Page 2 of Naughty & Nice
“You’ve already packed more than you used to own,” he points out.
I think it’s meant to be a joke, and it is. But also… reminders of our pasts always hurt a little.
It’s not that I miss it. I don’t. I love my new life at Trinity Royal; it’s everything, and more than I thought it would be. It’s just… sometimes it can be hard, being the girl from the trailer park and trying to fit into a world that is vastly different from everything we experienced in our early lives.
Life here is… easy. We don’t walk around looking over our shoulder. Street corners aren’t littered with used needles. There aren’t gunshots and shootouts every few days. And the best part… we have actual food in our refrigerator, heat, and electricity. I hope they’re things I never get used to and take for granted. I always want to feel this grateful for the life we’ve fallen into here.
“Yeah,” I agree sadly.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s cool. It’s... true.”
“All talk of the past is banned from this trip,” Hendrix suddenly announces.
“Sounds perfect.” The less I have to think about it, the better. And it’s not like my family will call over the holidays to check in on their eldest daughter. As far as they’re concerned, I’ve left their lives and that’s it. It hurts, of course it does, but also… it’s a relief. It wasn’t until they were no longer a part of my life that I understood what a drain they were. I feel like a whole new person now, and I love myself so much more for it.
“Ready?” Hendrix asks with an excited twinkle in his eye.
My best friend is my savior. He was always the one good thing in my life from our hometown. I don’t think he understands just how much he’s saved me over the years.No matter what happened, he was always there. I hope it’s something I never lose.
“So ready. Take me to paradise, baby,” I sing happily, images of the cute log cabin we’ve rented filling my mind.
Hendrix presses his foot to the gas and the car pulls out of the driveway, but we barely move an inch before the back door is yanked open.
“Hey, vacationers. Room for another one?” A familiar voice fills the air and the interior of the car instantly feels smaller.
“The fuck, Wild?” Hendrix barks as he glares at his twin brother in the rearview mirror.
“I thought I was going to miss you,” Wilder pants as if he’s run all the way here.
“Sadly not,” I mutter under my breath, although I ensure it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.
He sucks in a breath like he’s about to bark out a retort, but Hendrix cuts him off.
“Why are you here, Wilder? You’re meant to be heading for the airport.”
“Flights were canceled due to the weather.”
Silence fills the car.
“So do something else with the team,” Hendrix suggests.
“Most of them are going home instead.” He doesn’t say the words, but they’re not necessary. There is no chance of Wilder doing the same. None of us ever want to go back to our hometown to spend the holidays with our parents. It’s just not an option. “A couple are staying. But fuck that. Especially when my little brother is heading for a vacation right this second.”
“A vacation you weren’t invited on,” Hendrix points out, stealing the words right from my lips.
“Well, I’m here now, so let’s go.”
Without instruction from my brain, I spin around and glare at Wilder, but the second our eyes connect and my stomach knots with guilt, I regret the move.
I don’t keep secrets from Hendrix. He knows every single thing there is to know about me. Hell, he was even the one I called the day I first got my period. But this…
Fuck. This is one thing that I can’t tell my best friend.
Ever.
Wilder’s eyes wrinkle as he smirks back at me.