“Maybe, but she’s going through some shit right now, so I’m only trying to be her friend.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then give her my number. I’ll show her a good time. Get her mind off her breakup and show her what she’s missing.”
I shake my head, brushing a hand through my hair. “You really need to get laid.”
“I did last night, thank you very much.”
My eyes widen as she bursts out laughing. “What? I have a no-strings relationship.”
“Oh, really? Do I know her? Is she local?”
“As a matter of fact, you don’t because she lives in the next town. Wanna watch our sex tape?” She pulls her phone from her pocket.
“Alright, I’m out.” I grab my duffel and toss it over my shoulder.
“What? I bet you could learn a thing or two.” She licks her lower lip, and I can’t stop chuckling. “Give Everleigh my number too while you’re at it!”
“Not a chance,” I grumble. “I need new friends. You’re too much.”
“Suck it up, Blackwood. I’m your only friend.”
“Bye,” I call out as I push through the door and leave.
Ten minutes later, I’m home, and Everleigh’s lounging on the couch with a wine glass.
“Hey, bro. You got some mail today.” She gestures toward the coffee table. “A letter from the prison came, and I’ve been anxiously waiting for you to open it.”
Dropping my bag, I furrow my brows, then kick off my shoes. “Why?”
“Well, I don’t know. It just seemed weird. Do they want you to go back?”
I bark out a laugh. She’s probably on her third glass. “Relax. It’s probably from my old cellmate.”
“The hot one with the sleeve tattoos?” She perks up.
“Down, girl. I’ve heard enough sexual shit for one night.”
“Huh?” she asks as I rip open the envelope.
“Ruby,” I say. “Saw her at the gym and now I know way too much about her sex life.”
Everleigh snorts. “At least she has one.”
“Stop,” I say before she continues. “Don’t wanna hear about yours either.”
“Don’t worry.” She chugs her wine until it’s empty. “The only action I get is from Victor the Vibrator in the shower.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Shaking my head, I walk to the kitchen and pray we have a case of beer left. “I need my own place,” I mutter when she’s out of earshot.
After I grab a bottle of Bud Light, I go back to the living room and sit down next to Everleigh. She’s watching some dating reality show, but I’m too tired to complain.
“So what’s the letter say?”
I unfold it and begin reading. Meeting and getting to know Archer was the only silver lining while being locked up. I thought of him as the younger brother I never had. He’s five years younger than me, only a year older than Everleigh, and has a lot of life left to live once he’s out.
“He’s asking how I’m adjusting after being locked up for five years. Says he’s proud that I started over and that he wants a fresh slate too but refuses to go home. Then he mentioned some ideas of what he could do when he’s released in a few years. I’ve already told him he could come here if he wanted.”
“Three more years? Geez. That sucks. He totally should move here. Noah will be out by then too. You guys could start an ex-con’s club or something.” She giggles as though it’s the best idea she’s ever had.
“Har har. Time to cut you off.” I reach for her glass, but she quickly pulls away.
“Don’t you dare!” She presses it to her chest, then gets up to refill it. “I’m not driving anyway, and I’ve had a rough day.”
“Oh, yeah? Hard day of gossip and folding shirts?”
She glares at me, which causes me to laugh. “What’d Archer do anyway?”
I brush a hand over my scruffy jaw and debate whether I should say. It’s not my story to tell, but he’s not a bad guy either. She sits back on the couch and leans forward, waiting for me to continue.
“He took the fall for his sister so she wouldn’t go to jail for shooting and murdering her abusive boyfriend.”
“What? Seriously?”
“They grew up poor and knew it’d be believable if the kid from the wrong side of the tracks was the one who did it. There was a fabricated story about how he tried to get him off her but couldn’t because the boyfriend was high on something and uncontrollable. Archer explained that he walked in on the guy beating his