AllFreeNovel
Share Us
West might have fucked me over, and he’d been a massive asshole to me for years before that, but he was trying to make amends. He loved my brother, and I’d never seen Eli happier.
That was what mattered. Not our old rivalry or the series of events that had fucked up my life. Everyone else was over it. I needed to stop wallowing and move on, too.
By the time I left my parents’ house, I was an emotionally raw mess. I got into my car and pulled out my phone to text Nick. Maybe he’d want to hang out.
Gray: what are you up to?
I waited a few minutes, but he didn’t answer. That was unusual. Nick always had his phone on him. Sighing, I tried Kai.
Gray: hey I’m in town. You around?
Kai wasn’t as attached to his phone as most people. It could be a while before he replied.
I’d already stopped in and said hello to the couple who’d hooked me up with Evie. They ran a café on the rich side of town and I’d worked on the crew they’d hired to renovate the place before they opened.
My family, Kai, and Marilyn and Tabby were the only connections I had in the town I’d spent the first seventeen years of my life in. How pathetic was that?
My phone buzzed. I opened my texts.
Kai: we’re in Seattle with Alex’s friends
I sighed as loneliness washed over me.
Gray: have fun
Kai: you good?
Gray: yeah
I went to toss my phone onto the passenger seat but paused.
I’d spent the last nine days doing everything in my power to forget about Caleb and how good he made me feel. I wasn’t ashamed of how I’d acted. He’d helped me unlock a part of myself I hadn’t known was there. It didn’t mean anything, other than I was kinkier than I thought.
Nope, the reason I’d been avoiding him was because getting used to whatever the fuck was going on between us was dangerous. It hadn’t escaped me that other than that first night, I was the one who reached out and went to him for an escape.
I didn’t like owing people anything, and I hated when things weren’t equal. I’d learned the hard way that giving people any kind of power over me, or relying on someone who wasn’t family, was a recipe for disaster.
My phone buzzed. I glanced down, expecting a text from Nick. The notification was from River.
I opened my group chat with the twins.
River: boss said he can swing another three days to get the job finished. Same rate. You in?
Gray: hell yeah thanks
River: all good see you in the am
Zane: bring coffee
River: and donuts
Gray: the usual?
River: yep
Zane: duh
I waited to see if either twin would answer. This was good news. The twins’ boss was a dick, but he paid cash and his rates were decent. The extra few days would help me out while I looked for another job.
