“Uh…” I should say no but as his eyes continue to hold mine, I see something in them. Something I haven’t seen for a long fucking time, and my lips part, words spilling free before I even realize I’ve made a decision.
“Yeah, sure. That would be great.”
I continue to stand there feeling like a fish out of water as he marches toward the kitchen and pulls out a handful of bottles.
Well, okay then.
“Let’s go sit on the deck. I’ll start the fire,” he says as if this is a normal thing for us to do.
I trail behind him, confused as fuck, not willing to ignore whatever this olive branch is that he’s currently offering to me.
For years, all I wanted was our friendship back. For things to go back to how they used to be when we were growing up.
I ruined that.
I know it was all my fault. Well, mine and that spiteful little bitch who instigated it all. Even to this day, I can’t figure out why. I think she was just a fucking sadist who got off on other people’s pain. The day she left town was one of my better days, that’s for fucking sure. And if I never have to see her face again then it’ll be too soon.
I follow Diesel out onto the back deck that looks out over the lake beyond and drop down into one of the seats.
“Thanks, man,” I say when he passes me a beer, quickly knocking the top off on the makeshift table in front of me that’s been made out of old pallets.
Tipping the bottle to my lips, I down half of it without even blinking, needing the liquid courage to say what I’ve come here to say.
In only seconds the crackle of the fire cuts through the air and he falls down into the chair opposite me, resting his foot up on the table and swallowing down his own beer.
A frown still mars his brow, and when he finally lowers the bottle and his eyes find mine, I discover they’re dark and full of concern. Suddenly, we’re just two teenage boys once again who are more than likely having girl or parent issues.
“Is… uh… is everything alright, man?” I ask, unable to ignore his obvious anxiety.
He stares at me, I assume weighing up whether or not he wants to spill his issues to the person he’s barely said a few words to in five years.
That little boy inside me aches for my friend. For the boy who would stand by my side while we did all kinds of stupid shit, and stood shoulder to shoulder with, in front of our parents as they ripped us new ones for whatever it was.
His lips part and hope swells in me that he might just be able to see the friend he used to confide in in me. Because I’m still here, and every fucking day I regret the dumbass decision I made that ruined a lifetime of friendship. But then they close again and my heart sinks.
He drains the rest of his bottle before he pulls his arm back and with a grunt that is full of pain and suffering, he launches it over the deck and out toward the lake.
“Bro, whatever it is—”
“It’s Mom,” he confesses, slouching in the chair, allowing his head to hang back so he can see nothing but the dark star-filled sky above us. “She’s getting worse and the doctor s-said—” He chokes on his words and I sit forward, hating that he’s suffering. “He said…” He blows out a long breath instead of finishing the heartbreaking sentence.
Diesel and Kat’s mom has been ill for as long as I can remember. But back when we were kids, it didn’t really affect her. But I know from spending time with Kat in the past five years that things have been progressing slowly, that she’s been having more and more attacks, and that it’s left her mostly housebound now.
“I’m sorry, man,” I mutter, unsure what else to say.
“I knew it was coming. She’s been getting worse recently. Her attacks are more severe. I just… I’ll be okay when it all comes to an end, but I’m worried about Kat. She’s too young to lose—”
“She’ll be okay, D. She’s got enough people around her to ensure that she’ll get through it.” My heart cracks as I say the words, because I want to be the one who’s standing right by her side.
He lifts his head from the chair, his eyes searing into mine.“I fucking hate to do this,” he sighs, “but I need… I need help, and I don’t know who else to ask that she’d accept.”
Unease trickles through my veins and my pulse picks up.
“She trusts you, Styx. Fuck knows why, I might add. But with looking after Mom, and everything that’s going on with River and the guys…” I raise a brow at him, more than just a little intrigued. “I’m neglecting Kat. And she needs…” He drops his head into his hands. “I can’t believe I’m about to ask this. But could you keep an eye out for her? I know you already do,” he says in a rush. “But, could youreallykeep an eye on her?”
“You want me to hang out with Kat?” I ask, needing complete clarification as to what he’s asking me.
“Yeah. She bottles all this shit up, and I’m worried that with Mom getting worse that she’s going to do something stupid.”