Page 46 of Bring You Back

“Tommy,” Reyna sighs, now holding his stare with a small smile. His hands still hold her cheeks, his thumbs brushing away her still falling tears, her face mere inches from his. His eyes fall to her smile and his throat bobs. “You’re my favorite,” she says, then drops her head back to his shoulder.

Tommy stares in stunned silence at the sand, his lips parting on a slow inhale. I’m not sure that Reyna hasn’t possibly told him those three little words before, because he’d most likely have the same reaction even if she had, but I’m going to guess this is his first time hearing them.

Finally, he looks at me and Julian, both of us having been watching him more intently. “I’m taking her home.”

“No,” Julian says, taking a determined step forward, like he’s trying tostep upfor Reyna. He missed her art showing, an important event that evenIshowed up to, and I’d just returned to town. As her friend, he should step up for that.

“I am,” he says, halting at Tommy’s warning stare.

Tommy clarifies, “Tomyhome.”

Julian sighs, then says, “Just let me take her. Her mom got dumped, the guy won’t be there,” he reminds him in his own attempt to ease. “And even if he is, I’ll stay with her.” Tommy doesn’t budge, and Julian leans forward, pointing his stare. “Tommy, you know I’m not going to let anything bad happen to her.”

The two hold stares a moment longer until Tommy relaxes and transfers Reyna from his arms to Julian’s with an accusing, “Not physically.”

Julian’s hands pause in their shifting of Reyna as he’s hit with the words. He avoids our stares as he pulls her in closer, and stares down at her face as she rests her head on his shoulder, breathing slow and deep.

He starts off through the sand, Reyna groaning into his side, and I call out his name.

“Julian—”

He stalls at the sudden panic in my voice, maneuvering Reyna in his arms to meet my eyes over his shoulder. I remember that Julian had been drinking. I was so immersed in my continued catch up with Tommy that I hadn’t paid attention to how much more he may have consumed since the first. He may not appear drunk or reek of alcohol, but that doesn’t mean he’s in the right mind to drive.

I’m not losing any more people I love to cars.

My jaw twitches with words I can’t find, but his eyes soften, and I realize I don’t have to. He remembers the beer, and he heard my worries in my tone, can see them in my wide, questioning stare.

“I had half a beer,” he affirms, his voice the softest he has used with me since I’ve been back. There’s an accusing undertone that almost brings out my smirk. “And it was an hour ago. I’m okay.”

His face hardens again, along with his tone, as if he just realized he’s beingniceto me. Can’t have that.

“You have no right to be a bitch to her,” he tells me, unzipping the lips that were so tight during my back and forth with Reyna.

I return his look. “It’s nothing I haven’t said to her before.”

“And you have no right to say anything about me,” he finishes, then glances down at Reyna. “Or this.” He starts off again, Reyna releasing another groan into his side, and I watch until they’re out of sight, past the sand dunes.

What was the point of that? I’m a truth spitter by nature. A bitch, if you will. Julian knows I’m going to say whatever the hell I want to say. That’s a part of me that will never change.

I release a heavy breath and turn to Tommy who bends down to retrieve the remains of the plastic cup he dropped to catch Reyna.

“He needs somebody who cares more than he does now,” he says, playing with the cracked plastic before giving me a pointed stare. In one go, he’s telling me why Julian is with Reyna, and what I have to do to get myself back in his graces.

I’ve already come to that unfortunate conclusion. Think what you want. Wah, the bitch who has never fought now has to fight. It’s not just about having to fight. Comfort zones exist for a reason. You can step out of them, but they should still be there to welcome you back when things become too uncomfortable.

I’ve been uncomfortable for a long time.

“Don’t we all,” I whisper to that damn cup still in Tommy’s hand.

These are my friends. My family. I made a mistake, but I should be given the chance to make amends without having to run myself into the ground.

I just lost my brother.Thanks for caring.

I look up at Tommy, the only one of my comforts to literally welcome me back, the only one of my friends to cut me some slack, and I muster a smile. “Thanks, Tommy.”

He studies me a moment, then nods, giving me a small smile back.

“You’re my favorite, too,” I say as a tease, and he laughs down at the sand before aiming a smile in the direction Reyna had gone. I see a light blush on his cheeks in the glow from the fire.

---