Page 31 of Psycho

They bickered back and forth for a while, but I was lost in what Sawyer said before.

I hadn’t heard Sawyer call Travis Trav in…well, years. A childhood nickname, but whereas before it was spoken out of friendship, now it was spoken out of irritation and hatred. Sawyer and Travis definitely had a falling out. We all did, and now…now we weren’t friends again, but we were working together, in a way.

For Ash. It was all for Ash.

Chapter Fifteen – Ash

Those slippers really helped the next few days as my feet began to heal, and being in my clothes again—my own clothes, not that stupid flimsy slip or any of Sawyer’s clothes—felt great. That pill set my mind at ease. And my hair, my hair was once again blonde with a pink bottom half. Sawyer made a comment about the dye as I was doing it, to which I just asked him why he was still shaking so badly.

He didn’t talk to me for a whole thirty-six hours after that.

But, you know, if he could be an asshole, so could I. Just because we had a moment—and a weird, wet one at that—in the shower before did not mean we were close. We weren’t buddies. We were simply two people caught in the same situation. Yes, I might have found him attractive, but any time my mind wandered, all I had to do to remind myself to stay away from him was remember what happened at that party.

And then, always, my mind went to Kelsey. I still hadn’t talked to her. She’d texted me, but after a few days she gave up. It was fine. At least I knew she got back to her own college safely. Talking to her, hearing her voice would only open up the wound again, and I did not want that. The wounds were still too fresh.

I skipped out on my classes. Travis and Declan did the same to spend time with me, and we stayed bunkered at Sawyer’s house. We kept eyes on each other…among a few other things. It was hard to relax when I knew Ray was out there, but those two—they did their best. They were usually conflicting with each other, each of them tugging on an arm of mine and hoping I’d go with them—metaphorically, of course.

Sawyer did notice the new energy, the sexual tension between us, and it was one Thursday morning when he remarked on it. Declan, Travis and I sat on the couch near the TV, and Sawyer was in the kitchen, once again struggling to eat. This time he was eating a real meal, leftovers from last night’s chicken dinner, but his hands still trembled a bit. He was getting better, but I knew that didn’t necessarily mean he was better.

With addicts, it wasn’t a straight shot up or a straight shot down. It was worlds more complicated than that.

“So, what the fuck is going on with you guys?” Sawyer asked, speaking loudly to cover the distance between the kitchen and the living room. “Are you guys like a…a—a thruple or something?” He half-smirked at us, finding himself funny.

Yeah. Those immensely aggravating and unbelievably attractive half-smirks were back now. They’d resurfaced yesterday.

“Oh, don’t pretend you aren’t banging each other every chance you have,” Sawyer went on, either oblivious or not caring about the flaring red surfacing in Declan’s cheeks and the annoyed glare Travis gave him. “This might be a big house, but the walls are still paper-thin. I hear you.” He paused for a moment, setting his fork down. “You know, I bet I could tell which one of you it is based on Ash’s moans alone.”

I got up, shuffled my way over to him—in my fancy new slippers—and whacked him upside the head.

“What the fuck, man,” Sawyer whined, rubbing the back of his head as if I’d hit him with something hard. “Uncalled for.” His jade gaze turned to me; it was becoming less bloodshot by the day, and I worried for the day when he was better, when he no longer shook with the need for his next fix. “There’s nothing wrong with being loud, Ash. The louder the better.”

I lifted my hand again, threatening to whack him a second time, and he stopped immediately. Almost like magic. Would you imagine that. Maybe I should get a water spritzer and spray him anytime he said something inappropriate, treat him like he’s a cat. A soft whap on the head, the threat of water, and a firm hand all as I say, Bad Sawyer. No wet food for you tonight.

The doorbell rang, and for a moment, for a stupid moment—and surely it was a stupid moment because I knew who stood outside, waiting to come in, because Declan told me earlier he’d be on his way—I feared it was Ray.

It wasn’t Ray. It was Will. Will wouldn’t come out right away, but after much begging, I spoke to him and got him to come. Just for a few days. Even after being stabbed, Will didn’t want to be a burden on us, on me.

God, it felt like so long since I’d seen him, and as Declan got up to get the door, my gut twisted in anticipation. Will. I definitely had some strong feelings for that one, too. Ugh. What the hell was a girl to do?

I lingered near Sawyer, staring down the hall. I must’ve worn a dumb expression, my emotions plain on my face, for Sawyer harrumphed and muttered, “Uh-huh. Right, right. Go back to pretending I don’t exist. You have more than enough dick already—ow.”

Okay, I might’ve smacked him a little harder on that one.

The asshole.

Declan and Will came down the hall, and Will set down his bag, locking eyes with me. He looked a bit more haggard than he usually did, his brown hair tousled and a tad too long. His hazel stare lit up when he saw me, and a smile grew on his face. His strong body wore dark jeans and a blazer that hugged his torso in all the right ways, and I could not resist my urge to rush to him.

It hurt my feet to hurry to him, but I didn’t care. I threw my arms around him and hugged him, burying my face against his chest, too happy to see him to remember that he’d been stabbed not that long ago by my ex.

Then again, I’d been hit with Brooklyn’s car, too. Somehow I got the better end of the deal there. No broken bones, no sprains. Only bruises that were pretty much healed by now. That, or the pain from my feet nulled it.

Will let out a groan, and I pulled back, my hands falling along his upper arms as I said, “Sorry. I forgot.” Plus, it was probably stupid to embrace Will like that in front of his brother, who just looked on.

Travis, though…Travis didn’t look happy. Then again, Travis hardly ever looked happy. I didn’t think he’d truly be happy until Ray was gone. Whatever family business his family had, it definitely dealt in the underbelly of the law, maybe even in illegal things. How else could this Markus come and help him take care of Ray?

“You look good,” Will said, giving me a kind smile that made my insides twist. “Better than good, Ash. You always do.”

“Careful,” Sawyer spoke loudly in the kitchen, scraping his fork against his empty plate for attention, “or this threesome might just turn into a foursome.” Oh, if I was beside him right now, I would’ve punched him for that.

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