Page 58 of Three Little Words

Chapter Eighteen

Bryn

My life was finally starting to quiet down again.

Bryan was gone. He’d gotten on his bike and left before the sun rose. We’d hugged each other tight before he went, holding on for a long time.

“Promise me you’ll text a lot.” I looked up at him, tears in my eyes.

“I promise.” He patted the top of my head. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you hanging.”

“And stay clear of motorcycle gangs, okay?”

“I won’t get mixed up in another one. I promise.”

“Okay.”

I nodded and stepped back. “Go on. Get out of here. I’ll leave your bedroom the way it is for when you come back.”

“Good.” He climbed on his bike, starting it up.

I held my hand up and waved.

He waved back, then bumped the kickstand up and peeled out on to the road.

Just thinking about it brought tears to my eyes, but it was for the best. It really was.

The sun was up now, and I was drawing before I went into work. It was my first day back; Marissa had offered to open, and I appreciated it.

I needed a chance to get back into the swing of living my own life.

And it was starting like this—a cup of coffee, a plate of peanut butter toast, and my art supplies laid out on the coffee table.

I wasn’t working on a full piece yet—just sketches, ideas. Little things to symbolize eternity without being an infinity sign. Those were a little overdone, in my opinion, and not something I wanted on my body.

But I did want something that incorporated a B, maybe.

Or even Benny’s name.

Beside me, my phone chimed. I hoped it was Benny, buy was pleasantly surprised to find it was somebody else.

Bryan. He wrote, Stopping for a few in west Ohio. Not sure I want to stop here.

I smiled. Then don’t. Ride until it feels like you’re in the right place.

Maybe. I’ll let you know where I stop for the night.

Good. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

I smiled again and put my phone down.

He was safe. He was out of here, away from all of the bullshit.

And it was all thanks to Benny.

He was a good guy. One of the best.

I couldn’t think of many people who would’ve done what he did for me. Bryan had cost him a lot of money and put him in debt to a guy that scared the shit out of me.

And he’d done it because of me.

Because he loved me. And he didn’t want me to lose my brother.

Bryan was free now.

And so was I.

And that gave me an idea.

I smiled as I put my pencil to the paper, warm from thinking about Benny.

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