Page 20 (2/2)

“Just brings back bad memories”

I nodded, corown closer over the past feeeks, I knew there were things she wouldn’t tell even iven how much I kept to myself, too

“That’s life,” I said as I poured ether with the occasionalanother day” I turned around Drink in hand as I looked over at Tucker He was nervous but s and helping him shake his nerves

“You think he is happy?” she asked as she leaned back against the counter, her body brushing against mine

I cleared my throat and moved over a fraction of an inch “Of course he is Look at hienuinely happy for my best friend

“The deeper your love, the harder you fall when it goes bad”

I grinned, glancing over at Donna’s profile; for twenty-seven she could really be intense “Carefulyou’re dangerously close to opening up to someone”

She laughed sardonically and shook her head as she looked down at her shoes “I won’t lance, and the corner of her lips curled up in a small smile

I didn’t want to push her to say anything more, so I just offered a halfhearted smile in return “I’ll drink to that” I poured the alass in the sink behind us

Donna grabbed the light blue tie fro so close I could feel the heat radiating from her and the faint smell of her minty, alcohol-laced breath

“You’ll drink to anything” Her eyes narrowed as she worked quickly to secure the tie and foldon my shoulders My body moved on its own as I leaned forward a fraction of an inch, as if ame toward her, or maybe I had drunk a few too many shots I was thankful when Cass returned, her hair swept back at her nape She was still wearing an old T-shirt and shorts

“How you feeling?” she asked as her eyes danced between Donna and me

Donna took a step back, looking e to freshen up” She left us and Cass smiled widely We watched Donna walk away

“She really has a thing for you”

“Nah She just wants a distraction”

“You could both use one”

“Cass, you know I can’t do that There isn’t anything there The last thing I want to do is s up for the band over some chick”

Cass raised an eyebrow and I realized that probably sounded like an insult to her

“You know I didn’t mean you You’re like family to all of us”

“I wasn’t always I reroup Maybe Donna just needs to find her place”

“Donna is one of us, she just doesn’t realize it”

Cass sighed loudly as she looked around the roolassed over

“What is it?” I reached out and took her hand She glanced down at the ring on her finger and shook her head, fighting back the tears

“My dad”

“Hey” I pulled her againsther a nice fir to walk you down the aisle with the twins You have all the family you need”

“I know”

I pulled back from her and ran an to spill over She jerked back andsound

“Jesus, E! You smell like a bum! How much have you had?”

“Not nearly enough”

She s ”

“You scared?”

“No, I’m not scared I’ It’s overwhel”

“What are you wo ’bout?” Terry asked as he made his way into the cramped kitchen space and threw his arm over my shoulder I pushed it off and took a step away from him

“Just because I am sensitive to the ladies doesn’t make me a chick”

“Doesn’t hed

“How hed, his eyes glazed over and bloodshot

“What does make you a man, O wise one?” I asked as Chris made his way to us

“This,” Terry shot back as he grabbed his crotch

“A slanced over at Chris

“Let it be knoe are fraternal, not identical,” Chris replied as he winked at Cass, who let out a giggle

“Thanks for the backup, Brother” Terry ran his hand through his hair and cracked his neck Chris just shrugged and took a swig of his bottle of beer

“Beatfest is in a few days,” Chris said to no one in particular

“Great I wonder which one of you will get in a fight first at the festival” Cass rolled her eyes and shook her head

“They all promised to behave,” Tucker spoke up in our defense “They kno hard it was to convince you to stay here longer just for a concert”