Another round of stunted silence crops up, only this time it’s attributed to Lexy’s bizarreoutburst.
“Iknow.” Lexy’s arm spikes into the air as if we were back in school. Although, I can’t recall a single class in which Lexy was so eager to participate. “We’ll throw aparty!”
Bree gasps as if it were the best idea. “A goodbye to the bowling alley bash!” Brielle is always quick to board any crazy train that has the remote possibility of a good time. “We practically grew up in this place. We need to give it a propersendoff.”
The room fills with a light buzz before Lexy clears her throat. “We’ll do a theme party, somethingretro.”
“Great Gatsby!” Michelle is suddenly onboard. “All the guys can sport zoot suits and submachineguns.”
“No guns.” I grimace at the thought. With all the feds crawling up my ass, I’m pretty sure high-powered assault replicas aren’t the bestidea.
“Logan hates that idea,” Lex is quick toreprimand.
Skyla bites down on her lip as if she’s about to cry. “I’m going to miss thisplace.”
“It will be back. And it will be better. It’s only leaving temporarily.” I swallow hard because a part of me feels as if we just took a sideline and we were suddenly talking about ourselves. It’s selfish of me to think so, considering the fact I love her husband just as much as she does, sans the sexualnature.
Laken raises her hand to her chin briefly, and I nod to her. “How about an ’80s dance? That was sort of a wild decade, and the music will be fun. Not that I should have any say in itbut—”
Bree huffs so loud I half-expect her to lunge across the room and deck her. “Darn right you shouldn’t have a say in it. This is for the true people of Paragon, not some outsider who’s been around for like fiveminutes.”
“Bree,” I bark so loud my voice manages to echo on a loop. “Laken and Coop are family. Get along or get out.” There. I’ve asserted my bullish authority twice in one day—making me feelandlook like twice the asshole I was five minutes ago. I glance to Skyla, and she gives a furtivenod.
Bree’s face slaps pink. “For your information,weare family, Logan Oliver. We may not be blood, but this island and all of its milkshake muddy waters are running through your veins just like they aremine.”
A part of me wants to correct her. There is not a damn thing running through my veins these days other than the dangerous affection of Candace Messenger. But I offer a kind smile to my old friendinstead.
“Yes, Bree. We are family,indeed.”
“So, why isn’t Chloe here?” Brielle demands. “She’s family, too, you know. I can’t stand the way everyone’s ostracized her for the last five years—and for what? For getting herself kidnapped? No one has ever treated her the same since she’s comeback.”
Half the room turns to stare at Brielle Landon, nee Johnson. It’s as if nothing that’s happened in the timeframe she’s allotted has truly penetrated her mind. Bree has her own truths, and she sticks by them. She never had to exonerate Chloe of a damn thing because she never believed in anything other than some fantasy version ofher.
Lexy growls at Brielle for me. “Chloe isn’t here because Logan hates her guts. Everyone basically hates her, and if you need a bullet point reminder on why—catch me when I have a free twenty-four hours because that’s how long the list is. Logan Oliver can’t stand the witch. That’s enough for me, and that should be enough for you. And for the record, I hate her,too.”
A dull smile rides on my lips. Lexy doesn’t hate Chloe. She’s merely saying it to impress me, and in truth it might be working. Letting the bowling alley go has left my ego severely bruised, and anyone who wishes to stroke it iswelcome.
“For the record”—Skyla raises her hand a moment before wrapping it back around that beautiful baby in her arms—“I don’t mind Chloe so much.” Her mouth contorts unnaturally as she says it because it’s a bald-face lie, and we all knowit.
Brielle slaps her hands together. “About damn time my besties pull ittogether!”
Shit. “An ’80s party it is.” I take a deep breath. “Any of you are welcome to commandeerit.”
“I’ll be in charge.” Lexy demands more than she asks. “How’s a few weeks sound? Maybe middle ofMarch?”
“How about the Ides of March?” I say it with a nod. “It soundsappropriate.”
Lex gives a deafening clap. “Set your calendars, bitches. This is going to be one party you will neverforget.”
The baby in Gage’s arms starts to fuss, and one by one the small crowd settles into conversations amongstthemselves.
Liam comes over and clasps his hand over my shoulder. “You know I’m in. This is our endeavor.” He winces. “I’m not stepping on your toes, though. I’m still one hundred percent behind this decision. The bowling alley is your baby. I’ll settle for the title of silent partner. Just keep me in the loop.” He frowns out at the bodies before us. “Maybe ahead of everyone else next time. Besides, I’m starting to line things up formyself.”
“Such as?” I hope to God Ellis hasn’t hit him up to run his impending hookahparlor.
“Construction.OliverConstruction. I’ve been taking night courses ever since I came back. Hopefully by the end of spring I’ll have my contractor’slicense.”
A part of me breathes a sigh of relief that he is in no way certified to help me out at the moment. I’m counting on an entire host of certified professionals to piece this place back together—and quickly atthat.
