Page 3 of My Never
“If you come across anything else of hers you’d like, you don’t have to ask. Just take it. I have our special memories already. There’s boxes of hers in the guest bedroom you can go through.
My eyes mist over from his thoughtfulness. I know that it has to be hard for him. I nod at him in acknowledgement.
“Thank you, Colin. That means a lot to me.”
He steps up and gives me a quick hug. He probably needed it just as much as me. He then reaches up and grabs two more mugs, getting to work making Sydney’s and his coffee.
“We’re here!” Trystan hollers from the front of the house. “Let’s get this done so we can cook out for lunch! I brought hot dogs and brats since I can’t lift the heavy stuff!” I look down at my watch to check the time while Trystan tosses the meat in the fridge. It’s already almost ten. Colin and I walk out front to find Garrett and Mark already starting to pull things out of the back of the moving truck. Holly is in her element, telling the mover where she’d prefer things to go. Handing Sydney her mug, Colin leans down to kiss her on the cheek before taking a decent gulp from his own mug then setting it down on a big box by the steps to go help. I physically tense as Mark passes by me with a big box, his bulging biceps straining against his stupidly tight hoodie.
“Oh, great. Hi, Ava.”
“Don’t sound so happy to see me, Mark.”
“Ecstatic. I missed you.”
I snort at his sarcasm. It’s almost funny.
“Don’t trip and break your money maker.”
“I have multiple money makers.”
“Pig.”
“Prude.”
I scoff and drink more of my coffee as he gives me a “go fuck yourself” smile, which I return, lifting my coffee mug toward him as he steps over the threshold.
“Fucker…” I mutter under my breath. Jane nudges me in the side and gives me bug eyes that pull a giggle from me.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Grow up. Be nice. We’re all stuck together. There’s a wedding coming… Yada, yada. When you going to have kids so you can mother them instead?”
She snickers and throws an arm around my shoulders.
“Alright girls, the guys are unloading. Let’s go start unpacking!” Holly waves us inside as the other men follow, carrying boxes with their respective labels to the rooms that they’re marked for.
By eleven-thirtyish, we have everything in the house, a decent amount of the kitchen already unpacked, and we’re all starving. Colin starts up the grill outside, showing Holly how it all works.
“So, Sydney,” I begin, “Now that we’ve got your dress ironed out, when do we get to go find ours? Did you settle on a color?”
“How do you all feel about emerald green? I think it would look fabulous against all of your skin tones.”
“Oooh, I like that!” Jane jumps in quickly as she shelves the last glass from her box.
“Thank goodness it's not bright pink,” I say out loud, cracking a playful smile because I knew she wouldn’t do that to us anyway.
“I could always change it!” she says teasingly, winking at Holly when she settles at the island next to me.
“I think hot pink would be thebest!” Trystan quips, walking through from the living room toward the back door. We all give a collective “Ugh”, and he laughs heartily, joining Colin outside.
“What’s wrong with hot pink?” Mark asks.
“Too bright for that much skin coverage and all day wear,” Holly replies.
“Looks perfect on a set of lips though.” Mark grins lewdly, and we all sigh, shaking our heads.
“Don’t add anymore to that,” I mumble, popping a chip from the bag on the counter into my mouth.
“What makes you think I was about to do that?” He cocks his eyebrows at me in a taunt as he draws closer to where I sit.
