Page 13 of New Neighbor

Mac shrugged. “Sometimes life takes us different paths. We have to adjust or be left behind.” Mac eyed him. “In those moments, we need to decide what truly matters to us.”

Benji eyed Hayden and Jesse. His friends mattered to him.

They’d been as close as family for nearly a decade.

Even with family, there were highs and lows. But this low was starting to feel out of whack. He watched his friends glaring at once another, wondering if this was the beginning of the end.

“Sorry I brought you here tonight. You didn’t need to be caught up in all this.”

Mac smiled wryly. “From the sounds of it, you needed someone to talk to tonight. Glad it’s me.”

Benji met Mac’s stare.

He knew there was something there, but he struggled to understand what Mac saw in him.

Hecan’tbe interested in me.

“Hey, guys,” Adam said as he strolled back into the bar. He placed a hand on Hayden’s shoulder and smiled. “The gang’s all here.” Adam looked around at all their faces. “We eating or what? I’m famished.”

Benji turned to Jesse, who looked as if he was a deer caught in headlights. They were still waiting on Clay… but Adam didn’t know that. Jesse froze, appearing unsure what to say for a second.

Jesse finally spoke. “Grab another drink and I’ll go check the hostess and see about that table.”

Before he could barely get out of the bar, in walked Clay.

“I’m here, as promis—”

Clay stopped midsentence. His angry stare fell on Adam.

Benji stared at the two, noticing the fury hovering in the air between the two best friends.

I told Jesse to just let them cool off.

But again… this felt different. Adam and Clay had argued before, but he’d never seen that kind of anger in either of their eyes before.

If looks could kill…

Benji turned to Mac. “This is going to be aninterestingnight.”

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