Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I tilted the bottle back and took another drink.
“Gimme that,” Josh said, and I handed him the bottle. He took a long swig and passed it back. We sat there for a while, in the quiet fall evening, lulled by the sounds of Virginia nights.
I swallowed down some more.
“It’s weird, huh? Kell and Chase?” he finally said.
“It shouldn’t be.”
“That doesn’t mean it isn’t. I hate that—what people should and shouldn’t feel. We’re fucking human, and we’re all different. There can’t be rules on how something affects us or doesn’t.” He was right. I was about to tease him about being so damn profound, when he took the bottle from my hand and added, “Well, unless we’re the ones who decide what we should or shouldn’t feel. No one else has the right to decide for another person.” Josh drank more, then said, “Whew. That’s strong. Keep it away from me. I think it burned fire down my esophagus.”
Fine by me. I’d keep my whiskey to myself. What he said continued to tumble around in my brain clunkily, like when you threw tennis shoes in the dryer. “What do you mean by that? Unless we’re the ones to decide?”
“Exactly what I said.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I get it. I love Kell. I want him to be happy. I was iffy on Chase at first, but they’re perfect for each other, and I know there’s nothing Chase wouldn’t do for him. It just…”
“Feels like everyone is moving on without you,” fell from my lips softly. I wanted to suck the words back in, wished I hadn’t let him in that way, but there was nothing I could do about it now.
In my periphery, I saw Josh turn to look at me. “Yeah, that.”
“Wait. What? You feel that way?” Damn, my lips were feeling loose, and my chest was burning.
“Yeah, Grumpy Griff. What, I can’t feel left out with my best friend because I fuck a lot?”
“Please tell me you’re not going to start calling me Grumpy Griff.”
I risked a glance at him, and he gave me a goofy grin. “I like it. Might look into some merch too.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket. “Here, give me your best scowl so I can get a photo real quick.”
“Fuck off,” I said, trying not to scowl, but I was pretty sure it didn’t work. He snapped a picture. “Has anyone ever told you you’re annoying as shit?”
“Just you, Grumpy Griff. I save it all for you.”
“Gee, thanks. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.” I took another drink.
“Come on, GG. You like it. Don’t pretend you don’t.”
I cocked a brow at him. Hey, apparently, when I was buzzed, it made it a little easier to look at him without thinking about that night in the hotel. “How many names are you gonna have for me?”
“As many as I want.”
Damned if I didn’t chuckle before looking away.
We were quiet again for a moment, just sitting there, and it was…comfortable. I’d always liked Josh. I used to think he would be good for Kellan, before Chase came back. It wasn’t until after Chase and Kell got together that we got this weird thing where he teased and frustrated me. But it wasn’t an angry kind of frustration, more a confusing one.
“You really feel the same way?” I found myself asking. “Like everyone is moving on around you?”
“Yeah. Yeah I do. I think that’s normal.”
“It’s strange. I’ve spent my whole life worried about Kell and trying to protect him, and worrying about Chase too because of the shit with his dad when he was young. When I went off to college, I thought it was finally going to be about me. Then my parents died, and I came back, and now…Kellan doesn’t need me. I know that, but it’s like, what do I do now? Who even am I if I’m not focusing on Kellan?” I’d always worried about my baby brother, but maybe all along he should have worried about me. At least Kellan always knew who he was and went for what he wanted. “Shit. I wish I hadn’t said that. It’s like my mouth is moving and I can’t control it.” When Josh didn’t reply, I turned toward him. “What’s up?”
“We should get out of Havenwood for a while, for a change of scenery.”
“What?” jumped out of my mouth. What in the hell was he talking about?
“Anything. I didn’t really think about it before I said it, but it could be fun. We could do things you want to do. Or do nothing at all. Hell, I don’t know, Griff. Clear our heads a bit and have some fun. When was the last time you went away?”
Outside of that night in Richmond, I couldn’t remember, to be honest. “You mean just us?”