Sawyer explained. “You were the one who spread the rumor that Mack is gay.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, man?” Greyson snapped. “I didn’t tell anyone a goddamn thing.”
“No? You happen to be the only connection. And I’ve done a lot of research, Greyson. I know you were there that day.”
“What day?”
“The day Mack and Jeff came to the resort.”
“Jeff? Oh, shit. Sheriff Endsley? And Mack?”
Sawyer didn’t buy Greyson’s innocent act. Not for a second. He knew the guy too well, knew he was capable of pulling one over on anyone and everyone. “Cut the shit. You’re pissed at me so you told someone that you saw Mack at the resort.”
“Why the hell would I do that?” Greyson asked.
“You tell me,” Sawyer countered. “I saw you on the video. You were here that day. You’re the only one who had motive.”
Greyson’s nostrils flared and Sawyer could see the vein pulsing in his temple, the one that bulged whenever he got pissed. “You’re a fucking asshole, you know that? What happens with other people is their business. Sure, maybe I’m pissed at you, but that doesn’t mean I’d tell anyone anything. What they do is between them.”
They were both silent for a minute and then Greyson spoke up again. “I get it. This is because of Kennedy. She’s turned you against me, huh?”
“Bullshit,” Sawyer snapped. “This doesn’t have a damn thing to do with her.”
“No? You’re accusin’ me of lyin’. You’ve never done that before. Seems pretty telling to me. Did she feed you this bullshit?”
“No, actually,” Sawyer lowered his voice, “I saw you.”
“You don’t know what you saw. I’m here a lot of fucking times. You gonna try to pin somethin’ else on me? Sure, maybe I was here, but that doesn’t prove a damn thing.”
“Doesn’t it? You seem awfully defensive for an innocent man.”
“No, I’m defensive because you’re supposed to be my best fucking friend. You’re supposed to believe me when I tell you somethin’. I think your girlfriend doesn’t want us to hang around together. She’s worried that we’ll do what we always do.”
“Which is?”
“Fuck the same women.”
It was Sawyer’s turn to get pissed, but he managed to stay in his place, refusing to get into it with Greyson. He knew the truth.
“Whatever, bro. Believe what you wanna believe,” Greyson said as he turned to the door. “If you want to write me out of your life, go for it. I don’t really give a shit anymore. You got what you wanted after you kept me from the one woman I wanted.”
Sawyer let the statement roll over in his head. “Man, that woman wasn’t who you would’ve spent the rest of your life with. She was playin’ you. She thought you owned this place.” Sawyer motioned around the room with his hands. “They all think you own this place because you don’t bother to set them straight. It’s a game, Greyson. A fucking game and I’m tired of playin’. So yeah, if you wanna know the truth, I want Kennedy. I want her in ways I don’t even fucking understand.”
“So that means you’re off the market forever?” Greyson asked disbelievingly, his eyes narrowed.
“If she’ll have me, then yeah, I’m off the market.” He hadn’t even known the full impact of that possibility until the words came out of his mouth, but he knew they were true. He was done playing. Kennedy was the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. “Look, Greyson,” Sawyer continued, “I’m not gonna fight with you. I’m done fightin’, done arguin’. I don’t know why you did what you did, but—”
“I didn’t fucking do anything. That’s your own guilt talkin’,” Greyson declared. “Fuck you, man. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.”
With that Greyson walked right out the door and Sawyer felt as though he’d lost a part of himself. They’d been friends since high school, but now . . . Shit, he didn’t even know what they were now.
No matter what, Sawyer would never forgive Greyson for trying to damage the reputation of the resort. He didn’t fucking care how pissed Greyson was. That was still no excuse.
chapter TWENTY-FOUR
A week later
Kennedy was leaning against the counter, watching Sawyer, while Jessie finished up a phone call she’d just taken. He had just arrived at the office, the same as he had nearly every single day since the incident with Tim. Although he swore it had nothing to do with his worrying about her, Kennedy had to wonder.