AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 10
Fox~
Joshua was staring at me, his mouth open, his eyes blinking rapidly, and I was pretty sure that he wasn’t breathing. If he started to turn blue, I was going to have to jump in and do something.
Finally, he was able to speak, but it wasn’t anything profound. “Holy shit.”
I grinned because I couldn’t help it. “Yeah, holy shit.”
It was past eight in the evening, early by college Friday night standards, and we were sitting in Joshua’s living room, a few beers already down. Having been my best friend for so long, the second that his front door had swung open, he’d known that something was wrong. So, after hustling me inside, letting me get situated in his guest room, then letting me know that Marley was at her friend’s house and would be home later, he demanded to know what was wrong.
Leaving everything out about The Order and the real reason that Kincaid had dumped me three years ago, I had invented a bunch of half-truths, telling him how Kincaid and I had gotten back together, how she had killed August, and how we’d gotten into a huge fight about it. August’s death had made the news, so it hadn’t been an issue to tell him. Even though Saxton’s family had done what they could to keep the media from making Kincaid more of a news story than she already was on her own, there were enough people at HU who knew that it’d been Kincaid who killed him, so I wasn’t exactly giving away government secrets here.
“I…” Joshua stopped, and I didn’t blame him. It was a lot to absorb.
“I know,” I said, taking pity on him.
The poor guy was still blinking. “I just…you know…most people don’t get back in the water after they’ve been attacked by a shark,” he pointed out carefully. Being my best friend, he’d been there for the worst of it. Even miles away, he’d seen me through the hardest of it.
“Yeah, well…I guess I just like the water too much to let a little thing like a shark attack keep me away,” I drawled out sardonically.
“Well, I mean…I was being kind,” he grimaced. “When the attack leaves you short a few limbs, is it even possible to get back in the water?”
I let out a self-depreciating laugh at that rather colorful description of what Kincaid had done to me. “I never said that I wasn’t drowning, Josh.”
His shoulders sagged, and I was really starting to feel bad for the guy. You’d think he was the one who was going through it. “I just…I mean, I get it. She’s Kincaid Black. I’ve seen the pictures. She’s gorgeous as all get out. Plus, the girl can slay dragons in one fell swoop. I mean, I don’t blame a man…”
“But?” I asked, a small grin lining my lips because Joshua really was a good dude.
“I just…the last time ended brutally, and this time hasn’t been no picnic from the sound of it. Especially, not if you’re here.”
“Maybe I just missed you,” I joked.
“C’mon, Fox,” he muttered. “I just can’t see many guys surviving the…brutality a second time.”
It sucked not being able to tell him the complete truth. If I could, he’d understand a whole lot better. Though, truthfully, I wasn’t sure anything could help me right now. I really believed that no advice existed regarding how to handle Kincaid Black.
“Look, I’m not saying…it’s the best decision that I ever made, but…I can’t undo it.” I shook my head, regretting so damn much. “I just need…a breather, I suppose.”
“So…but it’s over, right?” he asked. “I mean, considering that you told her if you never saw her again that it’d be too soon…”
Try as I may, I’ve been doing my best to get that horrid memory out of my head. With anger no longer coloring my judgement, regret’s been eating at me since my plane landed. The thought of truly never seeing Kincaid again was a stifling one. Even after breaking up with me three years ago, I still saw her on campus. She’d still been within reach. I still hadn’t lost her completely.
“I don’t think we were ever together,” I told him honestly. “Looking back, Kincaid never said one word about forever. It was all sex.” My eyes narrowed in thought. “I think maybe that’s all it’s ever been. I’m not even sure anymore.”
“Well, we’re not going to figure it out in one day,” Josh said unhelpfully. “So, how about we drink the problem away for tonight, then tackle it again tomorrow if you’re still confused?”
“I-”
“Josh?” a voice called out as the front door opened.
Josh stood up, a big goofy smile on his face. “Hey, baby.”
A very pretty blonde came walking through the door, and her face transformed with a beautiful smile as she looked at Josh. “Decided to come home early to meet your friend.”
I stood up and waited for Marley to make her way through the living room. I stuck my hand out, and she took it. “Hi, Marley. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Fox,” she greeted easily, like she’s known me for years. “Joshua has told me so much about you.” She grinned. “He swears you’re one of the best parts of him.”
