One Tiny Lie (Ten Tiny Breaths #2)(92)
“When are your friends coming down, Livie?” Storm asks as she adjusts her top. Emily’s chubby cheeks finally make an appearance from behind the flannel curtain, with a content burp.
“Tomorrow afternoon.” The guys and Reagan are flying in for a few days.
They were shocked when they found out that Ashton’s mom had been alive all this time, but they simply stood by their friend that day in late April and then celebrated her life with him at Tiger Inn until the wee hours of the morning. While Ashton can never disclose all of the details because of his agreement with his father, I think the guys have come to realize that their captain’s life was far from the ideal exterior.
And Reagan? Well, aside from the three-week-long pout I had to deal with when I told her I wasn’t coming back in the fall, Reagan has been the best roommate and friend I could ever ask for. She’s still madly in love with Grant. Maybe enough to tame her wild streak.
“All right! So we’re getting lit tomorrow night,” Ben exclaims, clapping his hands together. He bends down to kiss Emily on her cheek.
“You stink!” Storm pushes him away with a giggle and a crinkled nose.
“On that note . . .” Ben lays a sloppy kiss on Storm’s forehead and then heads into the house with a holler of, “Goodbye!”
Trent stretches his long, muscular arms over his head. “The Grill tonight?”
“Yes! I need a night out!” Storm exclaims, a sudden frenzied look in her eyes. Like she’s a caged animal. She kind of is. “Dan’s going to be home in an hour and then me and these milk bags are ditching this joint. Lemme go empty them.” She’s gone with Emily in a split second to pump.
The guys follow, arguing about who gets first shower, leaving Kacey and me alone on the deck once again.
We sit silently for a long moment, as I listen to the seagulls and watch the calming waves roll in. “You know it’s been almost a year since that night?” God, everything feels so different! I’m still me. And yet I’ve changed so much.
“Huh.” Kacey pauses as she scoops my plate out of my hand. “You mean since the night I told you that you’re completely f**ked up?” I see the tiny curl of amusement in her lips as she polishes off the last chunk of my cake.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” I stretch my arms back and nestle them behind my head.
And I smile.