I laugh at Paisley. “You’re crazy.”
“Thank you. Now let’s get going.”
Tristan
We drove the last sixteen hours taking turns at the wheel. I’m pretty sure at the beginning, we were stopping every couple hours to get something to eat. Apollo kept saying he was hungry. Finally, after the third stop, Eros told him he needed to suck it up and starve for the next few hours. It was a very loud car ride and then he switched to saying he needed to pee or poop. But we finally made it to Valor Springs and checked into the hotel. Tomorrow, we’ll head to the cemetery where my parents are. They’re in a niche together and Lorenzo said that he’ll make sure they have a nice one back in Lake Renegade too.
“You doing okay?” Armando asks.
“It’s weird being back here. Everything I see reminds me of my parents. And then I start to feel bad that I haven’t come back to see them. I’ve been gone for four years and if I’m being honest, I don’t think I really ever wanted to come back.”
“I can understand that. But you know that they’re proud of who you’ve become.”
“I really hope so. When I lost them, I thought I was done. But then my coach and his wife stepped in and helped me finish school and follow my dream of becoming a Marine.”
“And that led you to Lake Renegade. Our family wasn’t always part of the Lake Renegade family. We’re originally from the Southside. But things happened and Elio and Enea sat down to talk. Now we’re all one big family.”
I love how Lake Renegade has become home for different families. I can’t wait to get back and start my new job.
CHAPTER SIX
Lily
“Okay, it’s present time. I know we usually do it after we get back home. But I can’t wait that long for you to open it,” I say to Cora.
Paisley and I each hand her an envelope.
“Did you win the lottery and you’re giving me a cut of it?” Cora laughs.
We watch her open the first envelope.
“Ohhh. This is too much, Paisley. Five nights at a hotel of my choice? Come on. That’s crazy.”
“No, crazy is the other envelope.” Paisley winks at me.
“No! Are you fucking serious?” Cora exclaims as she looks at the two of us.
“Wait. But this is in Chicago. You both know I hate traveling alone.” She pouts.
“Well then it’s a good thing you won’t be,” I say as Paisley and I show her our tickets on our phones.
“I love you both so much. These are the best presents I’ve ever gotten.”
“Even better than the strippers last year?” I laugh.
“This is better than that. I get to see Presley Peligue live. Right in front of me, maybe even touch him.”
“And you’ll get to meet them. The VIP package is a meet and greet and we get to be there when they do their soundcheck. Plus, I got you a photo op with Presley and also one with the whole band.”
“For real? That’s incredible. Seriously, I don’t know how to thank you both.” Cora sniffles.
We all stand up and hug each other. I don’t know what I’d do without these two in my life. We finish up dinner and decide to go to the club that’s close to my house. Paisley and Cora will crash at my place after we have our birthday drinks. I love birthday weekends.
The place is packed when we get there, so we head straight to the bar and grab the last three seats. We come here often, so the bouncers and bartenders all know us. It makes us feel safer coming here. They always make sure if we drink a little too much, they call us a taxi.
“It’s busy in here tonight,” Paisley says as we wait for our drinks.
“Is there something going on, you think?” I ask as I look around.
