Page 4 of The Best Kind of Bad

Tia studies me for a few beats, shaking herself when she realizes she’s staring. “I’m sorry. I’m sure I seem like a busybody. It’s just Gus was always going on about his niece in the big city. I feel like I already know you.”

“Hopefully he said good things.”

Tia grins. “Boasted like a fool.”

I don’t know whether that makes me feel good or guilty for neglecting him.

Actually, I do know. I feel guilty. Lower than low.

“Well, anyway. Let me know if you need anything.” Tia hesitates. “Welcome home, Marnie.”

3.

Dusty

Sometimes, you need a break from being happy.

Usually, I can put my dark thoughts in a box somewhere and just cut loose. But tonight, those fears just won’t stay where I stuff them. I thought I might drown them out.

But sometimes, beer just don’t work fast enough.

Skyler and I stand next to each other, watching Bo and Josh dance with their women.

One by one, my buddies are finding their soul mates, parting ways with our bachelor days. In my opinion, they’re ahead of the eight ball. Twenty-five is awfully young to say forever.

Thirty seems like a good, round number to start looking for a wife. But those guys always were overachievers.

I glance at Skyler, the biggest overachiever of all of us. He was the only one of us who got decent grades. Got his degree in engineering and somehow wound up right back in Silver Bend. I guess even the smart ones get stuck sometimes.

“They look happy.” Skyler mutters absently.

“Yeah. So happy I could just puke.” I grin, slapping him on the shoulder. “This beer ain’t cutting it. You want something stronger?”

He glances at me, giving me the same droll smile they always give me when I’m being… me. “Nah, man. I got to get up early and work on some reports for San Francisco. Helping dad with planting set me back this week. I’m all kinds of behind.”

“Suit yourself. Be right back.” I slip away from him, glad to put the dance behind me. As soon as I’m turned, the smile slips from my face. They all expect happy-go-lucky from me. That’s what I usually serve up. But tonight, I can’t stop thinking about this baker I’m stuck meeting. I can’t stop wondering where Sienna and I will go when she kicks us out.

Gus and I renovated that barn with our own hands. Turned it from an unused horse barn into a two-bedroom apartment that would fit in on one of those home renovation shows. Leaving that place is going to feel like slicing off a limb.

The music fades as I make my way towards Tia’s Place. I spot Juice and deviate from my path.

Juice was in the grade below us. I spent a good amount of time with Juice growing up because his dad owned the bar Runner liked best. Long-legged as a stork, with lank, dark hair, he hasn’t changed a lick since high school. We’re friends. As much as you can be friends with your weed dealer.

We shake hands in the complicated fashion we made up years ago. He’s got some little squirt with him. I say little, but the shady little dude is probably older than I am. His smile is friendly enough, but there’s something in his eyes I don’t quite trust.

“How’s it hanging, Dusty?”

“I can’t complain. Well, I could. But ain’t nobody wants to hear it.”

Juice laughs. “I sure as shit don’t want to.” He tips his head towards his friend. “This is my cousin, Jeremy Dietrick.”

Jeremy holds out his hand. “My friends call me Skunk.”

Charming. “Good to meet you, Jeremy.”

I glance back at Juice. “You got anything on you?”

He shakes his head. “I can stop by tomorrow, though.”

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