Worse for Hope- Book #2 in the WF Series

Chapter 18: Shopping

✿Bethane's POV:✿

I drive us back to Uncle B's house while Rider continues his nonstop talking about random things. I swear, he's changed the subject a good million times and I haven't even put any input about anything he's said. Although, hearing him talk like this reminds me of what he was like in high school. Not in an 'I miss him' type of way, but in a deja vu kind.

I know that him talking a lot attracted me to him because he was the exact opposite of me. While he was more outgoing and had bungee jumping on his bucket list, I had never leaving my house and maybe becoming a lawyer on mine. He liked hanging out with new people. I, on the other hand, felt judged when a new person crossed paths with me. Finding someone who isn't like you is exciting, I guess, especially at the age of seventeen. Although, that's all it is. Exciting. Exciting can turn into other things, but at the end of the day, it all comes back to that one word. I was consumed with the thrill, and look what that did to me. Crying on my bed and feeling a type of heartbreak that hurt so bad that I had to actually change myself.

I became more independent, I became more determined for things like my career, and I learned that people in your life can make you the happiest person in the world-until they don't. Then you end up screwed while the person on the other end gives not a singular shit about the way you crumbled to the ground because of what they caused.

"...and penguins just happen to walk around and have wings but can't fly," Rider finishes his stance on penguins and ducks.

How did we get here, I don't know. I don't think Rider even knows.

I ignore him as I step out of the car and walk to Uncle B's house after parking in the driveway. He opens the door simultaneously with me and walks alongside me up the front porch.

"So, did you decide if you were going to stay with me?" he asks as if I would even consider thinking about his proposal.

"What don't you understand about me saying hell no?"

"When you say it in matters like this?" he retorts right as I push the door open with the key Uncle B lent me to borrow. "I would listen to you in any other circumstance, but I'm not letting you live somewhere where you would be in any kind of danger."

I roll my eyes, and when we walk into the living room, we see Roman, a blonde guy with curly hair, Ivy, and another guy with a mixed skin tone and soft-looking brown hair sitting on the couch and talking.

"Oh, Bethane. This is Eldon, Sanchez, and Legend," Ivy introduces the blonde guy first, then the one with brown, curly hair, and lastly, the one with dark brown hair which is very short. "And this is your annoying ass cousin that won't go out with us tonight." She ushers to Roman who rolls his eyes at her.

Rider gasps out of nowhere, but I notice Roman give him a look that shuts his words right down.

What?

"What? Does this have to do with Alaiya?" Ivy gives a knowing look at Roman, and we all do the same.

"No idea what you're talking about." Roman pushes himself off the couch. "Make sure she doesn't fall off a fucking table," he instructs towards the guys; speaking about Ivy, and they all nod.

"I give up." She throws her hands against her thighs.

"You asked him one fucking time," Sanchez reminds her.