I near him, gritting my teeth. “You are grasping for drama. Literally pulling at anything ridiculous you can latch onto. Shall I educate you then?” He opens his mouth but I don’t give him the chance to refute. “I’m secure enough in my relationship with Rose that I don’t bite off the cocks of men who wrong her or call her a bitch. She’s more than capable of biting them off herself. I’m here, now, in your face because that girl in the living room has no teeth.”
Brett knocks on the door, and I hear a muffled angry yell against the wood.
I don’t take my eyes off Scott. “They’re addicts, Scott. You kick Rose and me down, we’re going to feel like shit but we’ll get back up. You kick Loren and Lily, and they may not. This isn’t drama for television. It’s real and painful, and if you put them in those places, you don’t need to be scared of anyone but me. I will kill you myself.”
And I mean it.
Not because Lily is Rose’s sister. Not because Loren is my friend.
But because there are some things in this world that are just wrong.
Scott nods, whether it’s sincere or not, I don’t know. “I’ll take that into consideration.” Not.
I can’t stay here. I might punch him. And hitting people is something I consider stupid. It solves nothing.
I turn around and leave, passing an infuriated, pudgy cameraman as I do so.
In the living room, Lily is talking to Lo. “Please. Just once. It’s not porn, Lo. We can even fast-forward all the dancing. I just want to watch a movie like a normal person again.”
“We can watch movies,” Lo retorts. “Just not ones that might trigger your compul—”
“Might! Keyword. And I won’t! I promise!”
His face twists in pain. Lo has told me how much he hates saying no to her, but it’s tough love he’s slowly sunk into. “Lil, if I asked you for beer, what would you do?”
“It isn’t the same thing!”
“It is!” he yells back. “And the fact that you don’t get that worries me.”
Silence lingers between them for a long moment before she says, “Okay…” She hands over the DVD. “Lo…I just want to be normal.”
He pulls her into his chest and kisses the top of her head. “I know, love.”
I step farther into the living room until Lo sees me. His eyes meet mine. “Where is he?” he growls, referring to Scott. He detaches from Lily and charges forward. I put a hand on his chest.
“I talked to him.”
Lo’s eyes redden with hate and hurt. He knows what Scott’s attempting. “He can’t fucking do this, Connor.”
“I know.”
Lo searches my face for what…maybe strength, comfort, reassurance. I try to give it as best I can.
“I won’t let anything happen, I promise. He won’t screw with your relationship or your addictions.” It’s a big promise. I usually only give out ones I’m one-hundred percent confident I can keep. This one is a tossup really.
“Thank you,” Lo says, his amber eyes full of gratitude. I see something else in them. Apologies. For doubting our friendship after the screening party. For doubting me.
It feels nice to be back in Loren Hale’s good graces. I think that’s the thing about friends who aren’t quick to let others in.
When they do give you their friendship, it means something more.
CHAPTER 29
CONNOR COBALT
We reach a frozen lake on our run, which turned into more of a walk with the heavy snow. Ben, who’s proven to be clumsy, has tripped over his gangly legs three times, even stumbling over a root buried beneath thick white powder. Ryke helped him up after the second and third fall to make sure he didn’t sprain an ankle. Ben was assigned to follow Lo, Ryke and me only because Brett can’t run, and Rose has latched onto Savannah, picking a favorite. I’m not surprised it was the girl.
It’s hard to ignore the guy holding the camera, especially one that has face-planted twice. But we’ve all somehow adapted these past few months.
Lo turns to Ryke and me with a focused look. “So I have some big news.”
“Please tell me Lily isn’t fucking pregnant,” Ryke immediately jumps to conclusions.
Lo sends him a patented Hale glare. “It’s about the wedding, you asshole.”
“You didn’t give me any fucking hints. Don’t be pissy.”
“Not that I don’t enjoy these brotherly spats, it’s cold. Can we get to the point?” I ask.
“My bachelor party is coming up,” Lo explains. “And I have to pick my best man…” He looks between us. “So you can see I’m at a dilemma.”
“How?” Ryke asks, his brows bunched in confusion. “I’m your fucking brother.”
“Yeah, but I’ve known Connor longer.”
“By what? A couple months.” He points accusingly at me. “He doesn’t even fucking love you.” Ryke’s voice carries, disturbing the birds as they fly from their tree branches.
“It’s nothing personal,” I defend, my voice easier and calmer than Ryke’s. “I don’t love anyone.”
“There you go,” Loren says like I make complete sense. I must have really been forgiven yesterday. “It’s a tough choice. My best guy friend…” He motions to me adding the obligatory guy since his best friend happens to be Lily. “…and my half-brother. One of you will be royally pissed at me if I make the decision.”
“Connor doesn’t get pissed,” Ryke says.
“I do,” I reply. “I just don’t let you see my anger.”
Ryke gives me an annoyed look. “You don’t even want to be his best man.”
“That’s not true. I’d love the position.” I wait for my choice of words to crawl under his skin.
“You don’t love anything,” Ryke groans in distress.
“Hey!” Lo cuts in and physically pushes Ryke back as he steps closer to my body. But I’m not afraid of getting punched. “To make it fair, you two can flip for it.”
“No,” I say quickly. “I’m not leaving this up to chance.”
Lo shrugs. “Then you’ll both just have to share it.” He puts a hand on each of our shoulders, standing between us. “Co-best man,” he says to Ryke and then looks to me. “Co-best man.”
Ryke glares at me.
And I say easily, “I’m toasting first at the wedding, just so you know. I’m afraid you’ll scare the children.”
“Fuck you.”
“My point exactly.”
He restrains himself from flipping me off. “I’m standing closest to Lo when Lily walks down the aisle.”
I don’t like losing this part. “You can stand behind me,” I tell him.
Ryke glares harder.
“Or beside me. On the right side.”
“Fuck off.”
“We can always tie you to the arch.” I’d actually really enjoy that. “I’ll set out a bowl of water so you don’t get thirsty.”
Lo laughs while Ryke just shakes his head.
“There isn’t going to be an arch at his wedding,” Ryke reminds me. “It’s indoors in a fucking church.”