Page 6 of Stay With Me

They speak about him as if he’s been gone forever.

But it’s only been seven days since I talked to him.

Six days since the doctors confirmed with a second PET scan that he had no brain activity.

Five days since his family had to make the hardest decision of their lives.

Four days since we stood around his bed and said our final goodbyes.

Three days since I held his hand during his honor walk before they donated his organs.

Two days since my first anxiety attack brought me to my knees.

But only one day since I relived that night, wishing I’d just agreed to come so he never got behind the wheel in the first place.

And with that comes a lifetime of guilt.

Chapter One

Tripp

TWO YEARS LATER

“Get that Swedish Fish-sized boner away from me.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

“C’mon, Daisy. Let’s go.” I grab her shoulders in an attempt to steer her away from whatever douche was stupid enough to grind on her. If I knew she couldn’t handle herself, I would’ve taken care of the asshole myself.

Of course, in true Magnolia fashion, she jerks out of my grip.

“Don’t call me that,” she hisses, whipping around and narrowing her eyes.

My lips curve up in an amused grin because no matter how many times she scolds me, I’ll never stop our little inside joke. Calling her any flower name except her own. She claims to hate it, but the blush on her cheeks tells me otherwise. She loves having my attention.

“Sunflower, it’s time to go,” I emphasize my favorite flower name for her. UsuallySunnyfor short.

“Mag-no-lia,” she drawls out in slow, drunken breaths, poking me in the chest three times right above my left pec where Billy’s name is inked on my skin.

“I’m gonna call youpain in the asssoon if you don’t get movin’.” I pull her finger off me. “My truck’s outside.”

“Where’s Noah?” she asks, glancing around for her best friend—and my little sister—as more people bump into us. They’re two years younger than me and get on my nerves regularly.

“Landen already took her out. We’re just waitin’ on you, so…” I motion for her to get moving, but then a guy stumbles over with a red cup in his hand and tobacco chew in his lip.

“You’re lookin’ sluttier than usual, baby pop. Wanna go upstairs?”

I squeeze my eyes to stop myself from punching his brains out. But in reality, between the two of them, it’s Magnolia I should be holding back.

“Excuse you? Did you just call me aslut?” She stands straighter on her heels, which only pushes out her already revealing chest more.

His gaze lowers down her half-naked body, and he licks his lips with a throaty groan. “You got a rep for a reason, baby girl. Show me how good you suck dick so I can experience it for myself.”

Magnolia’s jaw tenses as all five foot two inches of pure sass squares up against his six feet of muscle. “The only thing I’m gonna show you is?—”

“And we’re leavin’…” I bend my knees, lift her up, then haul her over my shoulder. Her mouth’s unfiltered on a good day, but when she’s been drinking, there’s no telling what’ll come out. The last thing she needs is to get arrested and expelled before graduation.

“Put me down, Tripp Hollis!” She pounds her fists against my ass. Landen notices us approaching and quickly opens the back door. My brother’s two years older than me, and the only one out of the four of us actually legal to drink.