Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (best books to read in your 20s TXT) 📗

I’m the only one with a key. No one will bother you.”

Though I hadn’t decided if I would stay the night, I asked the question anyway. “Where will you go?”

He shrugged. “The sofas are big.”

I glanced at his twin bed and then back at him.

“You don’t have to.”

I wasn’t sure what I was saying, but I also really didn’t want to be alone. He nodded, and when the door closed, I vaguely wondered what, metaphorically speaking, door I’d opened.

20

shepard

I stood in the kitchen with the worst hangover of my life. I didn’t think I’d ever gotten that drunk before in my life. The sound of the cracking egg was like a bass drum in my head. I could only hope my grandmother’s hangover cure she’d sworn by would work for me.

Much of the night was a haze of memories. I didn’t remember a lot outside of my ill-conceived confession to Finley. So much for Finn’s advice. I hoped I hadn’t killed the only thing I’d ever have with her, friendship.

The door opened, and I glanced to my right. She stood just as tongued-tied as I was clutching a ball of clothes to her chest. That’s when I noticed the orange tee shirt that swallowed her up. She hadn’t been wearing that last night.

Though I was pretty sure I was going to hurl before I guzzled down Grandma’s drink, I managed to say, “Morning.”

I hated the guilty look in her eyes for many reasons.

“Morning,” she croaked, her voice obviously dry from disuse.

That didn’t help the images forming in my brain.

I should have kept quiet, but I had to know.

“Sleep in Emily’s dorm last night?”

Odds were against that. I recognized the practice jersey as the ones we used under our pads in practice.

“Not exactly,” she said in a rush, her footsteps on the move toward the stairs.

That was when I spotted it. His name emblazoned on the back of the shirt she wore. The flecks of sparkles that glittered the letters were probably a cheerleader project.

“Banks.”

I hadn’t meant to say it out loud with so much finality. But the truth was, seeing her in his shirt was the final nail in the coffin my heart was buried in.

“Oh, we’re allowed to talk about him now without getting our heads chewed off.”

August had appeared at the same time Finley was turning back to me. Whatever she’d been about to say changed when August got a view of what I had moments before.

“Oh, that’s fucking great. You spent the night with Banks.”

Her head snapped back around to face her brother’s frustrated rant.

“I thought I made it clear before that it’s none of your business,” she said much calmer than I’d expected.

His roar of fury awakened the beast of sharp blinding pain that had been a dull ache in my head.

“It became my business when you gave up your virginity to a guy who’s going to make sure I hear about it and hold it over my head.”

The next statement out of her mouth stunned us both.

“Who said I was a virgin?”

At our slacked jawed mouths, she smirked and darted up the stairs before either one of us could stick our foot in our mouths.

August reached for words.

“Don’t. Let it go,” I said.

I couldn’t hear more. My gut was tightening, and my head continued to yell at me to find a bathroom and quick. Instead, I grabbed milk from the refrigerator and poured it into the glass with the eggs.

“What the hell is that?”

His nose was wrinkled as I tried to unhear the conversation that had just played out.

“Hangover juice,” I said.

I rummaged in the fridge again and came up with the final ingredient.

“Hot sauce?” He looked faintly green.

I shook some in and didn’t respond. I swirled the mixture around and then down the hatch it went.

“I think I’m going to puke,” he said.

Then a familiar redhead walked into the room. I arched a brow in question. He only grinned.

“Lisa, have you met my best friend, Shepard?”

“Connelly?” she asked with a faint southern drawl.

She was probably from Georgia or Mississippi, but I didn’t care enough to ask.

“Yes, Shepard Connelly.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know your first name. Seems like everyone around here calls each other by their last name.”

“No problem,” I said, concentrating on my stomach and hoping for the best.

“So what happened between you and Lacey?” August asked.

His wide grin and snicker suggested he knew more than me. Since I could barely remember going to the party in the first place.

“Lacey,” Lisa said. “I would be careful around her.”

August was unconvinced. “Shepard’s careful. Aren’t you?” He turned back to me. “You did leave with her last night.”

“You did?” Lisa asked as if that was mildly impossible.

I thought about it for a second and vaguely remembered her offering me a ride home. I shrugged.

“The way she spoke about you, I’m surprised.”

That piqued my interested. “What did she say?”

“She claimed you’re obsessed with her, but because you’re so cute, she’s ignoring the creepy vibe.”

“What?” I snapped, which sent a bolt of pain to my temple.

“She said even though you came on a little strong up in your room that first time we were over here, she thought she would give you another chance.”

“That’s a fucking lie,” I barked and had to put a hand to my throbbing head.

“No one believed her. Another girl said that she was sure you were into some girl named Finley.”

I choked at the same time August cackled with laughter.

“You girls gossip too much. Shep here is like a brother to my sister. He would never cross that line.”

I cleared my throat when August turned an inquisitive gaze my way.

“Exactly,” I said, and he relaxed some.

“I don’t know. Just gossip, I guess. Still, if I were you, I’d be careful around Lacey. She’s quick to point out how influential her family is to get her way.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Another girl . . . more like woman, entered the kitchen. “Tell me you guys have coffee.”

She was tall with long, shapely legs that