Following Me by Linde, K.A. (best books to read in your 20s .txt) 📗

Brennan approached Hadley andtook her order.  Instead of her typical drink, he passed a glass of wateracross the bar.  Hadley looked up at him, and Devon could only guess theseething look she was giving him.  Brennan knew as well as Devon did thatHadley was in over her head.  Devon was lucky to have him on her side…or at least,she thought he was on her side.  He hadn’t seemed particularly perturbed thenight he had told Devon that Hadley was using, but he had been extra cautiousabout the subject ever since Hadley had stormed out of the restaurant.

When Hadley’s order was ready,Brennan motioned Devon over.

“What’s up?” she askedinnocently, like she didn’t know that this was Hadley’s food.

“Will you take this out toHadley?” he asked just as innocently, like he didn’t know anything about Hadleyand Devon’s relationship.

Devon bit her lip.  “Are you sureshe won’t throw it at me?”

“You’re the one not answeringquestions,” he said.

Devon didn’t even have a retortfor that.  She couldn’t answer questions—plain and simple.  She wasn’tconfident enough to tell anyone what had happened.  Maybe when she went back toSt. Louis in the fall, she would find that it was all in her head.

Instead of responding, she tookthe tray from Brennan and walked through the swinging door.  Brennan followedhot on her heels, stopping within a safe distance in case he had to intervene. Devon took a deep breath and walked right up to Hadley.  She placed Hadley’sfood down in front of her, and Hadley didn’t look up once.  Devon tucked hertray under her arm and waited.

“You can go,” Hadley said coldly.

“Hadley, I’m sorry,” Devonwhispered.

“No,” she said, shaking herhead.  “I just want to eat lunch.”

“Can’t we talk?” Devon asked.

Hadley stood fiercely and glaredat Devon.  She turned on her heel and walked toward the door, and Devon juststood there, dumbfounded.  Devon had never known Hadley to hold a grudge,especially not one this ferocious.  Were the drugs addling her brain thismuch?  How much more was she using since she and Devon had last spoken?

Devon rushed around the bar, butBrennan was already there, striding toward Hadley.  He reached her right beforeshe got to the door and pulled her aside.  Devon was close behind, but Brennanshot her a warning look, so she retreated a few paces.  She was just closeenough to make out some of what they were saying.

“Come on, Hadley,” Brennan said,dropping his arm.

“Why are you sticking your nosein this?” Hadley asked.

“Why aren’t you giving her achance?  Didn’t you say she was your best friend?  Haven’t you known each otherfor years?  What could possibly be keeping you from making up with her?”he asked pointedly.

“Oh god, not you, too,” shesaid.  “Don’t become a hypocrite.  I don’t need to hear it from you as well.”

“Hadley, I don’t give two shitsabout what you’re doing in your free time.  I only care about who you’rehurting—yourself and Devon.  This goes beyond you.  Just give her a chance.”

Devon could see the hard look inhis eyes even from where she stood. She marveled at his smooth words.  Hewasn’t one for conversation when they worked together.

“I can’t deal with this rightnow,” Hadley said, pushing him away.

He reached out and took her armagain.  “It doesn’t all have to be better today.  But don’t you think she’shurting, too?”

When he lowered his voice, Devonstrained to hear.

“Don’t you see that she’s herefor a reason?” he whispered.

Devon lost the rest as herstomach dropped.  How could Brennan know that?  Was she that obvious? Or washe a good guesser?  Either way, it terrified her that he was thatperceptive when they didn’t even talk all that often.  She had let her guarddown without even knowing it.

Retreating a couple more feetuntil she was entirely out of earshot, she contemplated how she had let thishappen.  When had she allowed herself to be this secure?  When had sheforgotten how tenuous the thread was, and how easily it could snap, bringingdown all her nightmares around her?

This wasn’t just about Brennanbecause she hadn’t even known she was weakening around him.  This was aboutGarrett, too.  He was just so incredibly nice, and she hadn’t met anyone quitelike him.  They had spent more and more time together, staying up to watchNetflix late at night after they had gotten off work, laughing about the absurdhours of their jobs, and marveling in their shared love of dessert.  Howmany times in the past week had she wanted to tell Garrett?  She had heldher tongue, but the more comfortable she got, the more she wanted someone toknow.

Devon bit her lip and tried tohold in all her emotions.  She had to deal with Hadley first.

After her conversation withBrennan, who had immediately made himself scarce, Hadley approached her.

“Can we talk…in private?” Hadleyasked, obviously still unsure about it all.

“Yeah,”Devon said.  “Let me just tell Amy that I’m taking a break.”

HADLEY AND DEVON sat in the breakroom in the back of Jenn’s.  Devon missed her friend, and it was in that momentthat she fully realized it.  She wished she could unload all her problems onHadley and have her put them all together in the right order, but Hadley alreadyhad too much to deal with.  She couldn’t also suffer from Devon’s issues.

“So…” Hadley said.

Devon nodded.  “So…”

“I see you have a job at Jenn’s.”

“Yep,” Devon said.  She didn’tknow what Hadley wanted to say, and she thought it was best to allow her todirect the conversation.

“How did that happen?”

“Brennan helped me out when Icouldn’t find anything else.”

“He’s a nice guy, that one,”Hadley said absentmindedly.

“So it seems.” Devon said.

“I guess I’ll just go ahead andsay it.  I’m pretty pissed at you, and it’s not going to get better rightaway,” Hadley said.  “You violated my trust, not to mention my hospitality. It’s going to take a while before I start to trust you again.”

Devon nodded slowly, not surewhat to say.  That much was true.

“But…I know that I violated yourtrust, too.  I’m not going to talk to you about my problems.  They’re mine. When I’m ready, we’ll figure it out, but until then, I don’t want you tointerfere.”

“Hadley,” Devon interrupted.  Hadleyhad to be reasonable.

“No,” she said, holding up herhand as she stood.  “They’re my issues.  I’m