The front door opened again, and Micah Falco stepped outside. He looked from Nate with an annoyed glance as if the party inside was too much for him then turned to me with a tight smile. “Hey,” he said then held up a cigar. “Beer isn’t enough for this bullshit. I need this or I’m breaking into the motherfucking whiskey.”
Nate nodded. “Understood. Just make sure you smoke it far enough away from the house that Bliss can’t smell it inside.”
“I will.” He held out his hand toward me. “You’re Ophelia, correct?”
I shook his hand. “Yes, and you’re Micah, Larissa’s husband.”
He grinned then. “Yeah. I knew we’d met before but it’s always at celebration events and I’ve had one too many.”
I’d seen him drunk more than I’d seen him sober. I smiled politely and gave a nod.
“If that motherfucker don’t get his ass here soon, Larissa may wish I’d had one too many. I’m ready to beat his sorry tattooed ass.” He walked off then down the stairs and toward the beach. Nate didn’t seem confused by that last sentence, but I was. Who else was he expecting to show up? I thought Eli not being here was the issue. But he’d said something about tattoos.
Eli Hardy did not have tattoos. The idea of Eli with tattoos made me smile. It was that out of character for him. Someone else must be missing. Maybe Eli had brought a friend?
Nate motioned for me to go inside and I was about to ask about the other missing guest when Bliss appeared at the door looking as perfectly polished as always. Her smile softened when she saw me and again, I was being embraced. I returned her hug.
“Sorry I’m so late,” I said, thinking it was probably better that I was since there was family drama I was not a part of going on.
“Be glad you are,” she whispered then stepped back. “Nate has your bag. Good. He can take it to your room, and I’ll get you something to drink. You need it tonight. Trust me.”
I followed her toward the kitchen and as much as I wanted to take in the place now they had redone it I didn’t want anyone to think I was staring at them. The place was covered with folks. Bliss stepped up to the marble bar and glanced back at me. “Champagne, wine, or stronger?”
I took one quick peek at the room and then replied “stronger.”
MAY 24 / 8:36 PM
Eli Hardy
WALKING INSIDE MEANT facing bullshit from everyone. Not showing up at all meant bullshit from everyone. Fuck this.
I climbed off my bike and ran a hand through my hair. I hadn’t planned on being late. But I didn’t plan much. I’d had to get away from it all after this morning. The fear that was clear on everyone’s face despite their smiles and false cheer had just reminded me of the reality. Facts I knew by looking at them that Dad hadn’t told me. It was bad. They already knew how bad but they weren’t saying.
The only one who hadn’t been shocked or horrified by my tattoos, long hair, and absence was my gran. She’d laughed and clapped her hands in delight when she saw me. Told me her beautiful boy was even more decorated now. When anyone mentioned my being gone, she would jump in with a comment about me being brave enough to live, or finding a life out there. That shut them up real damn fast. I’d found life, alright and I knew now that it was cold, harsh and unforgiving.
I said very little. Listening to Gran talk, memorizing her face when she smiled, soaking in the sound of her laughter. Things that could be taken and never returned were what I would lock away. Keep close. I wasn’t naïve enough to think I’d have Gran forever. Even if she survived this, time would still pass, age would still come. We weren’t given infinite time on earth.
Drinking all day at a bar just past the Florida/Alabama line was probably not the best way to spend the rest of my day. But fuck if I cared about what was the best way. It was the way I handled it all. I didn’t move toward the house. Instead I scanned the cars parked outside. Might as well know who was still here.
Gran wasn’t. I knew that without looking. She’d be in bed by now. Tomorrow morning would come too soon.
My parents were here and so were my sisters Crimson and Cleo. Cage and Eva York were and at least two of their three sons. Preston and Amanda Drake were here, and I wasn’t sure what their sons drove, but they were always with the York boys. Good chance they would be inside too. Dewayne and Siena Falco. My aunt Larissa would be here with her husband, Micah Falco. Looked like a few of the Taylors were here too. I didn’t see Saffron or Holland Corbin’s vehicles and thank fuck for that.