Page 72 of Unhinged Magic
“Great idea,” said Morgan. “I’m here to help. Just say the word.”
I turned my attention to Colton, where he tipped his head slightly. “It’s a good place to start.”
I let out a long breath. “Okay, you’re right.”
Standing with the rest of the group, my chest felt lighter as the girls came closer, smothering me with hugs. Scar had a huge grin on face, and for the first time in months I willingly smiled back. I found Tyler staring at me from the outside of the group and stilled, unsure how to proceed. When he nodded his head once, forcing a tight smile, I knew he was okay for now. He had a lot to process, understandably. He had been through more than most people, and this new information would take time to absorb.
It felt good to have a plan. Or at least something to start with. From here on in, at least I wasn’t on my own. I had support. And that feeling warmed a tiny portion of my aching heart.
Wesley
Therearetwoemotionsin life that hurt the most. Love and grief. Love has the power to rip your soul to pieces in seconds yet repair itself just as fast. Grief, on the other hand, could sink you to the darkest of places if you were to let it.
I had never experienced grief, not in its true form. Though, when I left Cutters Cove, I felt a certain type of it. I wasn’t grieving the death of a person, but a loss of a friend, a bond so tightly embedded in my heart that it fucking wrecked me to stay away. I couldn’t. Not any longer.
Sometimes we do things that hurt people, even if we do it out of love and it kills you to do so. I hated thinking about what I had done, and alcohol had become my friend for a reason over the last while, numbing me from everything. The guilt, the hurt, the constant fucking ache. But at some point, Skye’s face had pushed through it all, through the blackout days. Her voice had called to me in my dreams. I’d seen her tear smeared face as if she were right there with me. Call it what you will. Hallucinations, insanity. I had no fucking clue. But it was she who tore me from the dregs of darkened alleyways and cold doorsteps.
I had returned to Cutters Cove a day beforehand, letting myself into Ty’s house when he was at work. I looked like a fucking mess and made a quick effort of showering and cleaning myself up, silently thanking my best friend for not hauling the entire contents of my bedroom onto the street in a free for all. Changing into fresh clothes, I then rang my mother, who dragged me across the fucking coals. I knew I deserved it, so didn’t argue.
Which led me to where I stood, prowling in shadows like a fucking stalker. My boots scuffed the sidewalk where I hid against the side of the dock, across the road from Coffee Cove. It stayed open late one night a week, bringing locals to the cozy cafe for their two after dark specials–the 'twilight martini' and ever famous 'loaded hot choc'. A light breeze ruffled my hair, just enough to fuck me off. I shoved my hands deeper into the pockets of my jacket.
An eerie quiet fell over the town, like the calm one would expect before a storm, and the robust clouds looming overhead would suggest rain was only minutes away. I knew she was there… I couldfeelher. Against my better judgement, I had finally grown some balls and decided tonight I needed to see her. Like this was a perfectly reasonable idea.
Who was I kidding? Skye would hate me.
Ty would fuckingloatheme.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t walk away sporting, at the very least, a bloody nose.
When I found tousled brown hair, my heart lurched at the sight of her. The group sat on a weathered picnic table outside, all wearing jackets, with rugs draped over their laps. Beside them, flames from a brazier crackled, highlighting her face.
Beautiful.
She peered down at her phone, her shoulders slumping before she shoved it into her bag. Even from this distance, I noticed theshadows beneath her eyes, and it twisted my gut, knowing I was the cause.
I wanted to hold her. Tell her everything would be ok. Thatwewould be ok.
My brows furrowed as Reid draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his side.
The motion bristled the hairs on my neck.
When she leaned her head on his shoulder, I frowned.
What the fuck was going on?
Never in my life had I doubted Reid’s friendship, but this looked cozy.
The sight of her that close to him took hold of every insecurity I’d ever had in my youth, purging it to the surface. My fists clenched, my heart hammering as if trying to break free of my chest. Without thinking, I charged across the road toward the group in haste.
Colt spotted me first, flashing an icy warning. “Wes…” he cautioned, his voice low.
“Get your hands off her,” I seethed, earning me the group’s attention. “You don’t get to touch her,” I said evenly, hurling a glare at Reid, the bite in my tone obvious.
Reid’s arm slid off her, my vision colliding with a swell of emotion, torturing the delicate features of the woman I loved. She rose from her seat with the group, motionless, her mouth agape as if unsure I was real or a figment of her imagination. I wanted to kiss her perfect lips, caress her silken hair. Take her in my arms and make everything right again.
I was so memorized by the sight of her; I missed the oncoming fist before it hit my cheek with acrack.
My vision blurred, pain exploding through my cheekbone.
