Page 60 of Torqued

“I’ll go start the shower.”

17

Spencer

“Why do you look like you’re an escaped convict?” Rush snickers, studying my face. This is a terrible idea, considering I think I might vomit on him.

I swallow past the knot in my throat, praying for a reprieve from nausea. “Can’t a girl be nervous? You said last night that the entire neighborhood was going to be here, that’s intimidating.”

“Not for you, Spencer.” He tugs me to the side, leading me down a path to the beach. “Tell me because my mind is going everywhere.”

“Rush, I love you, and I’m good. I’m being a silly girl, let me.”

His hand cups my face, drying the trailing tear with his thumb. “Promise you’ll tell me when you can?”

“I promise if I find it important enough to fret over.” I place my lips on him, imprinting it in my memories. Days like today, I feel like he can chase all of my demons away. If only I would tell him they needed to be chased away.

He takes my hand, helping me back through the foot trail. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

We meander through the yard of his uncle, his dads’ brother, Crawford. It’s a sprawling house sitting next to the beach with a pool. I feel like I should know him, but I tuck it away as the crowd overwhelms me when we round the corner.

“Rush!” Boone waves us over, standing in a group of people that look our age. Sure enough, they’re close.

“Spencer? No one told me you were coming.” Thayer, my cousin, and One’s sister runs over to me and drags me into a hug.

“I didn’t know until late last night, I’m so happy to be here.”

She winks at Rush, and he scowls. “Are you trying to get Hardy to kill me? Let me spot Walker in case I need to throw him off my trail.”

“Sweet tea and rice, he is fine. Y’all need to get over him.” She swats at Rush.

“Spencer, it’s good to see you.” One walks over to me, carrying a baby.

I smile at both of them with a wave. “Hey there. Who is this?”

“Gosh, they have so many they need a numerical system.” Chord sneaks up behind him, taking the baby from his arms. Both One and Chord greet me with a hug and Rush with a manly handshake.

“Rush,” Boone approaches us with another man, looking eerily familiar. “Creed’s home.”

“Creed, it’s good to see. I’m sure you’ve been bombarded with a million stories, so let's start with something most people don’t know. This is Spencer, the woman that brought me to my knees.”

“It’s good to meet you.” Creed takes my hand lightly as if he’s not sure he should. “I hear if she doesn’t scare the hell outta you, she’s not worth the time.”

Boone grabs his heart. “Truer words have never been spoken.”

“Hey, Rush.” A gorgeous woman slides up next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. “Margo said she was gorgeous and sassy as hell. So, we’re best friends now.”

Rush laughs, turning to me. “Mackenzie, this is Spencer. Spencer, this is Margo and Maisyn’s cousin. Oh, and Boone’s wife.”

“It’s so good to meet you, they talk about you often.”

Creed chuckles. “I would too if I could remember who in the hell everyone is.”

“Dude, same.” I nod, laughing with him. Creed throws his arm over my shoulder, howling. “What?”

Everyone is wide-eyed, shocked is a better word to describe their faces. “I was ambushed and lost my memory.”