Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“How the fuck would I know?” I barked.
“You live together!”
“We don’t fuckin’ shower together,” Bas murmured, laughing at her.
“Hey, party people,” Nova’s little brother called out from the front door.
“Yay, Bird!” Myla yelled. “Come hang with us! These people are boring!”
“Looks like you’re havin’ a pretty good time to me,” he joked, rounding the couch. “I can hear you guys from the driveway.”
“Bas is going to tell us about all the piercings he has in unmentionable places,” Frankie told him, bouncing in her seat.
“Please don’t,” Bird said to Bas.
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it,” he agreed.
“You want a drink?” Lou asked, moving to get out of the nest she’d made herself in the corner of the sectional.
“Nah, don’t get up,” Bird replied, pointing his thumb at Nova and Rumi. “I’m just the DD for these two.”
“Aw, you’re leaving,” Frankie complained. “It’s not even that late.”
“We’re mature now,” Rumi announced. “We go to bed early.”
“You’re old,” Myla countered. “You can say it. You’re old.”
“That too,” Nova joked. “Thanks for picking us up, brother.”
“No worries,” Bird replied, swinging his keys around on his finger.
“Remember what we talked about,” Rumi ordered, pointing at me.
“What?”
“Earlier,” he glared, swaying a little into Nova.
“Not ringin’ a bell.” I shook my head.
“You know—”
“He’s fucking with you, baby,” Nova told him, steering him toward the door. “Come on.”
“You’re an asshole,” Rumi groused, looking at me over his shoulder.
“Love you, too, Rum,” I called back as Nova led him out the door.
“We should play a drinking game,” Myla announced once they were gone.
“You should be drinkin’ water,” Cian replied, moving into Rumi’s spot on the couch. “Fuck, I thought he’d never get outta my spot.”
“It’s kind of sad that you have a designated spot on the couch,” Frankie joked.
“This spot is perfect,” Cian explained. “It’s exactly the right distance from the coffee table so I can do this.” He threw his feet up on the table and sighed loudly.
“Why do we party here?” Frankie asked Lou and Myla. “Seriously.”
“No idea,” Myla replied, snickering. “So boring.”
“Yeah, let’s go,” Lou added, acting like she was going to get out of her nest.
“Sit,” Bas ordered. “None of your drunk asses are goin’ anywhere tonight.”
“Bossy,” Myla murmured.
“Drunk on power,” Lou agreed.
“What’s he gonna do,” Frankie asked, looking Bas up and down. “Stop us?”
“Try it,” Bas replied with a smile.
“You’re all exhaustin’,” I mumbled, closing my eyes as I leaned my head back against the couch.
“You’re just tired because you got up so early,” Myla countered.
“To go get your girlfriend,” Frankie sang.
The silence that followed was telling. When I opened my eyes, Myla was glaring at a wide-eyed Frankie.
“She was never my girlfriend,” I muttered. “Not then and not now.”
“She was something,” Lou said quietly. “We all remember it.”
“Is she still gorgeous?” Frankie asked curiously.
“Yep,” Myla replied. “She looks exactly the same except for the big pregnant belly.”
I’d forgotten that she was at Otto’s when we’d gotten back earlier. I hadn’t even gone inside. As soon as I knew Noel had been delivered there safely I’d bailed like a fucking coward.
“I can’t believe she has two kids already,” Lou murmured. “I can’t keep a houseplant alive.”
“Almost three kids,” Myla pointed out.
“No, thank you,” Frankie snorted. “I’m not having kids until I’m like thirty.”
“I doubt it was her choice,” Lou said. “Wasn’t she married?”
“The husband died,” Myla replied. “Last night. That’s why she called Esther.”
“Jesus,” Frankie murmured.
“Enough,” Cian ordered, his voice low. “How would you feel if some chicks you barely knew were dissectin’ your life.”
“It’s not like we’re talking shit,” Myla argued.
My shoulders tightened with every word spoken and what little distance I’d gained from the situation was gone. Now the only thing I could think of was the fact that Noel was less than ten minutes away. I finally knew what the fuck had happened after she left, or at least the bones of it, and it was somehow worse than not knowing.
“She’s gonna have a hard enough time dealin’ without the three of you runnin’ your mouths,” I snapped, getting to my feet.
“We weren’t talking shit!” Myla repeated, throwing her hands in the air.
“Noel’s life is none of your fuckin’ business.” My voice rose, the stress of the day finally too much. Fuck.
“It’s my business if you’re going to be panting after her again,” Myla shot back snottily.
“Fuck you,” I muttered. “Grow the fuck up.”
I turned on my heel and stomped out of the room. I’d never fucking panted after Noel. It had never been about that. I’d been in love with her. I’d wanted to protect her and spend time with her. We’d fucked exactly once, in the back of my car, less than a week before her brother had moved them out of state with no warning and demolished all the plans we’d had. It had fucked me up for years, wondering if he’d somehow found out and that’s why he’d suddenly relocated her and her mom, wondering if I’d just left her alone or been more careful not to get caught if they would’ve been able to stay in Eugene.