The Vincent Boys Collection Read online

  I lifted my eyes to meet Ashton’s red swollen ones, and all I could think about was exactly how I was going to murder my brother.

  LANA

  Sawyer: I can’t make it. Not sure if you’ve talked to Ash, but Beau cheated on her and she needs me. I’ve got to go beat his sorry ass and then see what I can do to calm her down. She was outside on my driveway this morning bawling her eyes out.

  I reread the text message from Sawyer for the third time before I finally put my phone down. I don’t know what surprised me more: Beau cheating on Ash or Sawyer dropping me to fix her problems. He could have at least called me. Maybe asked for my help with Ash. He’d done neither, because this was what he’d been waiting on. All this time, I was just a fill-in while he waited. Beau served Ashton up to him on a silver platter, and I wasn’t stupid enough to think I stood a chance of holding on to him. He loved her. He just liked me. I was the summer fling. She was the girl he wanted to spend forever with.

  Picking my phone back up, I found Jewel’s number and pressed send.

  “It’s about time you called me. How’s it going with Mr. Hot and Sexy?”

  “It’s not. I need to leave. Can I come there?”

  “Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good. Of course, you can come here. Do I need to come get you? Because it could be like tonight before I get there. I have plans with this fabulously hot lifeguard. He has the best ass I’ve ever seen. His hair is a little long, but I can overlook that.”

  “No, I’ll get a ride. I’ll see you in a few hours. Thanks, Jewel.”

  “No problemo, chica. See ya soon.”

  I hung up the phone and dialed one more number.

  “Hello?” The cautious tone in Ethan’s voice told me he knew who was calling.

  “Hey, Ethan. It’s Lana, and I have a huge favor to ask, but I’ll pay you.”

  “Uh, okay—”

  “I need a ride to the beach.”

  * * *

  Ethan pulled into the parking lot near the condos where Jewel was staying. Her car was parked over to the left side of the building, so I knew we’d found the right place.

  “I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it, but I need to know something, Lana. Sawyer is going to lose it when he finds out you’re gone, and he’s my friend.”

  Cringing at the predicament I’d put Ethan in, I reached into my purse and pulled out five twenty dollar bills and handed them to him.

  “I don’t want your money. Just some kind of explanation.”

  “Beau and Ash are no longer, and Sawyer is busy comforting her and helping her nurse her broken heart. That’s all you need to know.”

  Ethan frowned. “Are you sure about that? I can’t think of any female who could ever turn Beau Vincent’s head from Ash. He’s been in love with her since we were kids.”

  “Well, believe it. Guess he got his fill and moved on. Luckily, she has the other Vincent boy in love with her to pick up the pieces. If she is smart, she’ll grab hold of Sawyer and not let go. His love for her is unbreakable and unconditional.”

  All that I had thought was special about us was just a fantasy. I’d been an easy distraction. The fact that I’d been so available to him made me feel like a fool. How stupid could one person be? Had I really let myself believe I meant something to him? Yes, I had. I’d have never done any of those things with him. I’d never have let him touch me, if I’d realized I was just the stand-in.

  “I’ve seen you and Sawyer at the field and out in town. He seemed completely over Ash to me. He watched you with such a predatory gleam in his eyes; I was scared to speak to you.”

  My heart broke a little more, and I forced the pain away. I would not do this. Sawyer Vincent would not break me. I was stronger than this. “Well, looks can be deceiving. I don’t want to talk about this, Ethan. Please, just take the money so I don’t have to feel guilty about asking you to drive me all the way out here after how things went down with you and me. I hate I was so blinded by Sawyer that I didn’t give you a chance. I learned a lesson.”

  Ethan took the money I was thrusting at him. “I’ll accept it if that’s what is going to make you feel better, but I don’t want to take the money.”

  I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone. You have no idea how rare that is for me.”

  I reached for the door handle and jumped down out of his Jeep. Reaching into the back, I started to grab my luggage when Ethan reached over me and picked up both suitcases. “I got them,” he said before turning and heading for the condos.

  “Which floor?” he asked as he stopped beside the elevators.

  I followed behind him, carrying my cosmetics and toiletries bags. “Bottom, that one right there.” I pointed to unit 103 just as the door swung open and Jewel stepped outside, squealing.

  “You’re here! You’re here! Oh, and you brought one of the cuties from Wings with you.”

  “Good to see you again, Jewel,” Ethan said politely, setting my luggage down outside the door and stepping back to let me pass.

  “You too, uh—”

  “Ethan. His name is Ethan.”

  “That’s right.” She snapped her fingers like it had been on the tip of her tongue.

  “Well, Ethan, you want to come inside? We’re having a party tonight. You’re welcome to stay and crash.”

  Ethan glanced from Jewel to me and then shook his head. “Nah, I need to head out. I have plans tonight but thanks.”

  “Aw, phooey.” Jewel pouted—it was so obviously fake. I wasn’t sure why she attempted it, unless, of course, she thought it looked believable.

  “Take care of yourself, Lana,” Ethan said with a concerned expression.

  “You too, Ethan. Thanks again.” He nodded and headed back toward his Jeep.

  * * *

  Once he had gotten in his Jeep and had pulled out of the parking lot, Jewel grabbed my arm and tugged on it. “Come inside. Tell me all about Grove while I fix myself a sandwich.”

  I picked up my luggage and carried it inside. “Which room do you want me in?”

  “Down the hall. It’s the third door on the left. You have the best view of the ocean from that room. But don’t lie on the bed yet. We need to strip that bed and wash the quilt and sheets. God only knows who’s used that room during one of our parties.”

  Cringing, I made a mental note to go buy some Clorox spray and wipe the place down.

  Chapter 19

  SAWYER

  As I banged on the door to Beau’s trailer, I mentally cursed him. He’d had to have Ashton so damn bad he snatched her away from me, and for what? He’d lost her within seven months. How stupid could one man be?

  “What the hell Sawyer?” Beau demanded as he opened the door and glared at me as if he had a reason to be mad.

  I shoved past him and threw his phone down on the beat-up coffee table where I’d once sat and played Go Fish at two o’clock in the morning with Beau while waiting on his mom to get home from work.

  “You better have a real good reason for this, Saw,” he said with a growl, slamming the door behind him.

  “Ash had your phone,” I replied.

  Beau looked down at his cell phone on the table and back to me. “So?”

  The lack of concern was my first hint that we had a big misunderstanding on our hands.

  “You got a text . . . from a girl,” I continued, and waited for him to look worried or guilty or something.

  He continued to look confused. The innocence of his lost expression told me all I needed to know. Beau hadn’t cheated on Ash. Thank God. Maybe it wasn’t too late for Lana and me to get to New Orleans today after all.

  I picked up the phone and handed it to him. “Read the text from Sugar.”

  Then, as if a light went off, Beau’s eyes widened, and my moment of relief was replaced by disbelief.

  “Sugar texted me? And Ash read it?”

  “Yes, you stupid ass-wipe. Haven’t you learned by now th
at when you cheat you get caught? Damn it, Beau, how could you do this? She loves you. She’s a complete mess. I found her on my carport bawling her eyes out this morning.”

  Beau’s face went pale, and he grabbed a pair of discarded jeans, jerked them on, and turned to run out the door.

  I followed him. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Where is she, Saw? Where’s Ash?” he yelled as he ran to his truck.

  “I’m not telling you where she is. You’ve destroyed her, Beau.”

  Beau stopped and stalked back toward me with an angry snarl on his face. “Sugar is my fucking aunt. My mother’s baby sister. Now tell me where my girl is before I beat the shit out of you.” His voice had gone from a cold menace to a roar.

  “Since when do you have an aunt named Sugar? Aunt Honey’s younger sister’s name is Janet!” I yelled back. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do. I was his brother for crying out loud. I knew his family tree.

  “Yeah, well, my mama’s name is Paula, but that ain’t the name she goes by, now is it?”

  “Janet goes by Sugar?” I asked with relief.

  “Yes! Now where the hell is my girl?”

  I was pretty sure we’d woken up the entire trailer park. “She’s at home. Go,” I replied, and Beau turned and ran to his truck. It roared to life and he spun out of the driveway. I just hoped he didn’t run over anyone on his way to her house because I was willing to bet he wasn’t going to stop if he did.

  Sinking down onto the steps, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Ash.

  Me: It isn’t what it looks like. Beau is on his way over. Listen to him. Just so happens Aunt Honey has a younger sister; her name is Sugar. Tell Lana to get ready. I’m on my way there to get her.

  Ashton: Oh, no. I made a mess of things. I’m so sorry, Sawyer.

  Me: Not that big of a deal. It got straightened out pretty fast. Watch for Beau. He sped out of here for your house like there was a fire.

  Ashton: Okay.

  I decided against sending Lana a text. I had a feeling I was probably in trouble because of the last text I’d sent. It hadn’t explained things well, but I had been in a hurry to find Beau and get Ashton calmed down. Showing up and explaining was the best idea.

  * * *

  Beau met me at the door of Ashton’s house when I got there. The serious expression on his face surprised me. Surely, he’d been able to clear things up with Ashton. Didn’t she believe him?

  “Hey, things okay?” I asked, walking up the steps.

  “That depends on you,” Beau replied.

  “What?”

  “Ash is upset but not with me. She’s upset with herself. Running to you when she thought I’d cheated on her was her first reaction. It has always been the three of us. She didn’t think about going to anyone else. She just figured you would know how to fix it. You always did fix the messes we managed to get into. I’m warning you now that if you so much as blame, raise your voice, or even look at her wrong when you walk in that house and hear what she has to tell you, that I will take you down. She got upset. She acted on instinct. What happened as a repercussion isn’t her fault.”

  “What in the hell are you getting at, Beau?” I asked, starting to feel anxious as I pushed past him and into the house. Ashton was standing in the kitchen, chewing on her bottom lip. Her eyes were swollen and red.

  “What’s wrong with the two of you?” I asked in confusion. “I’m just here for Lana. Whatever other problems y’all have, I’m out. Fix them yourselves.”

  “Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no,” Ashton started muttering. Her worried eyes lifted to look at Beau for help.

  “Just give it to him, Ash,” Beau encouraged gently.

  “Give me what?” I demanded. Then my eyes noticed the piece of paper dangling from her right hand.

  I walked over to her and snatched the paper out of her grasp. Perfectly scripted handwriting covered the page in what appeared to be a letter. As I dropped my eyes to the bottom of the page, Lana’s signature stood out at me and my heart stopped beating. No, no, no, no, no, no. Please, God no, I begged silently as I began reading.

  Ashton,

  Let me begin by saying thank you. I needed an escape this summer from the craziness that is my life. You helped make that possible. I needed to talk about my dad and how I felt, and you were there for me. No one has ever been there for me before. Knowing someone cared was more precious to me than you could have ever imagined.

  But I made the mistake of opening my heart up to someone who clearly could never feel the same about me. I knew Sawyer loved you. I’ve known it since we were kids. I thought maybe just getting his attention for a short time would be enough. It wasn’t.

  I’ve grown up with two parents who never once thought about me in the choices they made. My emotions weren’t something they concerned themselves with, and maybe that is my fault because I didn’t speak up. I just pushed the hurt and anger deep inside me. I wanted to be strong because I knew they were weak. I’m tired of being strong. I’m tired of being second best. I need someone to love me.

  Staying in Grove isn’t a possible option for me. I let myself hope for too much. I’ve been broken too many times. I can’t stay somewhere near . . . someone who will eventually destroy me.

  Please tell your parents thank you for me. I’m sorry I didn’t stick around for good-byes and explanations, but I think you understand why I had to go. You had the right Vincent boy all along. Don’t take him for granted this time. He loves you in a way that I hope to one day inspire in someone. He would give up the world for you. When you have someone that special, that incredible who loves you, don’t let it go. This is your second chance to treasure what you’ve had all your life. Sawyer was always the Vincent boy worth fighting for. He’s the special one.

  Love,

  Lana

  “She doesn’t say where she went? Did she go home? How did she get there?” I was going to throw up. Tears stung my eyes, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn’t have time to cry like a damn baby. I needed to find Lana immediately.

  Folding the paper neatly, I stuck it in my pocket and pulled out my phone. Her phone went straight to voice mail. Shit. “Did you try calling her? Have you called her mom?” I asked Ashton while trying her number again.

  “Don’t raise your voice at her,” Beau said. “I know you’re upset, but remember my warning. And for the record, you’re not all that damn special. Just throwing that out there.”

  I didn’t give a rat’s ass about Beau’s warning. I needed to find Lana. “I’m not raising my voice. I need to find Lana!” I growled, glaring at him as I slammed my fist against the brick fireplace. The pain wasn’t enough to numb the agony in my chest.

  “Sawyer, stop! You’re bleeding. Beau, do something.” Ashton’s worried voice sounded like it was coming down a tunnel.

  “Where is she?” I roared, beating my fist against the wall, trying to stop the tears blurring my vision. I had to find her. She needed me. Oh, God, she needed me.

  Pressing both my palms flat against the brick, I dropped my head and let the tears roll freely. I’d lost her. I couldn’t lose her. She had been so broken, and I didn’t even know. I wanted to find her dumbass father and beat his face in until the ache inside me, from her words in that letter, eased. How could they overlook her? How could anyone overlook her?

  “Sawyer, we’ll find her,” Ashton said as a small, choked-up sob escaped her. “Beau, he’s crying. I can’t stand this. Do something,” she begged.

  “Why don’t you give us a minute, Ash?” Beau replied.

  I heard Beau whisper to Ashton and kiss her before her footsteps faded down the hall.

  “Man, you’ve got to get a fucking grip. You’re losing it, and that shit ain’t gonna help nothing. Plus you’ve got Ash in tears.”

  He had no right to tell me how to handle this. I’d lost Lana trying to help him.

  I pushed myself off the wall and walked away as I wiped the proof of my breakdow
n from my face.

  “Look, bro, I get it. You love her. I know that feeling real well. But crying like a fucking pussy ain’t gonna do one bit of good. We have to find her. It takes big boys to do that. Think you can dry up the well and help me think this through?”

  I froze and dropped my hands to my sides. What had he just said?

  Turning around I stared at him. “Did you just say, ‘I love her’?”

  Beau rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe. “Really, Saw? You gotta ask me that?” He shook his head as if I were the biggest idiot on the planet. “Let me ask you something. When you lost Ash . . . did you cry? I know we beat each other up and you did a lot of yelling. But did you cry?”

  “No.”

  Beau nodded. “Did you want to? Or were you just mad as hell?”

  I thought back to those weeks after our breakup. I didn’t remember fighting back tears. Not once.

  “No.”

  “Didn’t think so. ’Cause although you loved Ash, she wasn’t the one. When you fall for the one who owns you, she’ll be the only one that has the power to make you cry.”

  Chapter 20

  LANA

  “I’m not telling you where I am, Mom,” I repeated for the fifth time.

  “Lana Grace McDaniel! You are only eighteen years old. It’s dangerous for you to travel alone. I am your mother! I need to know where you are. Come home. Just, wherever you are, come home. Ashton has called three times, and that Sawyer—”

  “No. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t care. Just please, Mom, if you want to talk to me don’t bring him and Ashton up, okay?”

  “But they—”

  “I will hang up this phone and turn it off. Do you understand me?”

  I heard my mother’s sharp intake of breath. I’d never spoken to her like that before, but I was tired of her. She never listened to me. She tried to control me. No longer. I was eighteen years old, but I felt so much older. I always had.