The hairs on the back of my neck soldier to attention. The way my cousin says the lambicorn’s name with obvious distaste, his lack of respect for this land, this town—all of it settles into my bones like dust over water.
This feels familiar, like somewhere deep inside the shell I call a body, there lives a place where I would align with this—where distaste of lambicorns and indifference to the land make sense.
The lambicorn approaches Rhett, who ignores him. Hercules, obviously sensing this is someone who is not of the same ilk asus, lifts his nose and trots over to me to be stroked.
It’s lambicorn versus my cousin—a toss-up on who will win this outcome.
“And what about that ragtag crew you’ve got out there?” Rhett adds. “Looks like you picked them up from a shelter.”
My hackles lift. “Most of those people needed jobs and I gave them one. They’re hard workers. They’re not stealing or doing drugs on-site. They’re making up for lost time.”
“Whoareyou?” he asks honestly.
For that, I don’t have an answer, because everything Rhett says suggests I’m not the man he knows—a cold, shallow person who doesn’t care about lambicorns.
“And what about that chick? She’s no blond bombshell. She looks brainy. Not your usual romp in the hay.”
“Maybe it’s more than a romp.”
He scoffs.
My shoulders fall because Rhett has confirmed my biggest fear. I was shallow, self-centered. Someone I don’t recognize now.
Which means, maybe ... maybe I don’t deserve the good things in my life.
“Listen.” My cousin drums his fingers on the chair’s arm. “We’re over budget, behind schedule, and you’re making changes that haven’t been approved by me or Pane. What’s gotten into you? The Stone Maddox I know would never jump ship like this for some bullshit eco-materials no one’s heard of.”
“Maybe I’ve changed,” I snarl.
Rhett glares at me. “That’s all I need to know.”
He rises and turns to leave. I follow.
My cousin throws open the door and steps into the bright Georgia sunshine.
Coco is outside, pretending to study her phone. But the worry lines on her face reveal she heard everything.
Rhett turns to me. “When I tell your brother you need to be removed from this site, he’ll listen. Unless you’ve got some great reason as to why you should remain here, you’re done.” He shakes his head in disgust. “In only a matter of weeks you’ve single-handedly destroyed our budget, killed our profit margin, and ruined this resort.”
I curl my hands into fists. To hell with the profit margins. We might go over a little here, but we’ll make up the difference on the back end, when business starts booming.
Rhett holds up a finger. “Just one good reason why I shouldn’t pull you off this build today—that’s all I’m asking for. Otherwise, your name won’t be on this or any project after. You better hope there’s enough money in your trust fund to keep you secure until you die.”
There are a million reasons to give him, but only one matters. Not the resort. Not the money. Not even the man I used to be.
“Her,” I say as Coco looks up. “I shouldn’t be removed because of her.”
“What?” my cousin asks.
“All of this—the changes, being behind schedule—I’ve done all of it for her.”
Coco looks over, eyes bright as a doe’s. “For me?”
“For you,” I say, opening my arms wide.
Then I cross over to her and take her hand. In the distance, the ley lines thrum strongly.
They’re not weak anymore—they’re thriving. And when I squeeze Coco’s hand, they glow even brighter.
