“Ugh, just dumb parties, annoying men, and working like a dog. We have to do some repairs on the house, and since my uncle drank all the savings away, I’ve been pulling double shifts... but I missed you like crazy. This world is a boring bloody place without you, Blair. I don’t know how I got through it before.”
“I knew you loved me.” I grin as she laughs and knocks her shoulder into mine.
“So enough about me. You and Crew, huh?” she says, wiggling her eyebrow at me as I laugh and turn to lean back against the railing. “Which one are you sleeping with?” When I stay quiet, she smacks my hand. “All three? You lucky bitch.”
“Most people would judge me for that,” I murmur, peeking at her out of the corner of my eye.
“I’m not most people, remember?” Her expression softens. “Blair, I’m so proud of you for letting them close.”
“Yeah, well, I keep fucking it up.”
“But you’re trying, and that’s what counts, and if you’re ever ready to talk about what happened, I’m here. I, of course, want all the details of the hook-ups though.”
I hear a noise and glance back to the door to see it farther open. Frowning, I turn fully, but then I hear my name being hollered—Cyrus. “Another time. Let’s go down there before they beat anyone else up.”
Linking my arm through Faye’s, I lead her back down to the party, but with the looks being thrown our way, we decide to leave after only an hour. Cyrus takes my keys and I let him drive, not arguing for once as I sit in the back with Asher and Faye as she leans against my shoulder.
I have my best friend back, so now it’s time to work on myself. She’s right. I do want to talk about what happened and find a way past it, and maybe, just maybe, she can help.
After dropping Faye off at home and promising to text her when I get back, I snuggle into Asher’s side in the warm, dark car. He kisses my head, and as the streetlights flash across us, he leans down to my ear.
“We’ve never had anyone protect us, claim us, or threaten people for us before. It’s always the other way around. It was nice. You’re changing our lives, Blair, for the better.”
No, they are changing mine.