Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Let’s roll.”
We walk into Ash and Briar’s house, late enough that no one’s paying attention, but not so late that I piss them off. They’re all used to my antisocial ways. I usually slip in once everyone is already liquored up and dip out without a word an hour later.
“You came,” Briar says when she sees me, voice soft. She leaves Asher’s side to walk over to me, then throws her arms around my torso, hugging me tight.
“I said I would,” I say, tussling her blonde hair. She pulls back, hair all mussed with a cheesy smile on her face.
“Thank you.”
“Congratulations,” I say before making my way over to Ash. He gives me the bro handshake with the one-armed hug while Briar greets Cordell. Adrian gives us a nod as he picks a roll from the plate on the counter, shoving the entire thing into his mouth. I say hi to everyone: my buddy Cam—Cordell’s brother—his girl, Mollie, and their kid River, who’s toddling around in a Burton beanie. I’m surprised to see Briar’s brother, Dash, and her mom, Mrs. Vale, here, too.
“What, no girl distracting you tonight?” Ash says sarcastically.
I flip him off instead of telling him to fuck off for Briar’s mom’s benefit.
“What girl?” Adrian asks around a mouthful of bread, just as Sutton rounds the corner…with Logan. We lock eyes, neither one of us expecting to see each other. She’s wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt almost the same shade as her porcelain skin that fits snug against her tits and the curve of her hips, tight, black pants, and black boots.
“Oh, hey,” Sutton says when she notices me. “This is my new friend, Lo.”
“Yeah, we’ve met,” I say, trying not to stare.
Logan gives a wave.
“Are you serious?” Sutton says, looking between the two of us. “Why does this keep happening to me? Can’t I have one friend to myself?”
Everyone snickers, remembering how Cam and Mollie were in a situation like this one not too long ago. Except theirs was much more complicated.
Fucking small towns.
“All right, now that we all know each other, let’s eat.” This comes from Adrian. I’ve never been grateful for his big mouth until this moment.
We stack our plates full of lasagna, salad, and bread, and I’d bet my shop that Briar planned it on purpose, knowing it’s my favorite, though she’d never admit it. This is a get-together to celebrate her, yet she makes my favorite meal. That’s just how she is. Her thoughtfulness used to make me uncomfortable, still does sometimes, but I’ve mostly learned to accept it by now.
Everyone finds a seat wherever they can. I opt for the couch, and Ash sits next to me, while Briar sits at the kitchen table with her mom, brother, Sutton, and Logan. Cord, Cam, and Mollie sit at the counter while River, who refuses to be contained to her seat, plays at their feet as they bribe her to eat her lasagna, bite by bite.
“How’s married life?” I ask Ash. They’re not married yet, but they for damn sure act like it. I met Ash when he was just a fucked-up kid. He was in a bad place, I gave him a job and a place to stay, and we’ve been family ever since. Truthfully, he reminded me of myself. The only difference is Ash’s guilt and self-loathing is misplaced, whereas I’m one hundred percent responsible for the mistakes that plague me. There’s no way around it.
Asher is only a few years younger than me, but he seems to think I have my shit together. I do on the outside, but inside? I’m more fucked up than he knows. I just don’t care to show it.
“Can’t complain.” He shrugs, picture of nonchalance, as always, but I speak fluent Asher, and I know that really means life couldn’t be better. He’s fucking crazy over that girl, and he almost fucked it up. Several times.
“Her dad still a piece of shit?”
“Pretty much.” He leans forward with his elbows on his knees and tosses his wadded-up napkin onto his plate. “I don’t think anyone really hears from him much, unless it’s Christmas or someone’s birthday. He did offer Dash a job, though.” Ash huffs out a sardonic laugh. “I don’t know why the fuck he thought that would go over well.”
“What about you? You doing all right?”
Ash’s head is down, eyes on the floor, and he nods his answer. We don’t usually do this whole girl-talk thing, but I feel it’s my duty to check in on him every now and then. Especially since his dad passed a couple of years ago. They, like most families, had a dysfunctional relationship, and I know he feels guilty for how things went down at the end. I never met my parents—have no idea if they’re alive or dead—but regardless, we’re in the no parent club together.