Page 130 of Bring You Back

“He said there weretwoblonds at my house,” Landon continues. “One a little more female than you,” he jabs at Banks who tries to step up again, but I keep him back with my arm. “Hot. Curves for days.” This he says with a wry smile at me, and it takes everything I have not to punch it off. “Who do we know that fits that description and hangs out with you shits?”

“Stay away from Reyna,” I order, a strong warning in my voice.

“Or you’ll what?” he challenges.

Banks maneuvers around me to step back up to Landon before I can show him justwhat. “Your dude needs better eye sight. I worked alone.”

My stare shoots to Banks.

“Alone,” Landon repeats, unconvinced.

“Yeah, you’re the only guy here who needs to borrow a set of balls,” Banks says with a pointed look toward Nate who’s still standing off to the side, and Landon’s jaw jerks at the jab.

“My eye sight’s fine,” Nate speaks up. “I know what I saw.”

“You were seeing double. I’m fast like that.” Banks moves, bouncing back and forth from standing in front of Nate to standing in front of Landon, and all the while I’ve been watching him with an awe that fades to respect for taking the fall. He definitely wanted company on his quest that night, so he’s still trying to save face, but he’s also having Reyna’s back.

“See? Fast.” Banks beams once he’s finally stopped whipping around, which, admittedly, was pretty fucking fast. “It was just me.”

“And you’ll remember that,” I add with a hard stare on Landon. He scowls at me. He knows Reyna was there with Banks, but he also knows not to push me. He’s a dick, but he’s not that dumb.

“You’re gonna pay for my board,” he says to Banks.

“You’re gonna pay for my board,” Banks mocks, then points at him while shaking his head at me. “Good one,” he says with a sarcastic smile back at Landon. “We’re even now. Deal with it.”

Nate pulls on Landon’s arm to drag him away, over a confrontation he barely had the balls to be a part of, and Landon relents, the two walking off with one last threatening look. A promise that this shit isn’t over.

Of course it’s not.

I sigh and look toward the surf shop to see Jake standing just outside the doors, facing my direction. I’m not close enough to see the actual look he’s giving me right now, but I’m pretty sure it stinks.

“Shit,” I mutter, then address Banks. “I gotta head back.”

“Yeah,” Banks says with a scowl on Landon’s and Nate’s retreating backs. His mouth moves around silent words, probably more threats he regrets not saying to them, and I chuckle.

“Next time,” I assure him. Because, unfortunately, there will be a next time. Landon’s property was destroyed in all this, and it doesn’t matter if he started it. He’s going to try to finish it. I’ve been dragged back in, and now I have to make sure he stays the hell away from my friends.

But I can rest a little easier knowing Banks will, too.

“Yeah,” he says again, calmer, shaking out his adrenaline, and I study him, the guy who mostly has his own back—occasionally mine—having shown how protective he is of Reyna.

“That was cool of you, man.”

He stops shaking and looks at me like he has no clue what I’m referring to. “What?” I tilt my head in knowing and he waves me off, walking off before I can say more, leaving me to laugh to myself.

On my way back to the shop, that same lost feeling I’ve had all night and most of today resurfaces, my reprieve short-lived. I feel worse, unsteady on my feet, the world swaying around me—a feeling suddenly made better by the sight of my father standing just inside.

My steps halt, and I stand taller. I’m solid, the world in less motion. The words I had for Jake to defend my minute-too-long break have stalled on my tongue.

He’s back.

Of course he is, dumbass.It’s his shop.

But maybe. . .

I have this hope that he’s here for me. Back for me. And it’s the strongest it’s ever been.

“Hey,” he says, pushing off one of the display tables to approach me. “I was looking for you.”

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