Page 91 of My Never
Shit. Is some little squirt going to be calling me ‘Uncle Mark’ in a few years? It makes an unfamiliar pang of longing unfurl in my belly. The first warning firework sets off in the sky to the west of us near the shoreline, and suddenly, it feels like our new reality is changing at warp speed. It’s overwhelming. Ina matter of a year, I almost lost my best friend, witnessed his wedding, fell in love with someone on my ‘never’ list, grew into a larger group of friends that are now my family, moved in with my never girl, and now, we’re all looking at adding a baby, or two if Colin gets his way, to everything. It’s been a wild ride, and I don’t think it’s about to slow down.
Ava slides up beside me, slipping her arms around my waist and sighing contentedly against my chest.
“Isn’t it crazy how much has changed this past year?” Ava says quietly as we take in our group.
“I was just thinking it before you walked over here,” I answer honestly.
“I think Sydney and Colin won’t be far behind them.”
“I’m pretty positive that you’re right,” I mumble, taking another sip of my beer while peering over at Brynleigh and Ted still arguing. It is not a happy conversation, and it looks like she’s chewing his ass out. He’s actually texting while listening, his body turned from hers. It pisses me off even more. His whole demeanor screams about how little he actually gives a shit about my sister. I have zero respect for this guy, never really did, but when he turns, face contorting in anger, and shouts at her to shut the hell up, my patience snaps. I’m not the only one because Trystan locks up tighter than an arrow stretched on a bow line.
“Oh, that fucker just crossed a line he can’t come back from,” I hear him mutter as he hands Colin his beer. He shoots me a look that clearly conveys that he’s on it. Colin and I follow at a short distance in case Ted’s truly stupid and digs his hole deeper. Trystan doesn’t deal well with disrespect toward women at all. None of us do, but it’s his one thing that will spur him into action faster than anything else. Let it involve one of his people and that person just signed their ‘fuck around and find out’ ticket. Everyone just better stay out of his way. I’m proud to call him a friend. I’ll take him in my sister’s corner or mine any damnday. He’s happy to play the villain in my sister’s eyes if need be. He doesn’t want her to look at me that way.
“Oh fuck. How bad is this going to get?” Garrett fake-whispers as he walks up to join the backup gang along with Ava.
“It could be epic,” Colin says with a smirk.
Trystan steps in and grabs Ted by the shirt, yanking the less than buff twerp up against his chest. Trystan is stacked compared to this guy, and Ted realizes his mistake very, very quickly. We all chuckle as we take in the scene, wishing we could hear what Trystan’s saying because Ted’s face is colorless. Garrett snaps a pic.
“Is it just me, or does shithead not even compare as a man in the grand scheme of things chest to chest with him?”
The comment sends us into a raucous round of laughter. We’re all on the same page, knowing there’s zero threat of this going anywhere other than Ted leaving with his pride in shambles or a busted face.
Another firework sets off in the sky, illuminating us in red just as I hear a snarky voice that doesn’t belong echoing along the sand. Ava freezes at my side.
33
Ava
“Ted! You hollered for us to come save you from the lame party?” A voice I did not expect rings out across the sand.
My stomach pitches, and I feel Mark go ramrod stiff next to me.
“Well, that right there makes some fucking sense,” Mark practically growls next to me as Eric, my stalkery ex, comes waltzing up to the bonfire.
“What are you doing here?” Mark’s voice asks on a dangerous rumble. This is not good.
“You’ve got some nerve,” Colin echoes.
“I don’t know what the hell you two are talking about. I’m just here to pick up my friend from a party he no longer feels welcome at. Looking around at the company, I can’t see why,” Eric says, voice dripping with sarcasm, earning low growls from the men around me.
Mark steps in front of me when Eric’s gaze collides with mine.
“You know exactly what we’re talking about. Don’t even think about looking in her direction.”
“Whoa!” Eric steps back with his palms raised.
“Why have you been breaking into my place, Eric?” I ask, getting straight to the point. The fireworks explode into the sky again, lighting up Eric in blue.
“What are you talking about?” Eric asks as if I’m stupid, looking around at his other friend with the ‘this bitch is crazy’ look, which only makes Mark’s muscles tense further.
“I should’ve brought Amy down to the beach with us,” Colin practically growls next to Mark.
“No need for that. I’d just make her my best friend,” Eric replies with a sickening smile.
I hear asnicktin his pocket and remember that Eric always carries a pocket knife. He just fucking threatened a dog. The guys hear the sound too, judging by the tilt of their heads. Rage washes over their faces.
“You come near my girl, or any of my loved ones you see here tonight, it won’t end well for you. You lost your chance to make Ava yours; she gave you her answer. Get the fuck out of here. Now. Before I lose my patience.”
