Page 28 of Breaking Point
GRAYSON
You know I can read right?
and don’t come to my house
KIERAN ASHFORD
so he lives!
I’m very offended you’re dodging my calls
so offended, in fact, I’ve taken up Irving’s kink of stalking
GRAYSON
no
KIERAN ASHFORD
oh yes
Kieran won’t stop pounding on my front door.
Why is this annoying? Because of the sound, the invasion of privacy, or all the above maybe? No, what’s truly infuriating is this man has a key.
He’s purposely pissing me off.
Flinging open the door, I all but growl as I find Kieran, Caleb Ellington, and Matteo Valenti standing on my front porch.
“No. I’m not coming. Sorry you wasted a trip.”
I move to slam the door in their faces but Kieran’s foot darts out, stopping it. He steps through, clapping me on the back. “I see your three days of sobriety have taken a turn.” He sniffs the air. “Whiskey this time?”
Matteo and Caleb share a look, making me feel smaller than I should.
“What happened?” Matteo asks, finally stepping through the doorway.
Kieran rounds the corner, his hand in a box of my cereal.How the fuck did he get that so fast?“Mommy dearest managed to trap him and get him on the line.”
My back stiffens as my eyes slowly make their way to his face. “You talk to my mom?”
“Of course I do,” he says as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Which in hindsight, if I push through my whiskey haze, I’d realize it is. He’s been my best friend since my freshmen year of high school. My parents are practically his.
He throws his hands in the air, scattering Froot Loops across the couch. “Well, since you’re already drinking, we may as well get you dressed and down to the bar.”
“And why would I do that?” I ask, pointedly ignoring the mess he’s created.
“Because your team loves you and they’re worried about you,” Caleb answers before anyone else can.
“You’re freaking people out, dude,” Matteo admits.
“And,” Kieran adds, “the last thing you should be doing is drinking your sorrows away alone.”
Internally, I wince as shame makes my heart shrivel up. Externally, however, I probably look like I don’t give a shit. Which is so far from who I am at my core I’m slightly terrified.
After shoving a fistful of cereal into his mouth, Kieran claps his hands. “That’s it, we’re going. I’m tired of arguing.” He sniffs me before pulling back with a grimace. “Am I going to have to force you into a shower or can you manage to do that yourself?”
