk cautiously down the hallway, passing Riggs' room and the urge to go in there and make sure he is okay has me opening his bedroom door.

He is sitting in the dark and I can just about make out his silhouette.

“Riggs,” I call out, my voice timid and I have no idea why, but nerves are swirling in my stomach.

“Just go,” he says exasperated.

“But I ? — “

“Pace, please,” and I hear the crack in his voice.

I nod, fingers tightening around the doorknob.

“Just promise you give her the best night, do whatever she wants, give her a prom night to remember,” he squeezes out and I find myself nodding.

“I will,” I whisper and wait for a response, but he says nothing. “I'm sorry Riggs.”

He stays silent.

So, I step back and close the door softly behind me. Turning, I walk downstairs and see my ma standing at the bottom, looking proud and my heart throbs.

Tripp doesn't look at me, just scoffs in disgust as he sits in the living room, back to me.

“Ignore him,” my dad says as he grabs the lapels of my jacket and tugs down. “Have fun, be safe.”

He pats my cheek, and I reply with a nod.

Mom places a small flower in my boutonniere, before handing me a corsage for Aspen. My eyes fall and I look at the pretty flower that matches my boutonniere and my heart thrums a little faster in my chest. She kisses me on the cheek, and I return it with a smile.