Page 56 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MORGAN
W e fall into light chatter and the tension is thick. I trust Pacey and I know him and his brothers wouldn't be doing this for fun... but he is right. The war needs to end. The war for land, the war for legacies that have been running for decades, the war to take something that isn't theirs.
Billionaires rock up to most remote places and want to tear down the nature around them just to replace it with a concrete city.
But for us, they want to build a ski slope and holiday village.
Orla is trying her best to put on a brave face, but every once in a while, I see her facade slip and the worry etches itself deep into her face.
My own worry teeters on the edge, pushing me that bit closer to be having a wobble but I remind myself he will be okay. They all will.
“I just want to say,” Aspen speaks up and everyone turns in her direction, “this food is delicious,” she licks her lips and reaches for her wine, holding it towards me.“To Morgan,” she chimes and everyone, including myself reaches for their glass and toasts the middle of the table.
“And...” Pacey sweeps in, his hand reaching for mine as he covers it, giving me a reassuring squeeze, “to family.”
My smile grows as I look at him, holding my glass towards his before we all meet our glasses into the middle of the table.
“To family,” everyone echoes.
Clearing dinner away, Aspen is on dish duty, Dixie is drying and I am scraping waste into the compost bin.
Orla is tucked away in the back room with her sons, Lainey is napping in her travel crib and we're all trying to make conversation when in truth, all we want to know is what the hell is going on.
“It's going to be bad isn't it...” I trail off as I lean back and see if I can hear any movement.
“I am praying not...” Dixie sighs and places the dish cloth down as she rubs her bump.
“These Rivera boys are tough as nails... it'll probably all be resolved over a whiskey and a chat.”
Dixie raises her brow and then shakes her head.
“This is the same group that killed your best friend,” she averts her gaze to Aspen, “and shot your husband,” she glowers at me, “not to mention shot my Tripp's horse and nearly crushed him to death.”
We both stay silent and I roll my lips, glancing over at Aspen who lets out a heavy sigh.
“We can keep pretending that this isn't scary and that we aren't worried...” she trails off as she begins drying the dishes again, “but let's face facts... we're all fucking terrified.”
My bottom lip trembles and I will not cry.
Pacey doesn't need me weak. Not now.
“I suggest we all spend the evening with them, reminding them how much they’re loved and maybe we can all spare a thought for our mother-in-law.
Her babies are putting themselves in the firing line to protect their homes.
.. she has no one to turn to.” Dixie's tone is assertive but not at all nasty.
She's petrified. We all are. But she is pregnant and due to drop in the next couple of months, her worry is skyrocketing out of the world and it's mine and Aspen's job to be there for her like she is being there for us.
“We have to trust they have planned this out, none of them are stupid enough to make a rushed decision. I know Pacey would have delicately marked this out on paper, covering every possibility of something going wrong,” and Aspen nods in agreement.
“Riggs will have sorted back up, they wouldn't go at this alone. Austin will be there too, Buck as well. Plus he has Marty,” and Dixie twists her face towards Aspen too quickly which gives her away in an instant.
“Has he not told you?” Dixie blinks a few times and twists her body to face her.
“Told me what?” Aspen's voice is panicked, and it doesn't matter how much she tries to play it cool, her body betrays her.
“Marty is behind this... and the puppet master?” Dixie tosses the dish cloth over her shoulder and breaks her gaze away. “My dad.”
My eyes widen and Aspen brings her hands to her mouth, her eyes widening as she lets Dixie's words sink in.
“What?” she whispers.
“Yeah, everything that happened, Harlow, Jorge...” she trails off, “it was all him,” and Dixie struggles to get the last words out.
“Fuck,” Aspen shakes her head in disbelief and I just stand a little awkward.
I heard what happened prior, but don't know enough to join into this conversation.
“I know,” Dixie sighs and then she walks over to Aspen and gives her a hug.
“I really do think everything will be okay, but we need to be realistic. Look how the wake went down after we were invited. It was all a play,” she gives Aspen one last squeeze then steps back and my eyes bounce between the both of them.
“But for what it is worth...” she trails off and looks over her shoulder, “Luke tipped them off about what's coming.”
“Luke, as in my ex-Luke?”
“Yeah,” she sighs, “he broke into Morgan and Pacey's looking for something...”
“That was your ex?” I stammer over my words and my throat thickens.
“Seems that way,” Aspen mumbles and I don't know if she is shocked or annoyed. She lifts her eyes and lets them settle on Dixie. “Why wouldn't he tell me?” and I watch as her throat bobs.
“Probably just wanted to protect you...” she says softly, and I nod my head.
“Pacey kept it from me too, but I am a little different... I had no idea who these people were before I met him.”Aspen sighs and Dixie gives her a sympathetic look.
“Don't be mad at him tonight... if anything,” she pauses, “take it out on him tonight,” her brows wiggle, “if you catch my drift, be mad at him tomorrow night when he is home and tucked up in your bed.”
Aspen nods and then glances over her shoulder.“I need a wine, Morgs? Want one?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” I throw my hands up and move across to where the bottle is and grab two fresh glasses.
“I'll just have a water,” Dixie moans, rolling her eyes.
“Not long sweetie, and you can have a big ol' glass.”
Dixie smiles, her hands cradling her bump.
“It's going so quick,” she looks between me and Aspen, “can't believe Lainey is going to be a big sister soon.”
“I can't believe I am going to have another baby to squish and love,” Aspen goes soppy as I fill her glass up.
“You'll get your baby soon,” Dixie says softly and Aspen just gives a heavy nod.
“It's just not our time yet.”
“It will be, soon.”
Aspen raises her hand, holding her glass up and we all move towards the living room and that's where we wait to be told what the plan of action is.