Page 92 of The Road to Ruined

Ashlyn looks disgusted, and I laugh harder.

"Can we change the subject, please?" Sophie asks. "This is supposed to be fun. Do you want to come dance with me, Ashlyn?"

"You'll have to pull the stick out of her ass first," I say.

"Teagan!" Blakely snaps.

"What? She started it, and you know it. I'm just sitting here minding my own fucking business, but if you don't shut her up, I will. You're afraid of me for all the wrong reasons," I direct to Ashlyn.

"You're only here because your sister feels bad for you," Ashlyn snaps. "You know that, don't you? And now we all have to suffer for it."

"Ashlyn, that's not true," Blake says. "And you know what? She's right—it is you. And youarescared of her, so maybe just—"

"Just shut up," Lauren finishes. "Just shut the fuck up."

"Exactly," Blake says.

I look across the table at her and smile.There'smy sister—the one who stuck up for me and protected me after my accident. She's changed a lot over the past few years, just like I have, subtly enough that I barely noticed until suddenly, she was different.

I hope after I'm gone, no matter what that means, she learns how to be that person again.

"Teagan, isn't that your boyfriend?" Blake asks.

"Huh?"

I look up and see Sebastian making his way over to our table.

Jesus. What the fuck is he doing? I'm starting to think he enjoys playing normal a little bit too much.

"Un-fucking-believable," Lauren says. "That'sthe surgeon? You have to teach me your ways."

I almost correct her and tell them that he isn't really my boyfriend, but the look on Ashlyn's face stops me.

"Hey, Teagan," Sebastian says. "Hi, Blakely. Things look a little tense over here. Is everything okay?"

"Yep." I smile. "Everything is fine."

"You invited your boyfriend?" Blakely asks.

"I have never invited that man anywhere in my life," I tell her.

"Sorry to intrude," Sebastian says. "I told Teagan I'd be here for work for a couple of days; it's not her fault. I just wanted to say hello, and I ordered a bottle of champagne and asked them to send it over."

Just as he finishes the sentence, the server arrives with a tray carrying five flutes and an expensive bottle of champagne.

"Oh, it's fine!" Blakely says, changing her tune. "You're not intruding. You should join us." She stands, gesturing for him to slide into the booth beside me.

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"Yes, absolutely. Can we get another glass?" she asks the server.

"Better bring another bottle, too," Sebastian says. He takes a few hundred dollar bills from his wallet and hands them to the server. "Keep the change."

She smiles, thanking him as she takes the money.

He throws his arm around me and plants a kiss on my temple as any good, normal boyfriend would do. I narrow my eyes at him.

"What?" he asks.

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