Page 61 of Embers in Our Souls
“Great, let me see them then,” Malloy insists.
“What? Why?” Looking over at him.
“Let me be the judge of your stupidity.” Did I say Malloy is my closest friend? Because he’s really fucking annoying right now.
I roll my eyes, irritated by the way this day is turning out.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I ask him.
“No, and Baylee says I’m really stubborn when I want to be.” He follows that by standing and crossing his arms.
I let out a loud sigh and stand up. “I was really enjoying this view before you got here.”
“The fuck you were. You were sulking,” Malloy chimes in.
We walk back to where we’re parked. I get on my bike, while Malloy gets in his truck.
The whole ride home, I continue thinking about the disaster of a morning I had with Indiana, wondering about my past and how things could have been so much different had I simply been honest with her in that letter instead of burning everything to the ground.
After Malloy comes over and I share the letters, he doesn’t let me stay home, where I would have preferred to sit around in my quiet house. He takes me out, where the guys are atJenson’s, a local bar in town. Tommy, who retired from our station years ago, owns the joint. He decorated the place with items that honor local firehouses around Boston.
Luckily, the guys don’t bother bringing up Indy, which I appreciate. They’re able to distract me with other things, even pulling a few laughs out of me with antics of their own. River and Clay, of course, start a ruckus about Ella, mostly revolving around her next milestone. River is convinced that once Ellastarts walking, she’ll only choose to walk toward him versus Clay. That incites bets all around.
Clay is planning a civil ceremony with Abby, but River is trying to convince him to do something bigger. Abby wants to do something simple, as their first wedding together was a large affair.
“But think about it… Lola can be in it and so can Ella.” River is all animated talking about his brother’s upcoming nuptials.
“You want me to have a bigger wedding so your dog can be inmywedding?” Clay gives River awhat the fucklook as he brings his beer to his lips. “You’re kidding, right?”
I used to have a hard time telling them apart a few months ago, but now it’s hard to mistake them. River has this gleam in his eyes, no matter when you look at him. He’s always up to something, as if he’s conjuring a scheme.
I honestly don’t know how their mother survived the two of them constantly plotting something rambunctious as kids. I know they were both hellions from what I’ve been told by their childhood friend Asher.
“Listen, Brother, I love that dog, but I’m not planning my forever with Abby based on your dog.” He laughs.
River’s face hardens. “After all the love I give that princess of ours.” He points his finger at Clay. I don’t know if he’s talking about Ella or Lola, but River continues, “I love that baby like she’s my own. Now you talk about my Lola like she’s nothing to you. How could you?”
Malloy’s eyes bug out, yet his smile grows like he’s wishing he had popcorn to watch this play out. This is succeeding to be a good distraction for me from how my day started.
“River, you have your own wedding to plan. And from what Kenny has said, Lola is going to be a part of your day. You’re going to have your photos littered with your sweet girl. Don’t worry about it.” Malloy slaps River on the back.
That seems to soften River’s features a bit, but he’s still eyeing Clay warily. Finally, a smile breaks through and he brings his beer up for a toast.
“You’re right. My Lola will be a star in due time!” We all laugh, although I’m not too sure that is what Kennedy would like to hear about her wedding day. “Also, don’t let Kennedy hear you call her by that nickname. I know she hates it.” River eyes Malloy.
“Oh, she loves me.” He puffs out his chest with pride.
Malloy has won over all the women in the group with his reality-show-watching and book-loving personality.
“By the way, when are you coming over to watch the next episode of that love show?” Clay asks.
“It’s not a love show,” Malloy mocks. “It’sLove Daters!” He scoffs. “I can’t fucking wait. It’s a new dating show and it looks fucking awesome. Abby and I have been texting a countdown in our group chat. Even Marissa seems excited about it.”
“You’re a strange one,” I chime in.
“Really? I’m the strange one, love letters?” Malloy throws my way.
“Love letters?” River latches on to that real quick and I pin Malloy with a glare.
