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I step quickly, pulling the door open to find Avery holding a bag.
“Hey, girl,” he says. “Thought you could use some grub and company.”
I let him in, relief and disappointment battling inside me. Avery makes a beeline for the kitchen and begins unpacking the contents of the bag onto the counter.
“Did Hawk send you to check on me?” I ask.
Avery looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “I’m offended,” he says. “You’re my friend, Will. I came to check on you all on my own.”
“Sorry,” I say. “I’m out of sorts.”
He slides me a cheeseburger from my favorite place, wrapped in unmarked tin foil, then passes me a cup of fries that look deliciously salty. We sit at my table and I thank him.
“It’s no problem,” he says. “How are you?”
I take a large bite of my cheeseburger, the grilled onions hitting my palette, causing me to sigh.God dammit this is delicious.
“I’m okay, I guess,” I say, shrugging. “I’ve been better though.”
“I bet,” he says. “Are you going to the party?”
I shove two fries into my mouth, not wanting to answer right away.
He stares at me chewing, then laughs. “Congratulations on avoiding my question for a solid twenty extra seconds.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “My brain is telling me not to go, not to put myself through it. My heart is telling me to go, to see him, because it’s worth it.”
“Worth what?” he asks.
“Seeing him.”
Avery nods, understanding sinking in. His brows furrow, forming a deep V on his forehead. “You know we will all be there too; you can lean on us.”
I smile, knowing he’s telling the truth. These guys are like family. And ultimately, I know attempting to avoid Derek forever will cause issues in the dynamic, especially now that he lives closer. Gatherings would be difficult to navigate.
He reaches across the table, placing his hand over mine in a meaningful gesture. “And if it helps,” he says, “I will gladly make snarky jokes at his expense the entire night.”
I laugh, despite not wanting to. “You’re dumb,” I say.
“But you love me,” he says.
And he’s right about that. I love all of them. I would literally help them hide bodies if they needed me to. I give him a silent nod, signaling that I do indeed love him, but also that I’ll go to the party.
It’s time to face all of it.
REALITY
DEREK
Icheck the time on the clock sitting on my new mantle. People should be arriving any moment now. There’s like four different charcuterie boards staged on my large kitchen island and I’ve stocked the fridge with beer, wine, and several other options.
I’m excited to show everyone my new place. I scrambled to make sure the main rooms were furnished and had some semblance of décor before today.Does that mean I paid a decorator? Yes. I feel no shame about it.
Before everyone arrives, I slip back into my bedroom and take a deep breath. The thought of possibly seeing Willette tonight makes me nervous. I want her to come, I do. I miss her. But I don’t know if things will be awkward or not. I mean, hell, okay they probably will be. But I guess I hope we can get past it.
I search my closet for a belt, deciding I need one with this outfit. I reach back to grab my brown one and a small box catches my eye. I’d forgotten about it. Willette’s birthday gift to me. I never opened it. I know I stored it in here at some point, making a mental note to come back to it. I didn’t open it that night or in the nights that followed, when I was staying in her apartment without her. I don’t know why.
I pull it out, fingering the red ribbon. The simple black box gives no hint as to what’s inside. I sit at the edge of my bed, putting the box down beside me and closing my eyes for a moment. A deep exhale escapes me as I run my hands through my hair.
