Page 2 of A Wrench in the Plan
“Can’t tell her anything,” Sidekick warned as I turned just in time to see Cat throw the car in park and prop open the door.
Her golden blonde hair caught the morning light in a way that didn’t seem real, and it rippled like strands of golden silk as she quickly headed for us. She looked… angelic. Yeah, that was the word. Pure and good, everything this life was against.
“I know,” I grit out, angry at him for even saying that shit.
And though it probably made me an asshole, I fucking sagged into Cat’s body when she came at me with her arms opened wide. I even released a weighted sigh as she wrapped me up in a hug.
“Is Evan okay? He’s not answering me back.” The concern in her voice had me pulling away from her embrace.
Evan was her best friend. He was really the link between the two of us. Cat and I might have grown up in the club together, but Evan was the reason we’d become so close over the last couple of years. It only reminded me that I owed Evan a lot. Cat had become my person. Sure, Sidekick was my best friend, my ride-or-die, but there was a kind of comfort that I felt when Cat was around that I’d never felt before. She was the soft in my life that I craved, and it was that soft that I often sought out when shit got real hard. Cat was always there, always ready to lend a shoulder, and even a hug when the time called for it. Like now, clearly. And I might as well be honest, Sidekick was dealing with his own shit lately. Which was a lot, because my sister was a fuckin’ handful, let me tell you.
“He’s okay,” I told her, choking out the words and hoping that she wouldn’t press for more.
She grew up in this life, so she knew how it went. Still, her mom was a headstrong woman, never letting anything slide. There were many ways Cat was like her mom, and I was waiting for the day she started pushing.
Her eyes went sad, and she began to chew on her bottom lip as she nodded.
I mentally blew out a relieved breath. This was not the type of situation I wanted to fight about. Hell, I’d probably cave and tell her what was going on, if only for the fact that she could feel what I was feeling. So we could comfort each other because we understood on a level that no one else really did, since we were both super close to Evan. That had me feeling like an asshole for the second time in five minutes.
No, I couldn’t tell her. I couldn’t be the one to stress her out and make her worry. I had to protect her.
“It’s been a crazy, long night. It’ll probably be a while before he’s conscious enough to even look at his phone,” I said, because we knew how Evan would crash and sleep hard after he ran himself ragged. It was a good enough lie, but I hated myself as I said it. I forced out a laugh. It tore a hole in my gut.
“Right,” she said, eyes boring into me like she knew, but she didn’t say anything. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s completely gone.”
I knew she was looking at the soggy, charred remains of the ruined bar, but I didn’t have it in me to turn around and take in the sight of it again.
“I brought you guys breakfast,” she said suddenly, like she just knew we didn’t want to think about it anymore. “Oh, and coffee. Figured you could use some.”
She smiled at me before turning her attention to Sidekick, sending a cute little wave his way.
“Thank you,” I said, the words sounding strained. I cleared my throat.
After spinning on her heels, she walked back to her car.
“You’ve got to do a better job playing it cool,” Sidekick warned under his breath, but I knew he wasn’t being a dick.
I pulled everything inside to deal with later, shutting all of my emotions down just so I could make it through the day. Then I flashed him a smirk.
“I’m cool. Not so much can be said for you, though.” I pushed his shoulder playfully before walking over to Cat.
After slipping back behind the wheel, she handed over the breakfast burritos and coffee she’d brought for us. The she promised she’d be there if I needed her. With a smile, she started the car.
“It’s going to be okay,” Sidekick said while we both awkwardly waved at Cat as she drove off toward the compound.
Wasn’t sure I believed him. Shit did not feelokayright now. But I appreciated it all the same.
CHAPTER ONE
Evan
“Hey,” I said with a big smile as I walked toward Chry. The nervous apprehension about seeing me was written all over his face. Did he think that I’d be mad? “I missed you,” I told him softly.
All the air rushed out of his lungs in one quick, relieved breath.
“This,” he said, hands firmly planting themselves on the sides of my face, “is what I’ve missed.”
His thumbs stroked over the corners of my smile, causing it to spread. Tilting his head, he placed a closed-mouthed kiss on my lips.
