Page 5 of By Rude Strength

Just fucking hang up the damn phone.

“—and you’ll be coming to the rehearsal dinner, of course. It’s next Friday.”

“Are you talking about Carter’s wedding?”

“Yes! Do you have any other brothers named Carter?” Deborah laughed. “You’re so funny.”

“I’m not going.”

“What?”

“I’m. Not. Going.” LA summoned all of his courage and fought against the twist in his guts. “I already told him no.”

“Of course you are. Don’t be silly. The dinner is scheduled for five o’clock, but I really think we should be there a little earlier.”

“Mom, he is literally marrying the woman who made my life a living hell in high school. I don’t want to see her. I don’t want to see him. I am not going.”

“And what will people say if you don’t come?” Deborah gasped, absolutely scandalized. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that will be for me? For your brother? What do I say?”

“Tell them I died.”

“Lawrence!”

“Mom, I’m sorry, but there’s no fucking way—”

“Language!”

“I’m not fucking going!” LA barked. “There is no power on this earth that could make me change my mind and—”

The steering wheel jerked violently as the car ran over something in the road. LA hadn’t seen anything, but the telltalewhump whump whumphad him turning on his blinker and quickly pulling over as soon as he saw an opening.

“Lawrence? What’s wrong?”

“I got a flat tire! I gotta go! I’ll call you back!” LA hung up with a snarl.

He was going to conveniently forget to call her back, of course.

Somehow, today had morphed from what was supposed to be a day of celebrating returning to work into an absolute nightmare.

Not only had he been fired, but his boyfriend had dumped him, and his mother was on his ass to come to a wedding he’d sooner drop dead than attend.

Great.

Just fucking great.

LA already knew he didn’t have a spare tire because he’d had a flat tire two weeks ago that he’d yet to replace. He called a towing service and was told it would be at least four hours before someone could arrive. He knew he was only a few blocks away from home, so he opted to walk. His back would hate him for it, but he was angry and beyond frustrated. The only thing he wanted right now was to go home.

He could figure this out.

He just had to be better,stronger, and fight harder than ever before. He was going to get his job back, reconcile with Gavin, tell his mother to fuck all the way off, and then—

A bell rang, the loud jingle that usually signified a shop door being opened.

He was walking by a small shop, but the door was definitely shut.

Huh.

LA looked up, reading the wooden sign hanging over his head.