Page 8 of Everything After

“It’s up to Sierra,” Beckett says. “I don’t mind, as long as everyone can behave.”

“They will,” Mason says. “This is about her.”

“It would be nice to see everyone,” I admit.

“It’s settled. Cookout at Beckett and Sierra’s place!" Ace says, clapping his hands together. I flinch, and he softens.

“You’re breaking my heart, Sia. Want me to kill him?”

“I still vote hedge clippers,” Dad mutters.

“I know a guy with a woodchipper and a backhoe,” Bella muses, stealing me from everyone to hug me. “I’m taking her.”

“You are?” I ask.

“Mhmm,” she says. “We can get you everything you need.”

“I don’t have money,” I say quietly.

“Bitch, I didn’t ask if you had money,” she says.

“Girl. Filter,” Beckett says.

“I say bitch with love,” Bella says with a shrug, making me smile. “Plus, you fuckers and the bitch fit you’ve had going on is high key annoying as hell. She deserves better on her first day back than testosterone-fueled bitching.”

“Don’t use your money. Put it on my card,” Beckett says, rolling his eyes at his sister.

“I’ll pay you back,” I say quickly. “I won’t spend any more than…”

“Shhh. It doesn’t have a limit,” Bella whispers loudly.

“What she means is it’s just money,” Beckett laughs. “Get whatever you need and don’t worry about paying me back. Make her take you to get some food, okay?”

“Are you…”

“I’m sure,” Beckett says, hugging me. “Have fun, and Bella?”

“I know. Stay in town. Stab anyone who touches her,” Bella says, waving him off as she quite literally steals me from everyone. I am silently thankful for her, too.

“Thank you,” I say as we get to her car.

“Any time, girl,” she says with a smile. When we get in, she turns and looks at me. “I may not understand what you are going through, but I know what feeling alone is like. I know how those big babies are. Never hesitate to tell them to fuck off and come chill with me. Okay?”

“Bex said I could work with you at the shop,” I say. “Would you be okay with that?”

“Yes! It would give me someone to talk to with more than three grease-covered brain cells,” she laughs.

I watch the town pass by as we drive, and it’s the first time that I’ve felt truly at peace since… I don’t know. Beckett makes me feel safe and seen. Bella makes me feel normal. She isn’t treating me like I’m broken. No one is, but she’s just facing this as any other normal day. This is just who she is. Any reason to tease her brother. Any reason to hang out and talk. Any reason to make someone she cares about smile. This is the reality I missed. Normalcy.

Chapter Four

Beckett

Everyone has left, and now it’s just Mason and me. For most of my life, I used to live for the days when we could be in the shop and just hang out. He was the person I told all of my secrets to, all of my dreams, my fears. All of it. Somewhere in the chaos, I forgot what it was like to just exist with him.

“Before you say anything,” I say. “I just want it stated that if we can’t find a way past everything, we need to set it aside for a while.”

“I agree,” Mason says. “Sierra is…”