Read Always and Forever for Free Online Page B

drunk.
    “Drunkard,” I remark, shaking my head at her.
    “Takes one to take one!” she counters having no clue what she’s said.
    “Why’re you getting drunk and this shit’s not even affecting me?” I ask, leaning forward
     to pick up the bottle to check out the alcohol percentage.
    Greer chimes in, “It’s because your adrenaline is going crazy. Brody got you all hot
     and bothered.”
    “Hanging up now.”
    “Lighten up. Look, you haven’t had fun in a year. Have some fun. Stop being so serious
     about everything. We all know Brody’s a good guy, he just screwed up. Find out why.
     You’ll feel better,” Greer advises.
    “Yeah!” Ryan adds. “You can be like Veronica Mars all sneaky and shit! I’ll help you
     too!”
    “That does sound kinda fun. I’ll think about it.” I hear Addie crying in the background.
     “She’s still up?”
    Greer huffs. “She’s on a sugar high. Someone shouldn’t have given her some of their cotton candy.” I hear Clay holler, “The way
     she ate it was so cute, though!” and I chuckle. “Gotta go and see if I can get her
     down,” my sister acknowledges.
    “Okay. Thank you for everything. I love you. You all be careful going home tomorrow,”
     I say.
    “Love you too. We will. Call me this week!”
    After we hang up, Ryan asks what I think Mike might want her to do. I finish what’s
     left in my cup as Ryan pours herself another, drinking it down quickly, suddenly nervous.
    “I don’t know. Usually, when someone pays thirty bucks, which is well above the norm,
     mind you, they have them do some sort of menial task. Maybe he’s gonna have you do
     his dishes or something,” I reply.
    “I hope he doesn’t want me to do his laundry. Guys’ laundry is disgusting.” She makes
     a face.
    “Then again, maybe it’s just a cover for him to ask you out.”
    She lets out a squeal at that prospect all giddy and shit then proceeds to jump up
     and run to my bathroom and puke her brains out.
    “Guess I was full,” she says, looking up at me from where she kneels in front of the
     toilet and wincing.
    I laugh. “Yeah, I guess you were. At least you already had your hair pulled back.”
    “Ever the optimist,” she mutters and wipes her mouth with some toilet paper.
    “Yep, that’s me. Ever the optimist.” I roll my eyes as I get a washrag out of the
     cabinet and run it under the cold water. When it’s good and wet, I wring it out then
     kneel down beside her and wipe her face.
    She leans to the side resting her head against the wall. “Thanks, Pipe.”
    “Least I can do, Ry. God knows you’ve had to take care of me lots of times this past
     year. This is just one of my turns.”
    “Just one? Oh, God, you mean I’m gonna do this stupid shit again?”
    I laugh. “The way we are, odds are looking pretty good,” I answer and she groans.
    She closes her eyes and I don’t want her to fall asleep in my bathroom, so I ask,
     “Ready to go home?”
    Eyes still closed, she nods. I help her up, get her jacket on her and my sweater on
     me then we stumble out to my awesome black Charger (the one thing I splurged on after
     the break up to make me feel better which it did but didn’t, if that makes sense)
     to take her home. She only lives two blocks south of my store so we’re there in no
     time. I’ve got a key to her house and business as she does mine, so after unlocking
     the door I get her inside, undressed and in bed. When I set a bottle of water and
     some aspirin on her nightstand, she grabs my hand before I leave.
    “Pipe, you really think Mike wants to go out with me?”
    I frown and sit down on her bed next to her hating that she’s even the least bit apprehensive
     about it all. “Of course. And if he doesn’t, his loss. You’re gorgeous. Funny. Sweet.
     If he can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you to begin with.” I cup her cheek
     in my palm. “Chicks before dicks, though, right?”
    She snorts. “Always. Love you,