Page 23 of Summer Nights

I don’t think I'll be able to scrub those kinds of images out of my head.

We've seen some fucked up things in our line of work. We've done some fucked up things in this line of work too.

But having to resuscitate your best friend after he has overdosed on a concoction of pills because it just all got too much? I feel like that’s enough said.

I roll out of bed, stretching out my limbs knowing that if I don’t, I will sure as shit get cramps later. The door behind me bursts open, “Rise and shine mother fucker!” Sonny shouts, no doubt waking up the surrounding apartments around us.

“Fuck off Sonny. Your good mood is too early.” I grumble.

“Nope.” He says popping the p. “Not today Pikey boy. My dick has been hard as a fucking rock since yesterday.” I turn around and curl my lip at him in disgust. Sonny just rolls his eyes.

“Come on man, that image of Scarlett running away from us has been playing on repeat in my mind.” He groans cupping himself.

I would never admit it to him because he's a fucking smug bastard when he's right but it's also playing on repeat in my mind too. Trying to be respectful of her considering we just met her was fucking hard. Especially when the hormones were rushing through my body. Specifically, my cock. Then to watch her dry hump Nicky? He is one lucky motherfucker.

“Bro, the last thing I want to talk about is your wank bank material.”

“Sharing is caring Pike.”

I give him a disapproving look. Sonny has always been open with his sex life. Over the years there has been no shortage of stories from him. While I am all for sexual positivity and letting your freak flag fly, there are just some things you shouldn’t share with people.

I push Sonny out of the room. If he is going to grace me with the innermost workings of his mind, he can share them with the other guys as well.

We find Nicky, Dawson and Dacre all standing around the island bench in the kitchen. The smell of bacon and eggs graces my senses and my stomach growls. I don’t know what Nicky does to those eggs, but they are the best things I have ever tasted.

Dacre turns around from his spot at the coffee machine and hands me a mug.

“Thanks man.”

Dacre nods, returning back to his cup. To say that the guys and I aren’t morning people is an understatement. Normally, Sonny is the worst of us. Except for this morning. He has a pep in his step that I wish someone would knock him out of.

“Has anyone heard from Scarlett this morning?” He questions before he seems to get impatient and quickly grabs his phone.

“No man. It's early. Plus, she mentioned something yesterday about going to work today.” Dawson replies, grabbing one of the plates that Nicky passes him.

“Right. Well, down the hatches boys. I need to see my girl.” He says snatching the plate Nicky was handing to Dacre and all but inhaling the food.

“Fucking hell Sonny. Settle the fuck down. We aren’t going to annoy her while she is at work.” Dawson grumbles. “I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise that for her. You heard about how much pressure she’s under, and having your hyper ass there right now isn't going to help her.”

Sonny deflates. He huffs out a breath. “I know Daws. But fuck. There is just something about her that is affecting me. She's making me feel something. Something I haven’t felt since…” He trails off but he doesn’t have to continue. We all know exactly who he is referring to.

“The coincidence is wild, right?” Nicky says looking around at each of us as we all nod in reply.

“I fucking miss her.” Dacre says quietly. He hasn’t lifted his head to look at any of us. I put my hand on his back, doing my best to try and comfort him.

“We all do Dacre.” I say. The feeling in the room is heavy. Each of us sharing the same loss.

“She would have just turned eighteen.” Nicky smiles.

“I wonder what she would have looked like?” Dacre eventually lifts his head. For the first time, the corner of his lips turn up slightly; something that hasn’t happened when the subject of our little Scarlett has been brought up. “She would have loved it here.”

“She would have. I think she would love Scarlett as well.” The guys all turn to me. Each with a sad smile. “She would have loved that they shared a name.”

Dawson chuckles quietly. “I can just imagine it now. She would be classed as their runaway triplet.”

We all laugh. The mood in the room brightens slightly.

“She wouldn’t want us to be sad. She would want us to have the time of our lives.” Sonny says. His plate completely clean at this point. “Come on guys, enough sad sack shit. It's time to live for her, just like she would have wanted us to.”

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