Page 48 of Lush

I shifted uncomfortably, pressing against the door.

“He was out there fuckin’ up, gettin’ locked up, actin’ like shit didn’t matter. Everybody was acting like they didn’t care. Not his people, not the cops, sure as hell not our folks. And I—” He hesitated, then shook his head. “I thought if someone gave a shit, he wouldn’t end up another name we only say in past tense.”

A lump formed in my throat.

I hadn’t expected that.

“You could’ve told me.”

He snorted. “Yeah? And what, have you run back here tryna save him? You were in Paris, tryna hold yourself together, and I was here holdin’ everything else down. I didn’t need you worrying about the family that already fucked everything up.”

I stared at him. “So you did it because you actually care?”

“Look, don’t read too much into it. That fool still dumb as hell.”

The car went quiet, the only sound the hum of the tires against the road.

You fucked up so bad, Laurene…

I should have just told the truth. Maybe I would have been disowned, but now I understood why Reese was so angry. What if I were him? Could I even look at myself and not feel that rage? Regret? Disappointment?

I could survive anything—except the weight of knowing I failed him.

But he still didn’t tell me about being friends with Blair. He knew how I felt about her. Was that him getting back at me?

Had something gone down between them while I was gone? Or worse, was it happening now?

Was she using him? Prying her way into our mess for her own damn benefit? The thought made me sick. Did she see us that night? Could she have known what was really going on?

I watched as the resort got closer. “Miles was able to drive me back home.”

“Don’t bring that shit up. I’m not in the mood.”

“He used to be your best friend. Why won’t you talk to him?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“I get it, what Omar did to Mama and Daddy was…” I exhaled, searching for the right words. “It was bad. But now weknowhe wasn’t in his right mind. He was using. Can we blame Miles for choosing to defend his father?”

Erik’s silence was more telling than any words.

As we drove up, the grand entryway was framed by imposing white marble pillars. Impeccably uniformed valets stood ready. Erik parked, and a valet was right there to open the doors.

Erik turned, sighing sadly. “Some things are beyond forgiveness.”

Reese’s words were on my mind. All these years, I had told myself that I’d done what Ihadto do.

I slowly exhaled, fingers curling in my lap. If I had told the truth back then—if I had stood my ground, instead of letting the weight of my family and this town hold me in place—what would my life have looked like now?

Conrad would still be alive. Reese wouldn’t have suffered. I wouldn’t have lost those years.

“Do you think they intentionally chose this place for the wedding?” I asked as the valet opened my door.

Years ago, my grandfather had fought tooth and nail to keep this property, but in the end, it slipped through our fingers and landed in the Ashbournes’ lap. They never let us forget it, and now, to use it as the venue for my wedding?

Erik gave me a look. “Hell yeah.”

Instrumental music played as I looked around. A woman in a sleek black dress walked by, her phone tilted slightly—was she taking a picture? My stomach did a flip. I scanned the parking lot and driveway.

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