Read Online Stand Close 3 (Stand Close New Adult Romance Series) by Sabrina Lacey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sabrina Lacey
Ads: Link
it’s been mine my whole life. My mom and I barely talk and my dad is gone on some bender in Cambodia most of the time.” Alec chuckles sadly. “These guys, they’re it for me.”
“I know. I don’t want to come between you. I was acting like a jerk. Tragedy sure has a way of putting your perspective in order, doesn’t it?” I smile up at him and he nods.
“Yeah.”
“Friends?” I ask, my eyebrows rising a little, even as my heart sinks.
He makes a small sound like he doesn’t want to say it, but has to. “Friends.”
I shrug and wink at him, “Sometimes that lasts longer,” trying to make us feel better. We’ve been through so much tonight and I want us to be happy for at least a little while, knowing that four people’s lives weren’t taken before their time. “Let’s get something to eat.”
He smiles and releases me, but not before planting one bittersweet kiss on my forehead. “I’ll make us some sandwiches.” He stares at me a second, the look changing in his eyes. Feeling like he’s about to kiss me, I try to make myself want to pull away, but I can’t. Instead my head tilts up of its own volition and I close my eyes. Alec leans down and his lips brush mine just as the phone rings again.
We both laugh nervously, the spell broken. Alec rests his forehead on mine again and grins, “With that timing, it’s got to be Sean.”
Chapter Twelve
Sean
M y mother couldn’t resist it. She had to throw a party. And when she sets her sights on a celebration, she doesn’t fuck around. There are over four hundred of our ‘closest friends’ around the pool in our backyard, another thirty in it, and more filtering in through the kitchen where my mom is holding court and pretending like the brownies she cooked were the most taxing thing she’s ever done. She’s even got a splash of well-applied flour on her cheek; a nice touch. But at least she’s not high.
The band Broken Bells is setting up to play on a tall fantastically lit stage built for the event in the east corner of our backyard. Food trucks with Salvadorian, New Orleans BBQ, and Thai delicacies are off to the west, having driven in through the gate our landscapers normally use to get back here. Making my way to my favorite group of people, I thank guests for their kind words, with more than a polite smile on my face this time. I’m happy to be back in L.A. and I’m happy for the party, but mostly I’m just happy to be breathing smog-filled air and not fucking salt water.
“There he is!” Jenna smiles from her lounge chair. “They can’t get enough of you guys today and I don’t blame ‘em.”
Jack grins and hands her the drink she was trying to reach for on the table centered among us. “I can’t get enough of them either. It’s a different feeling isn’t it, buddy?” he says.
I nod and sit next to Alec on a sturdy, red ottoman that’s large enough for five. Rue’s in the lounge chair beside her best friend and Jack sits on the ground creating a circle of sorts, his shorts wet and sticking to him from the dip he just had in the pool. “I can’t believe you went in the water,” I say under my breath.
He laughs, “If I can see the bottom, it’s all good. But I am seriously considering having the dark bottom taken out and replaced with floodlights.”
Rue’s smiling at him and she glances over to catch me watching her. Her eyebrows rise. “Yes?” Since we got home, she’s been sweet and quiet. I think she’s been waiting for us to throw her out, and Jack’s enjoying that, but this time from a playful place. I have a feeling their sibling rivalry ain’t leaving anytime soon. I’m starting to like the show now that the weapons have been thrown away.
Leaning on my elbows, I cock my head toward the house. “My mom seems to like you.”
Rue blushes, looking over the house. Pursing her lips, she glances back to me on a smile. “We had something greater than the past to help us into the present.”
Jack
“I know. I don’t want to come between you. I was acting like a jerk. Tragedy sure has a way of putting your perspective in order, doesn’t it?” I smile up at him and he nods.
“Yeah.”
“Friends?” I ask, my eyebrows rising a little, even as my heart sinks.
He makes a small sound like he doesn’t want to say it, but has to. “Friends.”
I shrug and wink at him, “Sometimes that lasts longer,” trying to make us feel better. We’ve been through so much tonight and I want us to be happy for at least a little while, knowing that four people’s lives weren’t taken before their time. “Let’s get something to eat.”
He smiles and releases me, but not before planting one bittersweet kiss on my forehead. “I’ll make us some sandwiches.” He stares at me a second, the look changing in his eyes. Feeling like he’s about to kiss me, I try to make myself want to pull away, but I can’t. Instead my head tilts up of its own volition and I close my eyes. Alec leans down and his lips brush mine just as the phone rings again.
We both laugh nervously, the spell broken. Alec rests his forehead on mine again and grins, “With that timing, it’s got to be Sean.”
Chapter Twelve
Sean
M y mother couldn’t resist it. She had to throw a party. And when she sets her sights on a celebration, she doesn’t fuck around. There are over four hundred of our ‘closest friends’ around the pool in our backyard, another thirty in it, and more filtering in through the kitchen where my mom is holding court and pretending like the brownies she cooked were the most taxing thing she’s ever done. She’s even got a splash of well-applied flour on her cheek; a nice touch. But at least she’s not high.
The band Broken Bells is setting up to play on a tall fantastically lit stage built for the event in the east corner of our backyard. Food trucks with Salvadorian, New Orleans BBQ, and Thai delicacies are off to the west, having driven in through the gate our landscapers normally use to get back here. Making my way to my favorite group of people, I thank guests for their kind words, with more than a polite smile on my face this time. I’m happy to be back in L.A. and I’m happy for the party, but mostly I’m just happy to be breathing smog-filled air and not fucking salt water.
“There he is!” Jenna smiles from her lounge chair. “They can’t get enough of you guys today and I don’t blame ‘em.”
Jack grins and hands her the drink she was trying to reach for on the table centered among us. “I can’t get enough of them either. It’s a different feeling isn’t it, buddy?” he says.
I nod and sit next to Alec on a sturdy, red ottoman that’s large enough for five. Rue’s in the lounge chair beside her best friend and Jack sits on the ground creating a circle of sorts, his shorts wet and sticking to him from the dip he just had in the pool. “I can’t believe you went in the water,” I say under my breath.
He laughs, “If I can see the bottom, it’s all good. But I am seriously considering having the dark bottom taken out and replaced with floodlights.”
Rue’s smiling at him and she glances over to catch me watching her. Her eyebrows rise. “Yes?” Since we got home, she’s been sweet and quiet. I think she’s been waiting for us to throw her out, and Jack’s enjoying that, but this time from a playful place. I have a feeling their sibling rivalry ain’t leaving anytime soon. I’m starting to like the show now that the weapons have been thrown away.
Leaning on my elbows, I cock my head toward the house. “My mom seems to like you.”
Rue blushes, looking over the house. Pursing her lips, she glances back to me on a smile. “We had something greater than the past to help us into the present.”
Jack
Similar Books
