Page 9 of An Unexpected Everything
Then it would turn back into the time we had together.
And me waking up with a hard on that I couldn’t help but take care of myself. Rubbing one out in the shower thinking of an old girlfriend that I’d left behind in the cold really wasn’t how I wanted to start my day. However, that was my lot in life.
I knew Bella had gone back home to Denver, or whatever suburb she now resided in, soon after the accident. And from the lack of news within Cage Lake, she hadn’t told a single soul about the fall. Word would’ve spread like wildfire if a tourist had nearly fallen to her death within the Cage Lake limits.
I wasn’t about to start those rumors though, because then I would have to deal with people talking to me. That was one of the worst things a person could do to a man who already had to deal with three younger siblings day in and day out.
I hoped to hell that Bella didn’t visit again. And that was what I continued to tell myself. It was hard enough walking away from her the first time. I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it again, even though I knew we were completely different people than we had been all those years ago. Life left scars and fucked you over when you least expected it. However, I knew that Isabella most likely owned part of this town now. I wasn’t sure how the will had worked, but she was a Cage. Just like the rest of her family, she most likely owned a stake in nearly every business in town, and the land in which those businesses resided.
Hell, I might own Caldwell’s, but I didn’t own any of the land surrounding it. That was all Cage. And while they were good landlords, they rarely made an appearance other than for vacations. I had seen Aston recently, right when news had broken about the family’s issues. He had brought along a woman who seemed nice enough and I’d been a complete grumpy asshole. I had been dealing with shitty news at the shop, countless college paperwork and essays, and my brother’s life choices. I had barked at them as if I’d actually known them. Considering neither had really done anything to me, I should have just walked away. But it was easier to take my frustration out on a Cage, rather than myself.
The Cages were royalty here and owned nearly every scrap of land and had a piece of every establishment—including theresort and much of the property that would never be developed. Part of its charm was that it wasn’t overdeveloped like many mountain resort towns. The guy who had run for mayor last time and lost had tried to run on the campaign of change and progress.
The man had wanted to bulldoze trees and landmarks in order to bring in townhomes and apartments for vacation rentals that his family happened to be in charge of. In other words, he wanted to increase taxes, take away what made Cage Lake beautiful, and try to take down the Cages.
The man hadn’t stood a chance.
Cage Lake was home—royal family and all.
It amazed me to think about this place as my home for so long. I had tried to get out once. Had nearly made it, before everything had been taken from my family. Now I wasn’t sure what I would do if I ever left. And that was a question haunting me more and more, considering the twins were about to graduate high school.
The chains that bound me were beginning to lessen and that worried me. Because while I liked my life, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more.
I shook my head as I walked into the familiar bakery, the scent of bread, pastries, and various baked goods hitting my nose. My stomach rumbled, and I nodded over at Harper.
She smiled widely, those near violet eyes brightening. I had known Harper for all her life. She was younger than my brother, but older than the twins. She had been my backup babysitter when I wasn’t able to get home in time after school before the twins had been old enough to take care of themselves. When Lance had been off in college and Sydney and Sam had needed someone to help with homework or get them to their various school activities.
The town might not be big, but there was elementary, middle, and high school. Just large enough that the classrooms were full, and we had some sports teams thanks to the surrounding areas feeding in.
“Hey there, Weston. Are you here to pick up your usual order?” Harper asked, nearly bouncing on her toes.
I had a feeling she was probably on espresso number three from the coffee shop next door, the Caged Bean. I nearly rolled my eyes at that name. Even the Italian place had the name Cage in it. I knew in the last generation, the old man had required every business that they put money into to have the family name in it. However, that wasn’t the case anymore. Considering one of the Cages was my best friend, I knew this set was a little more low key. Hudson wasn’t about to throw his name around like that. If anything, I thought the man wanted to hide his connection.
The current generation was putting their money where their mouth was. Hence why twenty-two-year-old Harper was able to own and operate a bakery all on her own. Because the Cages owned the building and fronted her the money. They did everything they could to bring in business that would help the community, even if they took risks that a bank wouldn’t.
The coffee shop next door didn’t have the same baked goods that Harper did. And Harper didn’t have the fancy coffees and latte flights that the Caged Bean had. In the end, they worked well together, and they weren’t fighting for business. There were a few tourist shops that had a friendly competition, but most places had their own niche.
“Yes,” I finally answered, shaking my head. I needed to get off this train of thought if I was going to get through my day. Because eventually I’d end up thinking of Bella. Again. Like now. Damn it. “It smells good in here.”
Harper smiled as she packaged my pastries and doughnuts into a box. “That’s always the goal. I’m trying to lure people in.”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t have to lure anyone in. You are doing pretty well for yourself,” I said as I nodded toward the packed place.
“I’m going to have to hire someone to help in the mornings now. It’s exciting.”
“Is Joshua going to come and help?” I asked, speaking of her brother.
“He should be here soon actually. He’s going to stay for a couple of weeks. He’s bouncing around between businesses right now, helping out Dorian.”
Dorian was yet another Cage, and Joshua’s best friend. Joshua had grown up in Cage Lake and was also a few years younger than me. However, he was the same age as Dorian, who had stayed here more often than most of the Cages. I liked the man. Which was saying something.
“Let me know if you need help, and I can toss over one of the twins.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “I would love for the girls to help, but between prom, graduation, all of those lists for college, and their final summer before everything changes, I don’t know if they’re going to have time for me and my bakery.”
I shook my head. “Stop reminding me of things like that. Their to do lists are growing, therefore, my to do list is growing. Twice.”
“It’s really exciting though. You’ve done such amazing job with them.”
