Page 63 of Begin Again Again

“That’s what I call his ex, Audrey,” Sal said brightly. “She sucked. I mean, I still feel kinda bad whenever I call her The Cuntess, but she still sucks. Want to know why?”

Beth’s forehead furrowed. “Yeah… But Byron should probably be the one to tell me.”

“Classy.” Sal took the cigarette back and puffed. “Look, whatever happens, it’s just good he’s seeing someone again.”

“Hmm,” Beth said, her gaze a million miles away.

Looking at her, Byron understood why he’d freaked out about Sal seeing him kiss Beth. They were the only person on Earth that knew what it meant that he was not only with someone, but touching them—and he hated that. He cleared his throat. “Hey.”

They both jumped.

“Hiii!” Beth said, her eyes wide.

Sal winked at him. “Hello, brother. You took your time.”

“Yeah, well…” Byron handed Sal their scotch and Beth her Coke. Beth’s eyes were still huge; she looked like a little lost deer, and all Byron wanted was to be alone in bed with her.

“Where’s Klaus?” Sal asked, standing on their tiptoes. “Can you see him, By?”

He glanced around. “Nah. Is he here?”

“Why would I ask if he wasn’t here?”

Something in Byron’s right eye twinged. He rubbed it with a knuckle. “Maybe he’s inside selling caps.”

“What? To you?”

He glared at his sister.

“Is Klaus your partner?” Beth asked, rescuing them again.

Sal smiled. “Yeah, you’ll have to meet him. He’s amazing.”

They shot Byron a sidelong glare, as though daring him to disagree, but he wouldn’t. He liked Klaus. He was calm and nice, studying nursing full-time and dealing on the side. He was the best partner Sal had ever had and Byron didn’t know why he’d given Sal shit about him, except he felt dizzy from all the cigarette smoke and sickly from all the dry in his scotch. He was completely over this gig, but he and Beth had been there less than an hour. There was no way he could take Beth home yet. Someone in a green wig came up to congratulate Sal, and Beth moved to him. “Hi, you.”

He smiled, feeling infinitely better. “Hey.”

He bent to kiss her and Beth withdrew, covering her mouth. He was stung, then remembered the cigarette. He smirked. “I saw you taking that drag.”

Beth squinted at him. “You saw nothing.”

“You smoke?”

“Not generally. Are you one of those people that think it’s a war-crime?”

Byron held up his drink. “Not hardly.”

They smiled at each other, and it struck him how stupid he was being, acting like he had no choice but to hang out in a smoky warehouse. He’d done what he had to do, supported his little sister. Now more interesting activities beckoned. He slid a hand down Beth’s back. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. Should we go back inside? Watch the rest of the show?”

“I’d rather not…”

Her chest hitched and she moved closer, pressing her cheek to his chest. “What should we do instead?”

Byron could see it. The two of them making out in the Uber, holding hands as they walked up his stairs. He’d pull up her dress and bite her thighs, her ass, suck her tits. His cock was heavy, ready. All he had to do was tell her he wanted to leave. But the words caught in his throat like a bone.

Come on.

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