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“Oh! Stella Bella!” he says, moving to me quickly and then reaching down, lifting me from my seat on the curb and pulling me into a tight, familiar hug. I swallow the lump in my throat. This night has been just… too much in so many ways. Too many ways. He loosens his grip, leaning back to look at me, his smile going softer. “Oh, Stell.”
“Please don’t make me cry,” I whisper for his ears only, and he rolls his eyes the way he always used to.
“Such a girl,” he says, and I step back finally, slapping him in the chest.
“Iama girl, thank you very much,” I say with a smile, a common refrain when we were kids. The door to the bar opens again, letting in a loud burst of music before slamming shut, Beckett walking toward us.
“What the fuck happened?” he asks, staring at the ice on Riggins’ hands.
“Stell got cornered by some ass who didn’t know no means no.”
Beckett’s dark eyes burn as he turns to me, anger there. “You good?”
“God, nothing has changed, has it?” I ask. “I’m fine, and he’s gone. All is well.”
“Because Riggins beat his ass?” Reed asks. I don’t respond, and neither does Riggins, but his smile says it all.
Beckett gives a disapproving head shake before speaking. “Good to see you, Stell.”
He takes three steps closer to me, the tallest of all of the boys, and tugs me in, giving me a huge hug.
If Riggins was my soulmate and Reed was my best friend, Beckett was my big teddy bear of a brother.
A part of me both heals and breaks with the move, and I bite the inside of my cheek so hard it bleeds, trying to fight off the wave of emotion. He moves his hands to my shoulders, leaning me back to look at my face and read I don’t know what there.
His brow furrows at whatever it is he sees, clearly not liking it, but doesn’t say anything else.
“I’m gonna head out, I think,” Riggins says, then stands, moving to where Beckett and I stand.
“How’d you get here?” he asks. I shake my head.
“I’m gonna call a cab,” I say, not giving a real answer.
“He drove you?”
“It’s fine; I’m going to take a cab home. Easy peasy.” Riggins shakes his head, and behind him, I see Reed smile at Beckett.
“I’ll drive you.”
“No, I’m fine, really,” I say, shaking my head. He gives me a stern look, irritation brewing in his eyes.
“Stop being stubborn; you’ve had a long night; let me drive you home.”
“I’m in the most inconvenient part of town. I’m fine.”
“Jesus, some things reallynever change,” Reed says with a laugh. I glare at him, but that only makes him laugh more.
“Humor me, little star,” he says under his breath. “I just saved you from a sketchy spot. Humor me so I know you get home safe. It’s the least you could do, and then I can make sure he’s not a bigger ass and at your house.”
I don’t think itwouldhappen, but it would really fucking suck if it does. Begrudgingly, I nod.
“Fine,” I grumble.
13 ORANGE JUICE
NOW
RIGGINS
