Page 10 of Stay With Me

Take it off. Let me touch you. Give yourself to me the way I want to give myself to you.

But I don’t say any of those words.

When Billy died, a part of me did too. It doesn’t feel right to be out having fun when he can’t. He made one bad decision, and it affected everyone who loved him for the rest of our lives. I want to hate him for being so stupid, but he was hurting and acting out the only way he knew how.

And it cost him his life.

So instead of partying and making the same mistakes, I focus on my family and work, which has been enough for me. It helps keep the anxiety attacks away—usually.

But Magnolia tempts me. She gives me hope, and that’s a dangerous feeling.

It’s bad enough that Landen wants to date her, but if there’s one thing I know to be true about her, she goes back to her dipshit ex anytime he decides to get his head out of his ass. Travis is a year younger than me, and when we played football together my senior year, we actually became friends. They’d been on and off allthrough high school, which is why I never took her little flirty comments to heart, but it’s also why I never reciprocated them. Bro code means you don’t date your friend’s exes and you most definitely don’t date your brother’s crush.

Taking a step back, I shove my hands in my pockets and lower my gaze to her bare legs. “Put it back in my room when you’re done.”

Without waiting for her to respond, I walk away.

Chapter Two

Magnolia

THREE YEARS LATER

“It’s my birthday, bitches!” I scream and throw my arms up.

Everyone cheers and holds up a shot glass. I’m finally turning twenty-one, and I’m making the most of it. I invited a few of my girlfriends over to pregame at my boyfriend’s house, and then we’re going to the Twisted Bull for the real celebration. There’s a large dance floor and a mechanical bull, but I’m only interested in the alcohol and music.

“Here, babe. Made you a drink.” Travis winks, handing me a red cup.

“Ooh, what is it?” I smell it, and hints of fruit hit my nose.

“Special birthday drink to make sure you have the time of your life tonight.” He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his chest and kissing my lips. “I want you to let loose and have fun.”

I smile wide at my boyfriend, then gulp half of it down. We’ve had our ups and downs over the past few years, but he’s finally maturing. We used to fight about silly, stupid shit, and now he’s more considerate of my feelings and what makes me happy.

“It’s delicious!” I shout over the music, then take another long drink. “Wanna dance with me?”

“I will in a bit. I’m playin’ bartender before we head out.”

Pulling him down for a heart-stopping kiss, I grin at how sweet he’s being. “Thank you for all of this.”

His palm cracks down on my ass, and I yelp. “Anything for my woman.”

“Noah!” I shout when I see my best friend walk in with two of her brothers. “You guys came!”

I jump into her arms, and luckily, she catches me. The alcohol is catching up to me already.

“Of course!” She laughs and hugs me.

“You brought the snooze team with you?” I arch a brow at Landen and Tripp.

She gives me a pointed look. “They’re our DDs. Be nice.”

Tripp limits his alcohol and never gets drunk unless he’s at home. Even though he’s twenty-three, he’s never been a big drinker. I suspect that has to do with his best friend in high school dying from a drinking and driving accident five years ago.

I already know Travis isn’t going to like them being here. Before we got back together, Landen and I went out on a date last year. I was surprised to learn he liked me that way but figured I had nothing to lose since Tripp was blind to all my signals. When he asked if he could kiss me at the end of the night, we discovered there were no sparks between us and agreed to stay just friends.

But even so, Travis hates him simply for that reason.