Page 45 of The Rowdy Ones

“I don’t know,” I say again, voice raspy. “I don’t even have a car.”

“He has access to one.” Uncle Atticus shakes his head. “And he had no problem driving yesterday.”

He’s not going to let this go. And I sure as hell can’t tell him why I don’t want to be around his nephew. It’s not exactly table talk. Plus, I don’t want to discuss this shit. It was bad enough admitting it to my brother and Wild.

“You got a phone or are you still a caveman?” Evan asks, nudging me again.

I can’t look at him.

I just can’t.

“He’s got a phone,” Uncle Atticus answers for me. “We’re working on making him charge it.”

Evan laughs as if this is funny to him. While still chuckling, he pulls out his phone, creates a contact, and then holds it for me to take. My fingers brush against his as I take it from his grip. A zing of warmth radiates from the place we touched.

rowdy jamison please dont call me

Then I add a string of random numbers. When he tries to call me, it won’t come to me.

“He barely knows how to text,” Uncle Atticus tattles. “I’ll shoot you over his number in case he got it wrong.”

Unbelievable.

“Sweet,” Evan says happily. “I guess we’ll leave you two to it. Talk later, Row?”

He’s the only person who calls me Row. I hate that it makes butterflies dance in my stomach. Memories of his teeth on my ear as he whimpered the word assault me. It’s painful as fuck. I prefer to remember the bad times with him. Makes it easier to hate him.

After they leave, Uncle Atticus settles up the bill, and the two of us head back out to his truck. Once inside, he looks over at me, frowning.

“You okay, kid?”

“Yeah. Fine.”

He lets out a rush of breath. “You have your dad’s social skills.” He snorts at his joke. “I’m just glad you’re not letting the past get you down. Will says Evan has really worked hard getting clean. You guys were such good friends. It’ll be nice for you to reconnect.”

All I feel is dread.

It consumes and drowns me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as we start to drive away. Shakily, I pull the phone out and stare at the text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: Good seeing you today. You look great. I’m happy for you.

I slowly add him to my contacts underevan knox dont answer him.

Me: we both know its best if you dont contact me ev

evan knox dont answer him: I’ve just got my best friend back. Sorry, no can do, man. We’re going to lift together. It’ll be better this time. You’ll see. Plus, I have Alex now, so you don’t have to worry about that other stuff.

The other stuff meaning fucking.

My cock chubs in my jeans because of course it does.

I don’t respond to him, instead confiding in Wild.

Me: ran into evan at diner youre dad wants us to hang out i hate this shit

Wild: You’re lucky I can understand your horrible texting skills. And what the fuck? Do I need to go deal with Evan?