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“I’m starving,” Tex said. “Where the hell is my burger?”

“I gave it to Joyride,” Aiden said without batting an eye. “He needed it more.”

“What the— Damn, you could warn a guy if you’re gonna steal his food.”

I pushed the plate toward him. “Here. I’m not that hungry.”

Hollywood pushed it back toward me. “Nope. You heard the doc. You need to eat.”

I frowned. “Eating won’t make me feel better.”

“It’ll make us feel better,” Hollywood countered. “We’re not dumb, Joey. We know you’re probably going to want to drink yourself into a stupor later. Get some food in your belly first.”

I heaved a sigh. It sucked that my friends knew me so well. Of course, tomorrow, when I was a little less hungover, maybe I’d be grateful. Right now, though? Not so much.

I picked up the burger and took a bite. It settled heavily into my stomach. A second bite went down easier, though, my appetite kicking in. I hadn’t eaten much all day. I’d been too nervous.

Tex eyeballed Hollywood. “Man, I thought you loved me. But you’d let me starve to take care of this brat.”

I smiled. Tex always acted like he didn’t like me. And for a while, it was even true. But it was mostly an act now, one that had turned into a comfort. It was a little like having a grumpy big brother.

“Oh, settle down,” Aiden said. “I ordered another burger for you. It should be up any minute.”

“Well, hot damn, you should have led with that.” Tex pushed back his chair and stood up. “I’ll be back. Anyone want anything?”

“I’ll take another,” Hollywood said, lifting his nearly empty pint glass.

Knight pointed to his bottle of Miller, too.

I polished off my burger and fries while Tex was up at the bar. Conversation gradually shifted away from my disaster, which I was grateful for. A distraction from my problems was more comforting than the greasy bar food, though they both worked their magic.

I was calmer by the time Ghost stood and said he was going to head out.

He wasn’t the most social butterfly, so the fact he’d come out for me meant a lot. “Thanks for being here, Ghost. And for always telling me how it is.”

He nodded. “Life will be shit for a while, but you’ll survive. We all do.”

On that happy note, he headed for the door. Soon after, Knight threw some cash on the table and stood up. “We’re going to head out, too.”

“Okay. Thanks for…” I shrugged. “I was spinning out.”

“Sure,” Knight said. “I know it didn’t go exactly as planned, but you faced your demons, and that’s a big damn deal.”

“And hey, at least your demons aren’t tryin’ to murder you,” Tex put in.

Everyone gave him a look.

“Really?” Hollywood said.

“What? It’s true. Knight had to fight for his life.”

I nodded. “Guess I’m getting off easy again.” I chewed my cheek. “I kind of wish Kit would punch me, though. Dakota, too. Like… if a few bruises made them feel better, I’d happily take that pain.”

“Ah, Joey, no. Suffering isn’t the way,” Hollywood said, forehead creased. “The point of this was to let go of your guilt and try to move forward.”

I knew that logically. But how could I move on when they never could? Dakota would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

There was no world where that guilt went away. I’d been kidding myself.