Page 41 of Life After You

The door creaks open, yanking me from my thoughts.

Dean steps inside, his sharp green eyes sweeping the kitchen before landing on Mac, his lips twisting into something amused.

“I’m gonna guess… friends of yours?”

Mac smiles, handing him a coffee. “Dean, these are Logan’s bandmates—Sam, Chace, and Trey.”

Dean lifts his mug in greeting, leaning against the doorframe. “The infamous Burnt Ashes,” he muses. “Too early to ask for a selfie? I could get some great attention on my Insta.”

Sam snorts, taking a sip of his coffee. “Never too early, bro. Been on the road since four because of fucking brains over here.” He jerks a thumb at Chace, who watches him warily.

Dean chuckles, then looks at me, his gaze flattening as if he’s just picked up on my mood.

“Not a morning person? Rockstars, am I right…” he says playfully to Mac.

She lets out a delicate snort.

“We got a couple of days before we gotta get back on tour, so we’re gonna make the most of it!” Sam announces with a frown before downing his coffee in one go. He sighs loudly, then stretches like he just ran a damn marathon.

Dean shifts his attention back to me. “Didn’t think you’d be leaving so soon.”

Something tightens in my chest. I hadn’t planned on it. I needed more time. Just a little more.

Before I can say anything, Trey stretches, tipping his head toward Mac. “Since we’re out of here in a few days, we should go out tonight. Have a drink. All of us.”

Mac’s gaze flicks to mine, waiting for my reaction.

I exhale, scratching at my jaw. “I mean, I won’t say no, but I was just planning on hanging out with Mac. She’s the passenger princess and all that—her call.”

“Logey Bear!?” Trey beams. “I thought I was your passenger princess?”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “You wish.”

Sam nudges Mac’s shoulder. “What do you say, Mac? A night out with us before we gotta fuck-off-ski?”

I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

She pauses, glancing at each of us, completely ignoring Trey being a dumbass, before her eyes land on me. A soft smile curls her lips.

“Yeah. Let’s do it.”

“Fuck yes! Gonna get so shit-faced!” Trey all but sings. Then he turns to Dean. “Hey, Dean, where’s a good place togo in Portland that isn’t packed with hipsters or smells like soybeans?”

“Soybeans?” Sam asks, frowning.

“Yeah, bruh.” Trey leans forward like he’s about to drop some wisdom. “I was wondering why Macabelle ran off to Portland, so between Tinder swipes, I read this article that said Portland exports, like, a fuck ton of soybeans.” He grins at Mac. “So, Macadamia Nut, you got your tofu fix and feel all better now that your baby bro is here?”

“Of course, Trey…” Mac deadpans.

Chace playfully smacks Trey upside the head. “What have I told you about Tinder, bro?”

“Relax, there’s like a few other Trey Bakers on there, so nobody actually believes it’s me. Besides, I’m using Sam’s profile picture.”

“The fuck? Gimme that.”

A scuffle breaks out. I make sure to slide the coffee cups out of the way before one of these idiots knocks something over.

“I swear down, Baker, I’m gonna start pulling piercings out if you do this shit aga—” Sam freezes mid-rant, staring at the phone in his hand. His expression shifts from pissed to what the actual fuck?

---