Page 4 of Tell Me You Need Me

"West?" Rich says as though the name might ring a bell to him or something. "As in my father's younger brother?" I didn't know anything about an uncle. I'm guessing Rich and Willa only knew him by name since they don't recognize him.

"Yes." He only gives a one-word response.

"Are you here because he kicked the can?"

"Rich." I elbow him in the side.

"We only learned about the incident yesterday. We are sorry for your loss." Jack offers his condolences, but I don't think West has the same sentiment.

"We aren't going to the funeral, and it's not here." Rich shrugs, being entirely cold about all of this. It's not too different from his usual behavior, but he doesn't act that way around Willa and me. “Feel free to see yourselves out,” he says dismissively.

“Do you think I want to be here?” West asks, shaking his head. “I never wanted to step foot on this island again.”

“Then why did you?”

"I didn't have much of a choice in the matter."

“There is always a choice,” Rich tosses back.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” West says, his eyes dropping to me.

Chapter Three

WEST

Who the fuck is she, and why was his arm wrapped around her? As soon as I entered the room, my gaze was immediately drawn to her, but Rich, as he refers to himself, dragged her behind him, which infuriated me.

Based on his demeanor, I believe he bears a strong resemblance to his father, yet he harbors animosity toward him. I suppose I can be a dick, and I'd like to think I'm nothing like the Haven men. Willa, his sister, hadn't explicitly stated that she wouldn't attend the funeral, but her silence said it all.

“We’re fucking adults,” Rich says, flicking through the papers of the trust and will.

Jack and Teddy had gotten everyone to take a breath and sit down. We’re all now at the kitchen island except for Teddy. She is making everyone tea. I hate tea, but when she places the cup in front of me, I take a sip. I haven’t said a word to her because I don’t trust myself. I’ve never had this type of reaction to another human being.

“So what does this mean?” Willa asks. She’s quiet and soft-spoken, reminding me more of my mom.

“You need a guardian until you both graduate,” Jack speaks up, filling in for me. He lays out more of the details. I thoroughlyreviewed all the paperwork during the flight. I also forwarded it to some of the top lawyers for review.

As they go back and forth, I watch Teddy. Her name is rather fitting, with her chocolate-colored, wavy hair cascading around her, and her large brown eyes accentuating her beauty. Her curves and full cheeks give her an exceptionally soft appearance. Yes, she looks rather cuddly.

Where the fuck did that thought come from? I want to punch myself in the dick. I don’t need to be thinking about this girl this way. I’m pretty sure she is dating Rich, who is my nephew. Not to mention who knows how old she is. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Here you go.” Teddy sets a plate down next to the warm cup of tea that has cookies on it. I manage to get out a thanks as I breathe in her sweet honey smell. I clench my fist as she hands one over to Rich. Then she takes a seat between the twins.

“So you're going to stay here?” Willa speaks again.

“What about Eden?” Rich asks. “Can’t she handle this?” He waves at the papers.

“Who is Eden?” I ask. I haven’t seen that name anywhere.

“My mom,” Teddy answers before anyone else can. “We live in the guesthouse, and she kind of runs the estate.”

“Karl was gone most of the time,” Rich fills in, not bothering to call him Dad or Father, for that matter. Each one of his little comments about Karl let me know that my brother hadn’t changed a bit since I left.

“Gone permanently now,” Willa whispers out, her eyes going wide before she puts her hand over her mouth, not having meant to say that out loud. Rich barks a laugh.

My focus is on Teddy, who just informed me that she pretty much lives here. Where I’m about to live. That sounds like torture. Are they sneaking into each other's rooms? I’ll have toput a stop to that. I don't care if they're both adults. It won’t be occurring here, or anywhere else for that matter.

“You’re fine, Willa.” Teddy leans over to her, wrapping an arm around her. “Gallows humor can hit the spot when you need it to.” Willa nods her head but keeps her hand over her mouth.

---