Page 47 of Vicious Titan

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Elliot

The damn lounge chair. That’s where I’m sitting when I spot Asher stepping onto the patio and make his way over to sit in the one beside me. There have been many times he’s shown up at my house to find me here. This time feels different. Shame has weighed heavily on me since I’d left his house. I was fully ready to fight him, and that’s not something I’ve ever wanted to do before. He’s the one I fight beside not against.

“It’s Victoria’s fault I’m here,” Asher says, clearly annoyed. “She wouldn’t tell you and said I had to even though we both agree you don’t listen.”

“This is a good pep talk,” I laugh, looking over to him.

“It’s not a pep talk.”

“Good thing,” I joke.

“I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.”

“That’s it? You don’t even know why I’m apologizing.”

“Doesn’t matter. I forgive you and happy as hell Victoria always gets her way and made you drag your ass over here.”

“Whatever. I prepared a whole speech on the way over here.”

“Is it a good one?”

“How the hell am I supposed to know?”

“Well, let’s hear it.”

“You really are a pain in the ass.” Asher shakes his head, looking out over the yard.

“I try.”

“Thank you. For protecting her.”

“I don’t think you would’ve hurt her. That’s not you, even angry, you’re not like him.”

“It makes me sick that it was from me, but now I know you really will do anything for her. You wouldn’t fight me when I hit you, but you looked like you were ready to kill me when I was a threat to her.”

I can’t respond because that was a good speech. One that reminds me how much I care about her and how happy I am to have my best friend back—to have both of them in my life, and neither wants to deck me in the nose. That probably won’t last for long, but at least they are both in my life. It can’t get any better than that.

The joy is short lived when I hear my father say my name. Looking across the patio, he waves me into the house before walking back through the door.

Damn it.

When I don’t immediately run into the house, he pokes his head out, then walks over to where we are reclined.

“I need to speak with you, Elliot.”

“I’m listening.”

My dad looks over to Asher then back to me. “We should speak in private.”

“I’ll tell him later so you’d really be doing me a favor to just say whatever is on your mind right here.”

He looks pretty pissed but he gives in. “Your mother has been released.”

“Yep. I know.”