“It’s not all about cash, Ash.” Although seeing as I’m about to be two months behind on rent thanks to my dick of an ex-housemate, I guess I should be praising my lucky stars right now.
“I know, but yo—” Her argument is cut off as someone speaks to her. “I’m sorry, Styx. I gotta go. You got this though, yeah?”
The line goes dead while I’ve still got my cell pressed to my ear.
“Fuck. Fuck,” I bark, throwing it to the end of my bed.
I’m lying there trying to figure my shit out fuck knows how long later when the familiar rumbles of Ryder’s motorbike pulls up out the front of my house.
With my time wallowing in bed coming to an abrupt end, I roll out and pull on a pair of sweats before shuffling through to the bathroom to freshen up.
By the time I walk through to the kitchen, the scent of coffee fills the air and Ryder is already making good progress killing zombies on my Xbox.
“Sure, make yourself at home,” I mutter, leaning my forearms on the counter as I watch him.
“I made you coffee, you miserable fuck.”
“Fuck off. I had to lock up again last night, I’m fucking dead,” I confess, spinning around to find the full mug that’s sitting on the machine.
“You know the answer to that issue,” he mutters, once again reminding me of his constant offers to help.
“Ash’s dad is bad again. She left mid-shift last night.”
“Oh shit, is he okay?” he asks in concern, although he doesn’t take his eyes from the screen.
“No. And she’s not coming back.”
The sound of gunfire that fills the room immediately stops and he finally tips his attention from the TV.
“Oh, shit. For real?”
“Yep,” I grunt, falling into the chair. “Told Marcus to give me the job.”
His eyes narrow as he stares at me. “That’s a good thing though, right?”
“I turned it down when she offered it to me before,” I confess.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to be tied to the bar.”
Ryder blows out a frustrated breath before scrubbing his hand down his face. “Styx, bro. It’s a job not a fucking life sentence.”
“Yeah, I know. I just…”
“Take the fucking job. You deserve it. And you need the money, right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Dude, I get it. You’re a lone ranger with no ties to anything or anyone. But that’s bullshit and you know it. Red Ridge is your town, Envy is your home. Everything you know and love is here. Stop fucking fooling yourself thinking that you don’t belong or that you can take off should the mood strike you. You’re never gonna take off or you’d have done it by now.”
“I did once,” I mutter, his words hitting a little too close to home.
“Yeah, and you fucking came back,” he points out. “Stop being a pussy and take the job, Styx. And if you’re feeling brave, maybe you should try and get the girl too,” he teases.
My teeth grind as he taunts me with Kat. My lips part to respond but he cuts me off.
“Don’t even start with the ‘I’m doing the right thing’ bullshit. You’re still hard for her and we both know it. Grow a fucking pair and take her.”