Memphis tries to get in the middle of us then, but we end up taking him down with us as our rumble moves to the ground.
“Fuck,” he grunts, kneeling beside us. “I’ll give you assholes another minute to get this shit out of your systems and then I’m gonna start throwing punches.”
My former best friend is a big oaf, so he gets the upper hand and climbs on top of me. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
I plunge two fingers into his eye sockets. When his hands fly up, I take the opportunity to slam him into the ground. “I wanted to, but I didn’t know how.”
Blinking, he tries to toss me off him, but he’s weaker than he was before. “With your fucking mouth, you idiot.”
I punch him again, but it doesn’t have much force behind it because I’m losing steam, too. “And that’s exactly why I didn’t, you oversized dildo.”
Gripping the collar of my shirt, he gets the upper hand once more. “What the fuck are you talking about, you anal pore?”
I give him the truth because I’m man enough to admit it now. “I tried to write a song for years, but I couldn’t…because I’m an idiot.” Embarrassment courses through me as I continue. “We only had one shot with Vic. Our dream was right fucking there. I didn’t want to blow it.”
Rolling off me, he catches his breath.
I peer up at the gray clouds. It’s gonna rain any second.
“You’re not an idiot,” he says after a few moments.
I might be good at some things, but can’t read, write, or spell well because my brain doesn’t work the way brains are supposed to.
I fucking hate it. But it’s still no excuse.
“What I did to Lennon—and to you guys—is beyond fucked up. I wish I could take it back.” Tilting my head, I eye Storm and Memphis, who are on opposite sides of me. “I’m sorry you both got caught in the cross fire of my mess. You guys are my family and I not only stole and lied, I ruined everything you worked for.”
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. I don’t know what the future holds, but there’s no longer a crushing weight on my chest.
The truth—the horrible thing I did—is out there.
But my newfound freedom comes at a heavy price. These guys.
Storm snickers, catching me off guard. “Did you call me an oversized dildo?”
My lips twitch. I guess I did. “You called me an anal pore.”
“He got that from me,” Quinn calls out somewhere in the distance.
Memphis snorts. “Guess Phoenix isn’t the only one who steals.”
“Yeah. I stole an insult; Phoenix stole a song…” Storm’s tongue finds his cheek. “And you stole your brother’s girl.”
“Foster brother,” Memphis mutters under his breath. “And she was never my girl.”
Storm and I exchange a glance. Bullshit.
Sighing, Memphis gets off the ground. “What happens now?”
Storm’s the next to stand. “I don’t know.” His gaze swings my way as I rise to my feet. “That’s up to this anal pore.”
My focus drifts to Lennon, who hasn’t moved a muscle. She didn’t even come over here during the fight, which only further confirms that her head’s in a bad place right now.
She’s always been there for me. It’s time I take care of her.
“I don’t know,” I tell them truthfully. “I need to be with Lennon.”
I don’t give a fuck about anything else.
Memphis’s stare snags on Skylar, who’s talking to Quinn and Grams. “I think we all could use a break.”
Gripping the back of his neck, Storm blows out a breath. “Agreed. I’m looking forward to kicking back, smoking a few blunts, getting my dick sucked, and relaxing.”
I asked Lennon if she wanted to go to my house in California a couple of days ago, and the death glare she gave me was my answer.
She’s not ready to leave and I won’t make her.
“Well, you’ll have the entire house to yourself now. Go nuts.” I point a finger in his face. “Don’t fuck in my bed.”
I didn’t ask Lennon, on account of her grieving and shit, but I don’t foresee her having an issue with Quinn staying with us. In fact, I think it will be a good thing since I know how much she adores her.
As if on cue, Quinn moseys on over.
“This weather sucks,” she whines as the sky opens up and it starts drizzling.
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “Rain in Florida is like wind in Chicago. You’ll get used to it. Besides, it never lasts long.”