Page 114 of F*ck Steal Kill

Once all the plates were cleared, Ryan and Max volunteered to help clean up while Heath and Quentin went to the garage to check out Tyler’s car. Grady was in a deep conversation with Mallory while Henry and James discussed some country music singer they’d seen in concert.

Nodding to Lacey and Joy, the three of us slipped out to the back deck, the peace and quiet outside settling around us.

“Can you believe this is our lives now?” I asked, leaning against the deck railing.

“It’s better than I ever imagined,” Joy gushed.

“I fought it for a while. Worried I didn’t deserve it. But last night, the guys wore me down, telling me they weren’t going anywhere and that I could let them in, too. It shifted something in me. To know other people other than you two saw me… who got me… And maybe even loved me,” Lacey whispered.

Joy and I moved to her, putting her in the middle as we hugged her.

“Ah, Lace. You’re so worthy of love. I’m glad you finally caved. In fact, I think I might’ve won this pool,” I said, giggling.

“Wait, what?” she asked, pulling back.

“You didn’t think you were the only one who could coordinate a betting pool, right?” I teased, making her jaw drop as she lost all her words.

“I had you folding a lot faster,” Joy admitted, shrugging.

“How much did you win?” Lacey asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Enough to buy me a motorcycle and name it Leather N’ Lace.”

“Bullshit.” She laughed, shaking her head.

“No, you’re right. Lace of Base is better.”

“I hate you,” she said, grinning.

“No, you don’t.” I bumped her shoulder.

“No, I don’t.”

“I think we need a new game,” Joy said, grabbing our attention. “We’ve outgrown fuck steal kill.”

“What do you suggest?” I asked, curious.

“Burp, change, or rock?” Lacey said, laughing.

“Dash, pass, or smash,” I said, joining in.

“Oh! Lick, stick, or kick,” Joy added, and we all broke out into laughter, bending and holding our stomachs as tears ran down our faces.

The game had set us on this course, giving us an outlet for our darkness and a way out of Foolshope. But unlike our friendship, we’d outgrown the game, not needing it anymore to pass the time.

And that was okay because life never stood still, but good friends, they’d always keep you rooted, growing right along with you.

“I love you both,” I said once the tears had dried from laughing.

“Love you, too,” they both said, grinning.

The rebel, the sweetheart, and the brains—we made one badass killer, but even better friends—the kind you’d kill for.

XOXO.

The End