Page 328 of Face Off
“For emergencies.”
“That qualified.”
“What else did you do?”
“Changed her contact name when you put her deleted contact back in your phone.”
Suspicion narrows his good eye. “To what?”
“Not important.”
“Ryan.”
“Future Restraining Order.”
He laughs. “I thought her name was ‘Not Important.’”
I laugh now too. “Fuck, that would have been good but I feel confident in my choice.”
Briggs stares at me before laughing hard enough that mezcal comes dangerously close to leaving his nose. I rescue the bottle while he coughs against my shoulder.
“That’s fucked up.”
“It’s true.”
He wipes his mouth against his sleeve. “I’m keeping it.”
“I assumed.”
When his laughter fades, I keep my voice steady. “You don’t have to decide the rest tonight. You don’t have to defend her, forgive her, hate her, or find the perfect word for what happened. You only have to stay here and let me make sure you aren’t alone inside it.”
His expression tightens. “She said nobody else would put up with me.”
“Then she’s a fucking idiot. Half of KFU has put up with you for years. Milwaukee pays to put up with you, and I voluntarily let you live six doors away.”
“That’s because you love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
“You love me so much.”
“Don’t make this weird.”
“I’m your best friend.”
“Cade will fight you.”
“I’m your Milwaukee best friend.”
“That sounds like a participation trophy.”
“I accept.”
His smile trembles before disappearing. “She said I was lucky she loved me.”
“No.” I look down at him while the humor leaves my voice. “She was lucky you loved her, and she wasted it.”
Tears slip from beneath his closed eyes, but this time Briggs doesn’t apologize for them or hide his face. He reaches for the mezcal instead.
