Page 35 of Frozen Play

“If you wanted a business opportunity, I could have set you up with several people who would love to work with you,” Lina said. “And you’re welcome to stay at the cottage anytime. It’s a family place.”

“No, it’s not,” Phin said, voice harsh. “It’s a showpiece, not a place to sit back with some beers and relax. And I can’t be comfortable there, not now that I know how you pressured the Duvalls until their legal bills were so high they had to sell their property.”

Mr. Collins’s head jerked toward his wife. Maybe he hadn’t known that.

“That’s what she told you?” Three guesses who the “she” Lina meant was.

“Are you denying it? You didn’t engineer a host of complaints about violations on their property?”

She looked away. “It wasn’t up to code.”

“Neither was our cottage.”

“I fixed all that.”

Phin shook his head. “Not how I’d describe it. Part of this was my fault. Back when you got together with Dad and asked what I wanted to do for vacation, I told you I liked to spend my summers there because there was no room for you. I was a self-centered teenager, and I wasn’t happy about Dad being with you. That’s on me. But that didn’t give you the right to bulldoze over the Duvalls to try to force me to be part of your new family.”

Lina was staring at him again. “What was I supposed to do? You were a little shit disturber.”

“Yeah. That’s where my dad should have stepped in. But he let you do all the work. That part’s on him.”

Mr. Collins spoke. “Phin, I didn’t know. And we were all trying.”

“Yeah, Dad. But you should have been the one trying to work things out, not leaving it to Lina. You knew me.”

His dad looked hurt. “I’m sorry, son.”

Phin huffed a breath. “It’s done now. And the three of you are happy and enjoy your lives. I’m glad. But that’s not what I want. Please respect my choices.”

There was silence, and I wasn’t going to break it. This was some big family stuff and I was uncomfortable being in the middle of it. But since Phin felt left out of this group, and I wanted to show my support, I squeezed his hand and stayed close beside him.

“This doesn’t seem like the right time and place for this discussion.” Lina moved her glance to me, making crystal clear what she meant.

“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Skye.” Phin turned to his dad. “What about you?”

Mr. Collins looked at his wife, and I knew he wasn’t going to change what he’d been doing for the past ten years. It was easier to defer to his wife’s stronger character. Phin gripped my hand tighter.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this, Phin?” Lina asked.

He sighed. “Apparently we’re not going to have a breakthrough. Fine. I’m going for what I want now.”

Lina’s lips pinched. “Like we’re so terrible? One family isn’t happy with what I did years ago, so you don’t want anything to do with us? Your father loves you, did his best for you, and this is how you repay him?”

I almost burst in to defend Phin, but he had this. “Dad was great. I’m glad he’s happy. I’m entitled to be happy too, and I don’t have to be part of your world, even if you’d rather I was. That’s all. I’m not cutting you out, just making what I want a priority.”

Lina stood. “We can table this for now.” Her lips moved into a polite smile. “Since you’re safe, we might as well let you get back to…what you were doing.”

My cheeks heated, but I refused to let her make me feel bad.

“I love you, Phin.” But Mr. Collins stood and followed his wife.

Quin was the last to leave the room. He paused beside his brother. “Are you fucking crazy?”

Phin stood, still pulling me with him. “For what? Deciding what I want and going for it? For asking Dad to try to build a bridge with me instead of letting Lina do it for him?”

Quin snorted. “I hope she’s a good lay at least.”

Phin’s hand left mine, and before I knew what he was doing, Quin was pressed against the wall, Phin’s arm across his throat.

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