Page 115 of The Bitter Words

We get to the members-only dive bar within the hour. It’s a Friday, so it’s getting crowded.

I gesture to the corner. “There’s a table in the back over there. Let’s grab it before this place is too full and we have to stand.”

“On it.” He leads us to our seats.

We sit and take a look around. I don’t know why I’m here. I have no interest in being around anybody. The only person I wanna see is Livianna and that can’t happen.

Bren’s constant backup plan struts up to us. “Happy Friday, guys. Will you be having the usual?”

“Yeah, and if you can bring me a menu, that would be great.” I place my phone on the table.

“Sure thing, Cash.” She addresses Bren. “Do you want one, too?”

“You know it.” He flashes her his lopsided smile. “And please bring us each two shots of Patron, you gorgeous little thing.”

“Oh, it’s going to be one of those nights.” She squeezes his shoulder. “Give me a second and I’ll bring you those menus. I want to put your drink order in first.”

“Thanks, babe.” He runs his palm over her ass.

She giggles and sways off as Bren keeps an eye on her.

He rests back against his chair. “We’ve got some time before the guys get here, so I have a question for you.”

“Yeah, what?”

“You hate Sebastian and Leon. Why?”

My stomach fills with hot lead. “They suck as humans. There’s not much more I can add.”

“Don’t shit all over me and tell me it’s massage lotion. Fucking open up to me. What’s got you on the edge of something terrible happening?”

“You’re better off not knowing.”

“Why?”

I huff a laugh. “Look at me, Guns. You wanna be like me?”

“If you talked about it, maybe you wouldn’t be how you are.” He leans forward. “Cash, I’m your best friend. What do you know about them?”

His girl brings us our two shots, our beers, and the menus.I cheers to Bren and slam the Patron shots one right after the other.

He does the same and gets back in the position he was before. “I’m not dropping this. Tell me what you have on Sebastian.”

“Why?”

“You go insane anytime you see him and don’t say it has anything to do with the time he kissed my sister at our concert. Your reaction is more than that.”

“You want the truth?” I pinch my brows together and tilt my head. “You think you wanna know why I hate the motherfucker?”

“Lay it down for me.”

“And it stays between us?”

“You have my word.”

“It can’t go further than this table.”

“I won’t say anything to anyone.”