Page 32 of Never Say Never

It’s been a long day, but a beer with the guys sounds good, so I deposit my suitcase inside and then head out to join Holden on the porch. As I’m easing into the Adirondack chair, Jake walks across the lawn from his house next door with a beer in his hand.

“Hey. Where’s Grayson?” I ask.

Grayson lives next door to us with Sierra, Jake’s sister. They got married last year and are expecting their first baby. It’s wild when I think about how my best friends are mostly all husbands and fathers now. Jake’s wife Everly is also pregnant, and they have an 8-year-old daughter, Birdie. Everly had Birdie with her ex, who is a real piece of work, but Jake loves that little girl like she’s his own. The three of them moved onto Haven Harbor lastyear, moving into Sierra’s house after she decided to move in with Grayson.

Now it’s just Holden and I who have stayed strong. Holden has been with his girlfriend, Aubrey, for a while now, but I’m not sure how much longer that will last. They’ve been fighting like cats and dogs lately.

“Gray is probably banging Sierra’s brains out,” Holden jokes, unable to pass up the opportunity to rile Jake up.

“I will fuck you up if you say shit like that again,” Jake says, glaring at him.

“Like I’m wrong? The walls in these old houses are pretty thin, man,” Holden says, laughing.

Jake makes a move in Holden’s direction, and he throws both hands up in self defense. “Okay, okay,” he pleads. “I’ll stop.”

I shake my head then take a swig of my beer, looking out at the ocean. I wouldn’t trade this view for anything.

“So, what happened on the road?”

“We won two out of three.”

“Atta boy. Must feel good to be Coach Collins right now. Man, you win the Division 2 national championships, and this town just might erect a motherfucking statue of your ugly mug in the center of the town.”

“Just what we need,” Jake mumbles under his breath.

“Damn right, I deserve a monument. I’m a 10.”

“You’re an eight at best,” Jake says. “A waste of stone, if you ask me.”

“Good thing no one is asking.”

“Hell, your dad would love that.” Holden says, sitting back in his chair. “Man, I’ll pay for the damn thing myself just to see the look on his face.”

“Yeah, my dad would shit.”

“He can fuck a coffee table,” Jake says. “Everyone knows what an incredible coach you are. If he can’t see it, you’re better off without him.”

Holden and Jake have always had my back. Holden and I have been friends since we were kids. We went to high school together and played on the same baseball team, then ended up going to the same college as well. After graduation, I needed a roommate, and Holden was the first guy I thought of. We moved into our little place on Haven Harbor and that’s when we met Grayson, who lived next door. Not long after that we met Jake and the four of us have been like brothers ever since. These guys show up for me like family, without me ever having to ask.

“I gotta run,” Jake says, pushing up from his chair. “Ev just texted. She has a craving for a McDonald’s sundae.”

“A craving?” Holden asks.

“Did you forget she’s pregnant, dummy?” I mutter, checking my phone again for a message from Jesse. Still nothing.

“How can I?Everyone is pregnant,” Holden says, stretching out the word. “There’s something in the water, Tuck. I wouldn’t drink it.”

I shake my head. I’m happy as hell for my friends, but I’m in no rush to start a family. Grayson, Jake, and Jesse are going to make phenomenal fathers.

I’d probably just fuck it up. That is if I’m anything like my own dad.

TWELVE

DEEPEST DARKEST SECRETS

Tucker

I crack a beer in silence.

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