Page 67 of The Sidekick

Andi starts giggling, and it’s like a wave that rounds the table as everyone but Shade and I start laughing. I use the opportunity to lean close and whisper to him.

“Andi asked if we were dating and if looks could kill, I’d be a dead sidekick.”

He doesn’t respond as the laughter dies, but he grins evilly.

The rest of the dinner is enjoyable as I listen to what everyone has been up to while I’ve been gone. I even manage to eat a quarter of my burger before my stomach protests. Andi is eyeing what’s left of my food with a frown, but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything.

Other people don’t have that much restraint.

“Did he pick you up from rehab or something?” Blaze looks at the leftover food with a suspicious scowl.

An uncomfortable silence falls around the table as their eyes turn to me in varying degrees of discomfort. Typical.

I give Blaze my flat look and stare. He leans back in surprise. Shade really needs to patent this look and give training classes. It’s amazing.

“Not even close to twenty-four hours,” Shade huffs a hollow laugh and digs into his pocket, pulling out some money to offer me.

My flat look turns into concern as I stare at the twenty-dollar bill. I don’t want to take it. I made that bet out of sheer meanness. I instinctively want to brush it off and say this doesn’t count, and he can see it in my eyes.

“We made a bet,” Shade insists and stands up. “I said no one would say anything shitty for at least forty-eight hours. You bet at least one wouldn’t make it past three. You won. Take it, and let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Go on,” Andi says and begins taking her earrings out. “I’ve got this handled.”

My eyes widen as Shade pulls me up from the chair and escorts me out. I’m convinced the earring thing was just for show until I hear breaking glass and Blaze’s shout of surprise.

“Do we need to go back?” I gasp out as he pulls me along.

“No.” He responds grimly and opens the door for me.

Babygirl,

My therapist told me I needed to start a journal. This feels like a journal. What the fuck am I doing? Fuck it. If there was anyone out there who would give a shit about my inner thoughts, it would be you. You’re my diary.

I’m pissed at you. Why the fuck did you leave us?

Chapter Twenty-Four

Max

“More heartbreak?” Asher asks calmly as I try to punch my way through the mat he’s holding. The fucker doesn’t even wobble as I go full throttle.

“She’s back,” I snap out. Asher’s eyebrows rise, and he emotes some surprise over my words. He’s always so filtered with his emotions that the reaction catches me off guard.

“Brave girl.”

My hands drop as I pant for breath. “You sound proud.”

“You should be, too. Unlike some, she’s facing her demons,” he gives me an unreadable look and backs away.

“She’s cutting us all out of her life,” I can’t stop the tide of agony that washes over me at the thought.

“Good for her.”

“What the fuck, man?” My jaw drops at his usual nonchalant attitude.

“I don’t blame her at all,” he rounds on me with a water bottle and tosses it my way. “She has a right to defend herself however she wants.”

“I tried to take your shitty advice,” I inform him with a snarl. “I tried to talk to her, but she didn’t believe me.”

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