Page 13 of 4-Ever Theirs (4-Ever 1)

“Ah, fuck,” Reed cursed.

Cooper clung tighter to her while Simon gave her a look she could imagine belonging to a kicked puppy. None of them persisted in their futile objections. Could they need this as badly as she did?

“Good. So who’s first?” She couldn’t help but lick her lips as she looked at each of them.

“Cooper,” Reed and Simon said simultaneously.

“Why me?” He grunted when she smacked his chest. “I mean, not that I’m complaining…”

“Because you’ve got the most manners. You’ll take things slow. Do it right,” Reed explained, and Simon nodded.

“I should say no.” He looked down at Andi with a rueful smile. “But I can’t. I’ve wanted this for a long, long time.”

“Me too,” she admitted.

“Take the rest of today to get back on your feet, longer if you want it,” Reed ordered. “Now that finals are done, you have a whole week to relax. Tomorrow or the next day is plenty soon enough to blow our friendship all to hell.”

Andi nodded, and their course was set.

When she felt up to it, they escorted her to the police station. As she strode from the building, her story told, she felt calmer. Ready to put it behind her. They spent the evening watching moves, playing video games, eating takeout and generally being normal, as if each of them feared the end had come sooner than they’d bargained for.

After this, nothing would be the same again.

Andi couldn’t decide if she should mourn or rejoice over the change. She supposed that depended on what happened in the next few days.

Holy shit.

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