Page 39 of In Your Wake

I groan, shaking my head, and sit down in the chair opposite him. “Don’t start.”

“That bad, eh?”

“I said don’t start,” I reply more sharply.

With a light chuckle, he raises his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. So, how long are you in town for?”

“Not sure. I figured I’d help with the brewery, but you two seem to have it under control.” I stare out to sea, then tilt my head back, enjoying the warm sunlight on my face. “I’ll stick around a little longer for Dad.”

Turns out the new medication only gave my dad a brief reprieve from his illness and it returned with a vengeance this morning. His skin was gray, actually gray, as if life was slowly draining from his body. Mom suggested he sit in the sun, get some vitamin D, but my dad gave her the same look I did—the look I give Maxine. We understand what’s happening. What they’re denying.

“The vibe in that house is sucking the life from me,” I admit, then cringe, realizing my shitty choice of words. “You know what I mean.”

Without judgment, Spencer nods, his eyes kind and understanding. “You’re welcome to crash here if you want. We’ve got the extra space.”

“What, and hear you two fucking all day long? No thanks.” I could probably picture myself staying in the house by the sea, but I wouldn’t dare intrude on him and Bethany.

He laughs, sipping his drink. “Not all day. We do work sometimes,” he says with a wink.

“Noted.” I allow myself to laugh, and it feels sort of good. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Still rich and famous,” he answers dryly, telling me they’re probably in the middle of one of their frequent spats. They love each other to death, but Spencer shares his mother’s arrogance, which often keeps them from getting along. “And she reminds me daily that she’s responsible for Bee being in my life. So, as she says, I owe her.”

He sinks into his lounge chair with a sigh, then offers me a tight smile. Marilyn isn’t wrong, though. Turns out the day she hired Bethany to be his assistant was the best day of Spencer’s life. Despite his flippant attitude, he knows how lucky he is to have such a woman in his life.

“And you’re really not going back to California?”

His cheeks lift into a soft smile, something I’ve rarely ever seen on him. “I’m not. I’m staying here. I’ll go out there to check in on things, but mostly, I can work remotely. Plus, Bee loves her job at the paper, and I hate being away from her for too long. So, yeah, it’s better for us.”

Born a celebrity to his movie star mother and media mogul father, Spencer’s bachelor lifestyle meant he hated his summers in Oakwhite Bay. He would always dream of one day escaping it, which is why seeing him put down roots here is so shocking.

He notices my slack jaw and laughs. “What?”

“It’s great seeing you so in love, that’s all.” I catch the way his mouth quirks and the faint pink blush coloring his cheeks.

With an almost imperceptible nod, his eyes flicker toward the sea. “Yeah, it’s the best fucking feeling.”

A tiny pang flares in my heart. I wonder when I’ll be lucky enough to have something like that. “I’m happy for you, man. You deserve it.”

Spencer’s face lights up with his wide grin. “You do too, bro.”

I roll my eyes, sitting back. “I said don’t start.”

Hiding his laugh behind his drink, he finishes the tea and places the empty glass on the table. He props his feet up, crossing his arms behind his head, but I can tell he’s watching me with that impenetrable Larson-Perry stare.

“I’m really sorry about your dad, Mitch,” he offers a few minutes later. “Do you think there’s any chance…?” His words fade, the question hanging in the air.

I tuck my lips in. “It’s terminal. He refused all treatment.”

“That’s a shame. I know you two aren’t close and with all that shit…” Again, he lets his words drift, his meaning clear. “If there’s anything you or your parents need, I’m here.”

“I never doubted it, Spence. I appreciate it.”

“So, I guess that means you’ll stay until…”

“Yeah, probably.” I scratch my beard and nod. “Hell, maybe longer.”

He whips his head my way. “What about the team?”