Page 21 of His Wicked Revenge

My phone buzzes right when I climb into the car. I spent an hour at the cemetery without any interruptions. I won’t lie; I didn’t miss having a cell phone while in prison.

At first, not having that connection to the real world was hard. Not checking my phone every five seconds for an email or a text. It was liberating.

I lift myself off the seat, wiggling the device out of the front pocket of my jeans. Settling back into the chair and starting the car, I finally look at the screen to see a text from Myles.

What are your plans for the night?

Seeing as I don’t have a social life, nothing.

You do have a social life. It just happens only to involve me and your family.

There is nothing wrong with that, by the way. I’d hate for you to go out and find new people to socialize with.

I chuckle at his response before I type my own.

I don’t know; there is a new guy at the shop who asked to get drinks one night. Maybe I’ll see if he wants to go tonight.

I laugh to myself as I hit send. It’s a lie. A new guy is at work, but he is a quiet mouse who is only there to get the job done and not make friends. I just like getting under Myles's skin.

What’s his name and address so I can kick his ass for trying to steal my best friend?

And don’t you dare make plans with him. It will break my heart if you do. Your sister and I are having a party tonight. Chloe really wants you to be there.

Relaxing back into the car seat, I blow out a breath and stare out the windshield. Spending a night around people I don’t know doesn’t sound like fun.

I’d rather go home and hang out with my dad or Carter. My nephew was ecstatic that I was home and couldn’t wait to show me all the drawings he did while I was away.

Carter has come a long way since drawing dinosaurs as a six-year-old. Now, he draws his favorite characters from movies and TV shows and creates his own designs. I am amazed at how his skill has grown.

I exhale before my eyes fall back to the phone in my hand. My thumbs hover over the keyboard before they start typing.

I’m not sure I’m up for a social gathering.

I understand, but you’ve been home for almost a month. Tonight, there will be people there who are going to the wedding or who will be in the wedding party. It would be nice for you to meet them.

Wait… do you have other groomsmen besides me?

You’re my best man, dipshit. And because Chloe had more than one person in her wedding party, I had to ask some of the guys at the office to be groomsmen.

We aren’t taking no for an answer. Be here at seven, or I will hunt you down and drag you to our house myself.

Okay, Dad.

Myles responds with a kissing emoji and then tells me he is going into a meeting. I set my phone in the cupholder and grip the steering wheel; one night around people other than my family won’t hurt.

I can do this.

I just have to plaster on a fake smile for Chloe and Myles's sake. I know most of Chloe’s friends anyway, and I met a select few of Myles’s co-workers when he invited me out for a beer with them.

Once.

One night. How bad could it be?

My palms sweat as I wrap my fingers around their front door handle. When I got out of the car, I could hear the faint music from the house. The beat of whatever song is playing inside picks up, and my heart matches the rhythm.

Inhaling a deep breath, I twist the handle and open the front door. Laughter floods my ears right when I walk through. Now, hearing the sound of everyone inside has me questioning if I should be here.

I breathe harder at the thought of being around a group of people. The last large group of people I was with were prisoners.