Page 101 of Twisted Legacy

Thea’s strong, brave, protective of the people she cares about. She gets me. She doesn’t back down or turn her nose up at Holden and engages with him on a level nobody ever has, and she gives Pax as much shit as he gives her. I know in my soul that she’s perfect for all of us.

We have to all agree to it, and petition the council for permission. I know Holden is interested in Thea right now. If it works out between them, if she can truly accept him, then we’d just have to get Pax on board.

Hell, he doesn’t even have to be with her. He can just sign off on the arrangement and continue to do his own thing. But none of us would have to worry about marrying women we don’t want.

Chapter59

Thea

School’s empty and so are the streets of Canyon Falls Annex. I walk through town happy to have space, a reprieve from all the bustling bodies and long lines and wait times. I’m treating myself to lunch today at a restaurant that’s always crowded.

I have my playlist ready to go, so I can listen to music while I eat. I can’t seem to bring myself to open a map yet and finish marking out the layout of town or finding that hiking path I was so excited about when I first moved here. The woods and I still aren’t on speaking terms. I don’t know how I’m going to get over that hurdle.

I’m mulling over options when a body stops at the end of my table. I take in the man wearing a black on black suit and a dark blue tie. He holds himself with an air of importance and looks down at me expectantly. I don’t know what he’s expecting, but I do know he’s at the wrong table looking for whatever it is.

My phone chimes and I glance down, seeing a message from Moira.

Moira

My father’s in town. I’ve been putting him off, but he’s getting impatient about meeting you. He’ll probably seek you out.

I take an educated guess and reply

Me

I think he already has

I sip my water, ignoring him. Since he’s looking for me, he can break the awkward silence, or stand there until I’m done eating. I really don’t care. He tires of being ignored and says, “The first thing we’ll need to work on are your manners, or maybe your wardrobe. I can’t believe Moira lets you walk around town like this.”

I continue to ignore him, breaking off a piece of my garlic butter roll and popping it into my mouth.

“The way you dress is a direct reflection of yourself and this family.”

I finally raise my gaze to meet his and answer, enunciating every word, “I don’t have a family.”

Shaking his head, he scoffs, “Just as hardheaded and stubborn as your mother, I see.”

“That’s right, I’m a chip right off of Hailee LaReaux’s block.”

I watch his jaw clench. If he expected this to go a different way, he should have done some research on me first. A phone call, a text message. Something to warm me up, instead of coming up to me with nothing but put downs falling from his lips.

The server comes over with my appetizers. “Sir, shall I set another place?”

I answer for him, “No. He’s leaving.”

When she walks away, he says, “The correct thing for you to do would be to invite me to sit.”

He wants to play this game? Okay, I’ll play. “The correct thing for you to do would be to not approach a young woman sitting alone and expect her to engage in a conversation with you when you haven’t even introduced yourself. The correct thing to do is to not expect her to share her space, or be comfortable in your presence just because you think she should. The absolute correct thing to do is tonotengage in behaviors that predators would.”

I say the last part loud enough for the couple at the next table to hear me. His eyes widen, and he turns a little red in the face. “I.” He clears his voice. “I apologize, you are correct. I should have introduced myself first. I assumed you knew who I was.”

“You know what they say about assumptions.”

“I’m Joshua Laurent. I’m your grandfather.” He smiles and tries to lighten the mood. “I apologize for alarming you and you’re right. I should have contacted you to arrange our first meeting.” He chuckles. “I was just so excited to meet you, and when I saw you sitting here, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass.”

I blink up at him. I have nothing to say to any of that. He was excited. He couldn’t wait. He never once took into consideration how I would be feeling.

“I have your number, Mr. Laurent. I haven’t used it because I’m still trying to get my head around all of this. You forcing the issue doesn’t make me any more interested in using it. If anything, your approach has made me even more leery about it.”

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