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And then I realized what he was saying. “You mean live with us for a week?” Somehow, that…well, I felt like that could make things way more complicated. When Will nodded, I said, “If someone’s after him, they’ll just wait until you’re gone and try again.”
Will’s kind stare turned icy, but Declan was nodding along with me. “She’s right,” Declan said.
“Then we’re telling Dad—”
“No,” Declan cut in, clearly not wanting to tell Dean Briggs anything, for whatever reason. Okay, so I guess I wasn’t giving the Dean a call about what happened last night.
“Then I’m staying with you,” Will stated, shrugging. “One or the other, Declan. Plus, if I’m there while you guys are out, and I catch someone trying to break in or leaving stuff on your door—”
Declan let out a groan, as if he was embarrassed by his brother’s protectiveness.
“Once I get this splint off and my thumb is healed up, I’ll be able to take them.” With my good hand, I did a few fake punches. “I’m better than I look, you know. I can take a guy your size down.” Both of them stared at me, and it was clear neither one of them believed me. How insulting.
I wasn’t lying. I could take a man down if I had to. Travis had just caught me off-guard, and then the chains kind of stopped me from going after him. In a battle of sheer strength? They would win, but the difference between them and me was that they relied on their strength. Me? I relied on using their strength against them, using their size against them. If you were smart, you could take anyone down.
“You keep surprising me,” Will commented, glancing at Declan. “Do you know how obsessed she is about chicken nuggets?”
Had I ever told Declan about how much I loved nuggets?
Apparently not, for Declan was slow to shake his head, his dark eyes darting to me. I didn’t know why, but right then I felt a bit uneasy, guilty, almost, like I shouldn’t have shared anything with Will, shouldn’t have bonded with him while Declan was here. As if I was only allowed to share things with Declan, which was just stupid, because I was allowed to do whatever the hell I wanted. Declan didn’t own me. No one did, especially not fucking Travis.
“I’m also pretty good at videogames,” I said, earning stares from both guys again. Being caught in this brother sandwich, now that was something I could get behind. Totally would never happen, only in my wildest dreams, but still. “Bet I could beat both your asses in any game.” Then something occurred to me. “Do rich kids even play videogames?”
Declan laughed, and Will was busy shaking his head. “What do you think we do?” Will asked, “Spend our time going to lawn parties and taking classes on how to order people around? Of course we play videogames.”
“Okay, then after I get this thing off, it’s a date.” I realized what I said after I said it, and by that time, it was too late. The word date was already said, spoken into a hospital room with two brothers, one who I’d just met last night, and not under the best circumstance. I immediately tried to catch myself, to clear the awkward air, “A videogame date. Whoever wins gets bragging rights, and whoever loses…” I honestly could not come up with something the loser would do, mostly because I still could not believe I was rambling so much.
Declan was quiet, but Will asked, “Go on. Whoever loses does what? I’m interested to know where your mind went, Ash.”
I stuck my fork into another piece of French toast, avoiding both their gazes. “I’ll have to think about it,” I muttered, shoving the food into my mouth, hoping that, with my mouth full, I wouldn’t be able to say anything else so stupid.
This just wasn’t my day.
Chapter Eight – Sawyer
Travis and I stood in the hallway as the shower ran. Honestly, it took everything out of me to not go to Ash and Declan’s dorm. I had no idea who the fuck sent that letter to me, but no one told me what to do. If I wanted Ash, I’d fucking have Ash. If I wanted to dump her like trash, I’d do that, too. But first, before I did any of that, I needed my confidence back.
I needed to cum in a girl that wasn’t Ash and not wish it was her.
It made sense, at least when I didn’t think too hard about it.
Travis was busy reading the dye container. It was a small thing, so we’d gotten a few of them, along with bleach. Brooklyn was willing to put in the time, to play up to our kinks—mostly because she’d be getting both Travis and me at the same time. It’d been a long time since Travis and I shared a girl together.
“I think we should’ve gone with a lighter pink,” Travis muttered.
“Too late now,” I said, feeling a familiar urge. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. My fingers tapped my elbows, and I heard the shower turn off. I barged in, throwing open the door, just in time to see Brooklyn step out of the tub and reach for a towel. Even wet, her hair was a bright, vibrant pink. Way too pink. Needed to be duller. “Wash it again,” I said, closing the door behind me. I ignored her groan.
Didn’t matter. She’d get back in the shower and she’d wash it again, just to please me. I was Sawyer Salvatore. Every girl in the area wanted to be with me. Everyone wanted a piece of me, of my money.
I let out a sigh, heading past Travis as I walked down the stairs. I went into the kitchen, past the trash can, where the six-word letter sat, torn into pieces. I stopped near the cabinet in the corner, my fingers toying with the handle on the drawer.
I knew what was inside. I knew how many bags there were, what was in them. I knew exactly what each pill did, how they affected me when swallowed, when snorted…they were tiny bags I should’ve gotten rid of after Sabrina’s death. But I didn’t. I still had them, but now I wondered if I kept them as temptation or as a reminder of who I didn’t want to be.
The bender I was on that weekend was a bad one. I couldn’t remember near any of it. I was high as a fucking kite while my sister died, and I swore I would never get that bad again—and I meant it. I meant it when I told myself I was done with that shit.
So then why did I still have a drawer of them?
Maybe because I knew it would make it easier. Maybe because I was feeling so goddamned tense, all because of fucking Ash.
