Page 39 of Myla: The Hawthornes

“What do you mean,be with Cian? His family stuff that bad?” The background noise faded away.

“He told Bas that Richie was shot and Aisling was missing,” I replied, the words sounding farfetched as they came out of my mouth. “I guess Cian found Aisling? But she’s not okay. I’m not sure what that means, just that she’s not good. And Richie’sreallynot okay. I don’t know how bad it is, I just—”

“Shit,” Dad said as my words trailed off. “I like that guy.”

“Everyone likes Richie. He’s the nicest guy on the planet.”

“Like Aisling, too,” Dad mumbled. “I’ll call around and find out what the fuck is going on. You leavin’ now?”

“Meeting Bas at Titus’s house in twenty minutes,” I confirmed.

“Who’s drivin’?”

“Frankie.”

“Shit,” he grumbled. “Okay, check in with me, yeah? And answer the phone when your mother calls—you know she’s gonna.”

“I will,” I said, grabbing my duffel bag out of the closet. “Do you think the club will come?”

“We’ll be right behind you, baby,” he assured me. “Drive safe.”

“We will.”

Ten minutes after we’d hung up, I was grabbing my toothbrush out of the bathroom as I hauled ass toward Frankie’s Tahoe. Ten minutes after that, we were parking in front of my brother’s house.

Five minutes later, we were following behind three motorcycles as we pulled onto the street.

It wasn’t until a few hours into the drive that the overwhelming instinct to be with my friend was overshadowed by the reality that the last time we’d seen each other, we hadn’t exactly parted on good terms.

I’d called him acoward, for God’s sake.

“What?” Frankie asked, looking over at me.

“What?” I asked back.

“You made a noise.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“You really did,” Lou piped up, lifting her head from the paperback she was reading. She leaned forward between the seats. “It was a groan.”

“Why didn’t you remind me that Cian is probably going to tell me to go fuck myself when we get there?” I asked, twisting to look at Lou.

“He’d never tell you that.”

“After that little scene the other night, he definitely will.”

“Doubtful,” Frankie argued. “I bet he won’t even think of it.”

“Yes, he will.”

“Cian loves you,” Lou said kindly.

I huffed in disbelief.

“Okay, maybe he doesn’t want arelationship,” she conceded. “Though, I don’t really believe that. But you’re one of his best friends either way—he’ll be happy you came.”

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