Page 83 of Beautifully Shattered
JD glances down at me and claps me on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, man. Is there anything I can do?”
Standing, I shake my head, my eyes glued to my wife as she chats to Jols, wondering what the fuck those two talk about while we’re not listening.
“Everything’s sorted. Ace helped with the casket once she picked what she wanted, and he’s arranged for Bobbi’s body to be taken to Ma’s on Wednesday morning.”
“Fuck. This is so fucked, man. I’m sorry.”
I nod, because what the fuck else am I meant to do? Thisisfucked. It should never have happened.
“You know what you need?” JD wags his brows. “Whatsheneeds?”
I raise a single brow in question, waiting for him to say something dirty, but then he surprises me.
“You both need to get drunk. And she needs her friends.” He points across the water. “Doesn’t one of them live over there?”
I nod, looking at the houses seeming so small scattered along the shore across the other side.
“The ex-teacher lives over there. Tyler. I’m not sure who lives with him.”
“Fuck, who cares. Let’s give him a call. See if he can get Abbey’s friends over here. It’d be a good distraction for everyone.”
“A distraction would be good for her,” I mutter, and before I can say another word, he’s snatching my phone out of my pocket and making a call.
I don’t bother telling Abbey what’s happening. Instead, I sit back and enjoy the look of surprise on her face two hours later when a small boat pulls up to the jetty near our safe house, and her friends, Lexi, Rhys, Ayden and Tyler, step off.
I grin at the girls’ squeals as they throw themselves into each other’s arms, and then Abbey’s big bright eyes find me.
Right then, I know letting JD arrange this was a good idea.
Sure she has me, but she also needs her friends, and not just Jols. But her old friends. The ones who knew her before I did.
“Hey man,” Ayden greets me as he climbs the steps of the back deck. “Glad JD called. Lexi’s been worried but didn’t wantto make things worse if someone followed her to see Abbey. Going to Tyler’s first was a good call.”
“The Marx crew has this entire area locked down.” JD grins, pulling a few beers from the cooler before tossing one to Ayden and Tyler.
“I’ve noticed,” Tyler grumbles, and I can’t help but grin. This grumpy fucker reminds me of myself.
“Okay, I gotta ask…” JD starts, and I sigh, offering Tyler an apologetic look, because I already know exactly what he’s going to ask.
“You really share your girl with four other blokes?”
“Yep.” He shrugs, taking a swig of his beer. “Wasn’t exactly how I imagined myself settling down, but then again, I never imagined she’d want me. The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess.”
Ayden chuckles, and JD gapes like he’s in awe.
“How the fuck does that work? Do you each have designated nights with her or…”
“Someone like Kitten doesn’t do well with routine. She needs spontaneity.”
“Kitten?” JD asks, and Tyler sighs.
“Shit, yeah, sorry. Rhys. She’s only Kitten to me and Bossi.”
“So you and Bossi like to share her… at the same time?”
“JD.” I growl in warning, but he waves me off like I don’t fucking matter.
“I’m curious. That’s all.”
