Page 105 of A Hurt So Good

“It is nice being so close to everything. You don’t have to go far, and when you want something, it’s there,” I add.

“I could live on the beach forever,” she says.

“You like it that much?” I ask her. She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles.

“Yeah, I do. I don’t like the storms when they blow up, but the ocean is amazing,” she says as we keep walking. I know she’s sad to see War go. I know she’s hurting on the inside, but she isn’t going to let it show, at least not right now.

“What do you want to do for dinner tonight?” Denz asks.

“Doesn’t matter to me. Whatever you guys want,” she says.

“I want you for dinner,” I tell her. Arya laughs, and it’s the best sound in the fucking world, but I also know she’s covering up her sadness too.

“Then you can have me.”

“What about what I want?” Denz chimes in. She spins around and walks backward so she can look at the two of us.

“What do you want?”

“Your pussy on my lips.” She smiles again before the smile fades.

“I think I’m hanging out with Sasha tonight. She isn’t going to take this well,” she says.

“We’ll all hang out together,” I add. Arya nods her head before turning to look the right way. When we reach the house, she climbs the steps and opens the door.

“He’s gone?” Dad asks as we all step inside. Arya straightens her spine and takes a deep breath before he motions for her to come to him. She goes straight to him, and he wraps her in his arms. “He’s going to be okay, Arya. Don’t worry about him.”

“I do worry. He isn’t here, and I hate that.”

“I know you do. We all do, but Warren has always been strong-willed. He sets his sights on something, and there’s nothing we can do to change his mind. Just remember he loves you,” he tells her.

“I love him, too.”

“I know you do. Just like you love the other two, and they’re going to be here for you while all this happens.”

“I know. It’s just hard not having him here,” she says. Dad keeps her tucked in close for a long time when Sasha comes upstairs. She looks between everyone, and she knows instantly. Tears spring to her eyes as Denz goes to her and pulls her into his arms. It breaks my heart that they have to go through this.

I stand back and watch all of them, wondering what the hell we’re going to do without him here. It’s not just them who are going to miss him. It’s us, too. Very rarely have we ever been apart, and now that’s going to happen for at least a year.

When everyone calms down, my dad asks if they want to go out for dinner. Everyone agrees, and we all head out to our cars. Arya and I follow Dad, Denz, and Sasha until we get there.

“You okay?” I ask her before we get out. She turns in the seat and looks at me before nodding her head.

“I am. It’s just going to be hard, but I know you guys are here, and we all have each other,” she tells me.

“You’re right. We do.” With that, I lean across the seat and press my lips to hers quickly before we climb out and meet up with the others.

“This is my favorite Mexican restaurant,” Dad says.

“I didn’t picture you as the Mexican kind of guy,” Arya says with a little laugh.

“Well, I’m part Italian, to be honest. I just never got in touch with that side of me.” Arya laughs as we walk toward the table when some girl steps up to Denz. Arya’s head turns in that direction and that fire we all love burns in her eyes.

“Don’t let that skank touch your man!” Sasha snaps. I chuckle, but then Arya moves. She crosses the restaurant quickly, grabs the girl by the back of her hair, and pulls her away from Denz.

“Who the hell do you think you’re touching?” she roars at her. The girl tries to fight back and get Arya’s hand out of her hair.

“Get off me!” The girl yells.

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