Kid

If a woman is upset with you, you’re going to know.

I awkwardly sit in the living room, watching Cole march around the place, aggressively cleaning. She’s throwing dishes into the sink, making a god-awful loud sound, scrubbing the counters until she’s sweating, and kicking the trash can that seems to have bent itself closed.

Hawke walks out from the bedroom in his fitted jeans and stylish sweatshirt, hair slightly damp from his shower as he approaches me on the couch.

I raise my brows at him, silently communicating, “You see this, bro?”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, looking at her with a worried glance.

“Gimme a minute, I’m gonna talk to her quick,” he says softly, handing me the keys.

I take one look back at her, and she’s already glaring at him. I can’t imagine Hawke actually did anything wrong? The dude literally obsesses over her like a lost puppy in need of a good owner. Oh, how I can relate.

It’s been twenty minutes, and I’m starting to think their little fight is going to derail boys’ night, when suddenly I see his shadowy figure leaving the house. He approaches the car, hopping into the driver’s seat, and turns to me with a shit-eating grin.

My eyes narrow as I study his face.

“You guys good, or what?”

“Fuck yeah.” He smirks, looking back at the house before he backs the car out.

I cock my brow, silently waiting for more of an explanation.

He finally looks over at me and chuckles.

“What the fuck was that?”

“Cole was upset because she walked in on me fucking another girl.”

“What?” I growl.

Okay, I know he’s my bro and all, but what the fuck? How fucking dare he! I’m about to kick his ass for her.

“No, no, no…the first time she met me.” He chuckles. “I was dick deep in this chick, fresh outta the joint. Cole was rehashing shit. Remembering how she walked in on me fucking her when we lived in my dad’s house.”

“So, she got jealous. Over past shit? Like shit that happened before you were together?”

“Yeah, she’s a feisty little thing.”

“That sounds crazy as fuck,” I say, contorting my face.

“Yeah, she gets a little jealous from time to time. I fucking love it, though.” He smiles to himself as I continue twisting my face while watching him. He finally turns to look at me and says, “Basically, she just wanted a reason to make you wait in the car so she could fuck the shit outta me.”

I cough on phlegm. “Excuse me?!”

“She wanted me used up so I wouldn’t think of anyone but her tonight.”

“Jesus, Cole,” I whisper to myself, thinking how insane she is for looking so sane. “She’s fucking amazing.”

“I know, right?” he smiles to himself as we drive.

“You need to wife that.”

He glances over at me while toying with his lip ring, his eyes suddenly softening.

“Wait,” I say, studying him. “Is that what tonight’s about?”

“Yeah, I guess now is as good as ever.” He licks his lips and smiles at me, his grin stretching across his face, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “I’m gonna ask her to marry me. Got the ring and everything.”

“Aww fuck,” I say, cheesing. “Congrats, man. That’s amazing.”

“Thanks, Kid.” He gives me a genuine grin. “You know you’re my best man, right?”

A pinch in my nose travels to the corner of my eyes. I swallow it away. “I’m honored.”

We get drinks at the pub down the road from Bran’s beach house. I’m a little too aware of how close we are to the party. Celebrating the big news with a few shots, we play a few rounds of pool, laughing about old times until we are both bent over, grabbing our stomachs.

This guy is my best friend. There’s no doubt about it. He took a chance on me, bringing me out here because he believes in me, always has. Since Kiddie the Titty was alone and in need of saving. Yeah, I won’t admit it to him, but he saved me. If you thought I was wheat grass now, you shoulda seen me then. Toothpick towhead. I sit there watching as he racks up another round and I smile to myself. I’m just truly lucky to have a guy like him in my corner.

Not everyone does.

I think back to Han and her lack of support. She’s all she’s got. She made it that way. But it doesn’t make me feel for her any less. My heart aches to be near her again. I told Sid to make sure he brought her there, needing a reliable friend to take her. One that I know doesn’t want to fuck her so I can meet up with her later.

Hawke and I have done enough shots. He’s probably drunk enough to make bad decisions, right?

“Wanna hit up a party?” I ask, wiggling my brows as I put my pool stick down.

He looks at his watch and shrugs. “Fuck it, why not?”

The Uber driver drops us off outside Bran’s beach house as Hawke gives me the stink eye.

“Really?” he says, staring at me with a blank face.

I shrug as we head towards the crowd of people on the beach.

“Kid! Hawke! What’s up guys?!” I hear a familiar girl call out to us from the other side of the fire.

It’s Brynn. She looks hot. Wearing a cute little crop top that accentuates her curves with a ripped jean skirt, she runs towards us, giving me a big hug, then slapping up with Hawke. She’s a cutie, there’s no doubt about it, and she’s like one of the guys, easy going.

“I didn’t think I’d see you two make it out here. C’mon, let’s get you guys some drinks!”

She grabs my hand, pulling me along behind her toward their crew of friends with a sexy little smirk. I look back and give Hawke the look. He reciprocates by raising his brows before throwing a little knowing smile in my direction. It’s clear she’s still interested.

Pouring up a few beers, she hands one off to me before giving one to Hawke. A few guys from the surf shop circle around us, greeting Hawke as Brynn and I converse.

“Kid,” she says before hesitating. “I just wanted to apologize for…well, how drunk I was last time we were hanging out.”

“Pshh, girl, please.” I scoff. “Don’t even. You’re good.”

I smile, pulling her into my side for a hug, relieving the anxiety she must’ve been holding onto about it. Poor girl really thought I’d think less of her for a drunken night? Hell nah. We all lose our shit from time to time. I understand that more than anyone. I never judge. I might laugh along with you, but I’ll never judge.

“You’re so dope.” She grins up at me, her hand still holding onto my waist.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I reply, taking a sip of beer with my arm casually draped around her shoulders.

“Maybe we can go explore some more attics sometime, find some relics,” she suggests, biting her bottom lip.

I laugh at the memory of our attic exploration the last time we were here. We barely made it past first base because, yet again, thoughts of Han interrupted me.

“I mean…if you’re into dust and stuff,” she adds nervously.

I realize I was thinking of her again, just staring off into space, wondering where she might be. I shake my head of the thoughts, snapping back into Kid mode.

“I’ve got a relic.” I reply, hoping she catches on. “It’s priceless too. Truly one of a kind.”

She giggles, playing with her long curls as she presses the side of her face against my chest.

“You kill me with the endless dick jokes,” she says, turning to look up at me. “I’m starting to wonder if this Ark of the Covenant even exists.”

I squeeze her tighter into me at the Indiana Jones joke. “You don’t need an archaeologist to find this bone.”

“Stop,” she laughs.

She stares up at me, smiling, and there’s a moment of silence between us. She wants me to kiss her. I can tell by the way her eyes keep looking towards my lips and back, almost pulling me down to her. I look at her pink, glossy lips and imagine kissing them.

She’s a cute girl. A real sweetheart, too. I just wish I could feel for her even a fraction of what I feel for Han. But, I can’t. It must be true what they say. I love my toxicities.

“Brynn, come do a shot with me.”

The voice stops my heart. My stomach immediately twists itself into a knot, the sweet sound putting me in a trance. I’d recognize that voice in any era, any galaxy, any fucking dimension.

Han.