Page 7 of Burn Bag

“Yeah, and you took me down with you!”

“Only because you were stupid enough to save me. You could have let me fall.”

“Yeah, that would have made this trip better,” I hissed.

“Hey, I didn’t tell you to pull me back from the edge. I could have survived.”

“How’s that?”

He spluttered for a moment before narrowing his eyes at me. “Maybe FNG would have saved me. He has nine lives.”

“Right,” I snorted, testing out my ankle again, only to hiss in pain.

“Come on,” he groaned. “I’ll help you back to the car.”

I backed up, hobbling on one foot. “Don’t do me any favors. I might end up in a casket.”

“You’ve already been close. Why not let me shove your ass all the way in,” he snapped.

“You know, this is supposed to be my vacation,” I seethed.

“Then why the fuck did you bring us all along?”

“Because—” Fuck, I didn’t have a great answer for that. “Because you guys are all running off and having babies. I’m the last male standing, the only one who isn’t completely pussy-whipped. It’s about time you all remembered who we are!”

He burst out in laughter at that. “You would have been right there beside us if you hadn’t fucked things up with Isla.”

I knew that, and so did everyone else, but that didn’t mean I needed it pointed out to me.

“Whatever. Just get the fuck away from me before you get me killed.”

I turned and hobbled down the path, headed back to the minivan where I could rest my foot. It was going to be a long fucking walk, but I was so pissed off now that I needed the time to work off my anger before I shot someone. The guys were behind me, arguing about how their hike was cut short all because Dash couldn’t stay on his feet.

I grinned in amusement, knowing they’d give him hell all fucking night. At least I wasn’t the only one pissed off. By the time I made it back to the van, sweat was rolling down my back from the exertion, but I made it, and that was all that fucking mattered.

I opened the sliding door and climbed inside, letting out a harsh breath as I closed my eyes and leaned back in the seat. Silence. I took a deep breath and held it for five, then blew it out. I repeated the process again, trying to will away my anger.

Anger for losing Isla. Anger for my old man being shot right the fuck in front of me. For refusing to make up with my father when I had the chance. And most of all, for not knowing where the hell my life was going anymore. I was a fucking mess.

A loud crunch sounded in my ear and I shrieked, nearly jumping out of my skin until I smelled the foul onion breath.

“Hey, man,” Fox grinned as I spun around. “Funyun?”

“Fox,” I snapped. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

He frowned, the hurt showing on his face. “Well, I heard we were having a guys’ week. I was sort of hurt that you didn’t invite me along, so I decided to join up with you. And here I am!” He spread his arms wide as if he was waiting for me to leap into his arms.

“And?”

“And…” He frowned again, unsure of what to say.

“I thought you were on a mission.”

“Oh, right. Well, that went FUBAR,” he snorted. “But it’s all good. I blew up Cash.”

I paused at his words while he turned around searching for another bag of Funyuns. “I’m sorry, did you just say you blew up Cash?”

“Right,” he snorted. “Not the way he would have wanted to go, but I figured, hell, it’s not like he gave The Kamau a better send off.”

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