“What?”Pure shock rang out of my voice.“You tricked me.”
“I hydrated you, and I suggest you hydrate some more.”
“I’ll take that.”Another hand reached in front of me, and I glanced over to see Rhone, who had Jack balanced effortlessly in one arm.The pup gave Rhone’s cheek a quick swipe of the tongue.Rhone plucked the glass from my hand, and I frowned.
“Is this an intervention?”I asked, looking at the men who were like my brothers and now were… I wasn’t sure.By losing Rose, did I lose my family, too?Because they weren’t my brothers.They were hers.
Laurent turned me so I was facing him directly.His blue eyes were far too pretty for someone who could hurt me.“You didn’t lose anyone, you idiot.”
“Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes,” they all said in unison.
“My inner dialogue is betraying me!”
“Dude, you’re spiraling.”Nero braced my shoulder with one hand as if I might tip over.Joke was on him; I just swayed in the other direction.Laurent’s hand jumped back up, holding me in place.
“Let me spiral in peace.”I tried to climb back on the barstool, but Laurent and Nero were freakishly strong.Franc stepped closer, and I swear he caused a full-on eclipse.
“This is from two drinks?”Franc asked his bestie behind the bar.He and Brady went way back.Farther back than even me and Rose.They had like a good twenty-plus years on us.They were like an old married couple.A slight giggle escaped my mouth.
“We are not an old married couple.”Franc sighed, running a hand over his jaw.
Did I say that out loud, too?
“Yes,” they answered, voices blending around me.
“Whoops.”
I giggled again.People always called me and Rose an old married couple.Except we weren’t married.I didn’t believe in marriage because my dad turned into a prick after he and my mom married, and Rose didn’t deserve that.Marriage ruined everything.It made me realize all happy bubbles were temporary, and it’s only a matter of time before they popped.
“Pop,” I said and poked at the air.
Laurent’s grip tightened as he and Nero steered me toward the door.
The outside heat hit me like a punch in the face.I couldn’t wait for fall.Sadness washed over me, chilling my heated skin.Fall was our favorite season.Apple picking, pumpkin picking, Halloween… no more couple costumes.
Who was going to be the egg to my bacon?The cookie to my milk?The Taylor Swift to my Travis Kelce?Not that I could fill out the shoulder pads.
I plopped into the backseat of Franc’s SUV and rested my head on the cool leather.Nero slid in on one side, Rhone on the other.Rhone only had two inches on Nero, but his long legs barely fit.He angled his knees awkwardly and nudged my shoulder.“For what it’s worth.You couldn’t be a prick if you tried.”
Shit, I must’ve said that out loud too.My lips parted, but before words could come out, I dove over Rhone, flung the door open, and threw up the only things I’d put in my stomach today—coffee and cocktails.
***
Sunlight assaulted my eyelids like some kind of torture.I squeezed my eyes tighter as if they could magically get sucked into the sockets and plunge into darkness.It was a weak attempt.I grabbed for the comforter, fully prepared to burrito myself until further notice, but the material felt wrong.
I pried one eye open and glanced at the plain blue comforter.“Where the hell am I?”I rolled, immediately regretting that decision and every life choice that brought me to this very moment.My hand rested on my head as if it could push the throbbing away.
My hand swung around, searching for my phone.Something smacked my knuckles and flew across the room.With a moan, I forced both eyelids open and sat up.Pain exploded in my temples, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and that damn sun deserved to be arrested for assault.
“Rise and shine!”Ben’s voice boomed into the room.
“Are you using a megaphone?”I groaned.
“No, but I could have that arranged.”
“Please don’t.”I dragged the unfamiliar comforter over my head as if it could shield me from his unnecessary enthusiasm.
