Page 139 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Dale and Rid seemed to find plenty to fuss at each other about. Bull’s father went on about the headlines he’d read in his newspaper, which everyone ignored. And Amelia told Syn twice that he looked like he needed more potatoes, as she continued to pile them high on his plate.

Better them, than those damn asparagus.

He ate…and ate…and ate.

Not to appease anyone, but because the food and the company were so good.

They let him laugh and listen to the noisy joy of a family.

At one point Rid leaned across Dale to ask him if he was interested in riding lessons. “Fox said Nimbus seemed to really like you.”

Syn almost said an immediate no but then lifted a brow. “I hadn’t thought about it. Um, maybe I’ll try it.”

Fox nodded, a wide grin spreading his lips. “Be down here at five-thirty. Breakfast is at six sharp, and lessons start at seven.”

“I don’t trust a man who don’t wake before dawn. What kinda lazy sap gets up at noon and just steps into his britches and boots like half the day ain’t already over?” Bull’s father said out of nowhere. “Just stay in the damn bed.”

It was so fucking random, Syn laughed until he had to look down at his plate.

Something in him loosened another notch.

After dinner, Syn showered in the guest bathroom and climbed into the comfortable bed beneath the worn-soft quilt.

The room was quiet. Not city quiet…real quiet. The only sound was crickets chirping and wind flowing.

Syn lay on his back for an hour listening to the nothing as Fox’s words continued to circle.

Furi made a bad choice, with the best intentions. Then he followed you to Ro’s and stood there with his heart in his hands while you gave him your back.

Syn closed his eyes.

He saw Furi standing at Ro’s patio door.

He’d heard the break in his voice when he apologized. Heard him say he’d hated that he gave strangers what was Syn’s. Heard him put his blood pressure pills, multivitamins, protein bars, and peppermint tea on Ro’s kitchen counter like some love-infused care package.

Syn pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes.

After another long hour, he reached for his phone on the nightstand.

He hovered his thumb over Furi’s contact, labeled My World, staring at the screen until his vision blurred.

“Fuck. I miss you so goddamn much,” he whispered into the silence.

He pressed call before his pain could talk him out of it.

The phone barely completed one rang.

“Corbin.”

Furi’s voice was hoarse and raw as if he hadn’t spoken in days.

Syn closed his eyes.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.

Furi inhaled softly. “Are you okay?”

Syn swallowed. “No.”