I hope to God he’s right.
Chapter 16
Griffin
October, Age 29
“‘Sup bitches!?”
Jack and I both nearly jump out of our skin as David bursts through my front door, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, twelve pack of Shiner in hand.
“Jesus, David, maybe knock next time?” I say, Jack swearing under his breath. “And why did you bring your shit inside, aren’t you staying with your parents?”
“Bro I haven’t knocked on the door of this house since we were six,” he says, tossing his bag on the kitchen floor and loading the beer in the fridge. “I’m not starting now just because I’m only here every couple months.”
“You need to start locking the door,” Jack mutters, mostly to himself.
Unfazed, David flops onto the couch, stretching his legs out in front of him and cracking his neck. “That drive fucking sucks, how do I forget that every damn time?”
“Maybe you should come back to Larkspur now that Jack’s back,” I say, “I don’t know why you stayed in Lubbock in the first place.”
“Jacky boy is back? Like permanently?” David asks, like this is the first time he’s heard this information.
“You knew that, dumbass,” Jack says, rolling his eyes. “We literally talked about it last week.”
“I never remember what you tell me,” David says unapologetically. “There’s not enough room in my brain for all that shit.”
“Oh, so what you’re saying is you can’t hear your own memories over the sound of the clown music. Got it.”
A burst of laughter erupts from my chest as David flips Jack the finger. Despite his heart attack of an entrance, I’m glad to see him. The three of us under this roof makes me feel like I’m seventeen again.
“I’m so stoked for this reunion,” David says, rubbing his hands together with a diabolical grin on his face. “I can’t wait to see who grew up hot. And find out who’s in jail.”
“Remind me why you came a full month early again?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose. Not even five minutes and he’s already stressing me out.
“Lubbock is boring as hell man,” he groans. “WhydidI stay there?” He pauses, then continues with a sinister grin, “Maybe I’ll move back, like you said.
“I take it back,” I joke, lifting my hands in fake-surrender. “Don’t threaten me like that.”
“God help us all,” Jack sighs as David cackles maniacally.
“Anyway, back to this reunion shit,” David says. “Y’all know who’s coming?”
“Not sure,” I say, looking at Jack. “You?”
“I’ve heard some names, but I don’t know who makes the full list.”
David looks back and forth between me and Jack before exhaling an annoyed huff. “Okay let me rephrase in a way you bozos will understand. Is Ellie coming?”
My pulse pounds in my ears, breath hitching in my chest–I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard Eleanor’s name out loud. Hell, I can’t even remember the last time I thought about her.
This morning, you lying son of a bitch.
We both look to Jack for an answer. He’s the only one who still hears from her, though I don’t know if he’s talked to her recently. He doesn’t bring it up. I don’t ask.
“Um.” Clearing his throat, he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah, she’s coming. She’s already here, actually.”
Pretty sure my heart just stopped completely.
