Page 159 of Splintered Hearts

“It’s fine. I’ll be right back.”

“Did we forget something?!” Ailee stomps.

My last nerve is wearing thin. “Go find your friends, we’ll talk in the morning.” I’m ending things, but right now, when I’m distracted and she’s drunk is not the time.

Maddox leans into me. “Just let her come. We’ll drop her off first, okay?” Whatever. As long as we’re leaving I don’t give a shit. “Come on, Ailee.” Maddox grins that megawatt smile. “Shotgun with me, darling.” She gives me a triumphant smirk, like I’m going to be jealous, as if she’s not currently in the hands of a very gay man who’s in a very committed relationship.

Ian stumble-walks with us to his jeep. Maddox leans in, whispering something to him. Ian looks up, nodding and giving him a kiss. “I love you.” Maddox beams at him and fuck if they aren’t cute as hell.

“Gross,” I say to Ian as he walks by.

“Fuck you.”

“Only if you ask nicely.” I wink.

Maddox turns to me with a glare. “Keep it up and you’ll be riding on my roof.”

“I’d rather ride your boyfriend.”

“I’m going to kick your ass.” Maddox punches my arm. “Wait, where’s Bri?”

“She left.” Luci sucks in a breath. “She broke up with me.”

“What?” Sleepily her eyes blink up at me.

“She . . . she . . .” A half sob escapes her mouth. “I don’t know.”

“Hey, shh. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

She starts to cry, genuinely now. “She hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you.” I know that for a fact. “She loves you. You’re both just fighting right now.”

That doesn’t help at all, but my focus becomes stuffing her limp body into the back of the jeep, moving her arms to buckle her in. She fights me, half asleep, half with the strength of a demon summoned from the depths of hell.

Buckling my own belt, I look up, seeing Ailee meet my eyes in the rear-view mirror. “When we get back, I’ll get you some water, okay?” She makes a soft sound of acknowledgment, nearly asleep now.

I feel eyes on me and I’m surprised when mine meet Maddox’s. “What?” All he does is shake his head, glancing over at Ailee sulking in the front seat and looking out her passenger window. I have a lecture coming.

“When are you coming to get your tattoo filled in?” he says instead.

I touch my neck where the outline of a flower is. Being a walking billboard for my best friend has it’s perks—free tattoos—although I always pay him something. Maddox is the most talented artist I know. I can’t believe they finally did it. They opened nearly a week ago. “When you get time, now that you’re a hot-shot artist.” I smile, so fucking happy. They’re booked out for nearly a year, having a wait list before they even officially open.

“Always have time for you, bro. Tomorrow, I’ll have a very drunk man to take care of, but maybe tomorrow night.” We slowto a stop at a red light. Maddox cranes his head to look at me, side-glancing Ailee. “Dude.”

I don’t want to hear it. “It’s green.”

Maddox shakes his head, hitting the gas, going through the light.

My world obliterates.

Then spins.

Crunching.

Shattering.

Ending.

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