Halfway There by Eve Langlais

Author:Eve Langlais [Langlais, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eve Langlais

16

Darryl’s query was met with a moment of silence before Jace snapped, “Shut your mouth. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I will not be quiet. You’ve been snatching up property all around town. Care to tell us why?”

It was better than a tense tennis match. My gaze, and those of the other women, bounced between the men as they faced off.

“I don’t have to tell you shit,” Jace snarled.

Tricia came to his defense. “Jace isn’t the only one who’s been on a buying spree. Rumor has it you snagged a few, too.”

Wait, Darryl was also buying up property? It surprised me, mostly because I’d made assumptions about him. Not very nice ones apparently. Why wouldn’t he be interested in buying up more businesses? After all, he had a vested interest in the town.

“Yeah, I have. Places around my gas station so I can’t be squeezed out. But he’s the one going aggressively after the waterfront properties. Rumor has it he just snagged the Wanderbilts’ place. So what’s the scoop? Why do you need all that land? Know something we don’t?”

“It’s none of your business.” Jace stood, towering over us all, a looming presence. Menacing even. I didn’t even realize I’d tucked closer to Darryl until his hand squeezed my upper arm.

Darryl drawled, “I’ve lived here my whole life. I’d say that gives me a right to know what your plan is.”

The curl on Jace’s upper lip proved impressive. “I don’t owe you anything. And if we’re going to talk about truth telling, then why not start with the fact that you’re married.”

“Separated,” Darryl said through clenched teeth. “And I’d be divorced if I knew where Sue-Ann went.”

“Have you told Naomi why Sue left?” Jace asked. “About the fact the cops had to show up more than once because you were out of control?”

The accusation had me rising from the couch, moving away from Darryl. Instinctive and, yes, as an afterthought, mean. However, it was hard to regret my choice because, by the way a nerve ticked in Darryl’s cheek, I knew there was some truth to what Jace said.

“I would have told her. It’s not like it was a secret.” His gaze met mine. “I was a drunk. And a mean one. I never hit Sue, but I could be nasty with my words.”

“You got banned from a few bars last I heard. Got arrested how many times for drunk and disorderly?” Jace appeared to be taking pleasure in relating all of Darryl’s sins.

Help came from Marjorie. “Stop attacking him. You know Darryl’s not like that anymore.”

“I’ve been clean for eight hundred and four days now,” Darryl declared.

“And I’m going to add that if we’re piling on Darryl for having made mistakes, then I guess that means I’m next. I’ve been drink free for only a month now.” Marjorie’s gaze met mine. “I didn’t take Milo’s leaving very well at first.”

My dinner party had turned into a disaster. Because of one man. Luckily he didn’t need to be told he’d overstayed his welcome.

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