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Brody
“I wonder if the Outer Banks is really like this,” Tate gasps, sitting forward, stuffing some chips into her mouth. “This is wild.”
“You mean, is everyone obsessed with treasure hunts? Or do kids just do whatever the fuck they please, like sink boats, have parties, start fires, and try to kill each other?” I shrug. “Definitely.”
While I love the show, the scenes with JJ aren’t always easy to watch. When his drunk of a father beat the ever-living piss out of him just for existing, that was hard for me to see. Because that dude and I basically live the same life. Only his is made up for a TV show. And mine? Well, mine is just the cold, pathetic truth. Still, watching it somehow cut deep. Even if it wasn’t real.
I hear a knock at the door and hit pause on the remote.
“Rock, paper, scissors for who gets up and goes to see who that is?” Tate says, raising an eyebrow. “I’m tired.”
Rolling my eyes at her, I stand. “Fine, I’ll get it, ya lazy sack of shit.”
“Thanks!” she calls sweetly.
Tate and Link have gotten their shit together—finally. Though it took her getting attacked for him to pull his head out of his own ass, he did it, and that’s what matters. And the fact that they are lovers now and not enemies sure makes my life easier.
Yanking the door open, I’m greeted by the sweet vision of Bria with two French braids in her hair, a few short curls poking out of the front, and cutoff jean shorts, paired with a Florida East T-shirt.
I frown. “We’re gonna have to talk about that shirt you’ve got on, friend.” I lean against the door. “And by talk, I mean set it the fuck on fire.”
“It’s my brother’s school, asshole.” She shakes her head. “And was mine, too, for a short time.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that.”
Ignoring me, she widens her eyes. “So, guess what happened today.” She tilts her head to the side. “I was in my photography class, minding my own business, when, suddenly, out of nowhere, my professor said she chatted with the hockey team’s publicist.”
“Oh, really?” I look around emotionlessly, scratching my neck. “What, uh…what for?”
“Well, you see, it seems they’ve magically seen some of my pictures from that game I came to.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Strange, right?”
“Totally.” I nod slowly. “Super cool though. Right?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Thank you, Brody. But you didn’t have to do that. I’m probably going to suck, and they’ll be pissed at you for even suggesting me. I’ll probably take the world’s crappiest pictures, and then they’ll be, like,Uh, sorry, you suck ass. Go away.”
“I don’t know if you suck ass, but you suck something else pretty good.” I wink. “I can vouch for that. Actually, my memory is suddenly hazy. Remind me how good you suck?”
Shoving me, she throws her head back and groans. “Why do you always have to be annoying?”
“Because you love it,” I toss back. “Also, you aren’t going to suck. I mean, you will—after. Hopefully on your knees. But not at taking pictures. Just show up and do what you do, babe.”
Sighing, she salutes me. “I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Now, come say hello to Tater Tot. Also known as the lazy ass who makes me be her bitch when I’m home.”
She follows me into the house until we walk into the living room.
“Tater Tot, since your ass was too lazy to walk to the front door, I brought the front door to you.” I nod toward Bria. “You remember this hottie, right?”
“Sure do. But the fact that she’s still slumming it with you, I’m shook,” Tate jokes. “Hey, Bria.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, you jerk? Bria loves hanging out with me. Isn’t that right?”
“I mean, it isn’t easy being friends with the crudest dude on the planet. But, yes, I guess you’re okay.” She laughs before nodding toward the TV. “Oh, you guys still have a whole season to go.” She widens her eyes. “You just wait. I can’t wait for the next season to see where they take it from there.”
“No spoilers, babe. I’m invested.” I toss my arm around her. “And I’m not ashamed of it either.”
“So far, he’s called basically everything that’s happened before it happens.” Tate looks from me to Bria. “He’s annoyingly good at predicting shit.”
