Prologue
Noah's POV
Wade died in his sleep last night. Funeral arrangements are being made. Just thought you should know.... Karsyn
My breath caught in my throat, and I blinked hard several times as the words blurred on my screen. I read the message again, hoping something would change, but it didn't. My best friend was gone.
I knew it was coming. We all did. But knowing doesn't make the grief any easier to bear. My chest ached under the weight of it, and with it came a tidal wave of memories...of him, of us, of her.
Karsyn.
Just seeing her name again sent a rush of guilt and something I couldn't quite name. Something that settled like lead in my stomach. The three of us had always been tangled up in something complicated. Now that he was gone, it all felt so much heavier.
I stared at the screen for a long moment before replying.
Please let me know when the details are finalized. I'm so sorry, Kars. Is there anything you need?
I watched the screen. The three dots appeared, then vanished.
Typing. Not typing.
A pause. Then finally: No. I'm okay. Thanks, Noah.
Short. Distant. But at least she hadn't ignored me this time.
Alright. If you need anything at all, you know where to find me.
This time, silence. Left on read. Not entirely unexpected.
With a deep, weary sigh, I drug myself off the couch and into the kitchen. I grabbed a beer from the fridge. Then, without thinking, I grabbed a second.
I stepped out onto the back deck, the cold night air biting into my skin, and dropped into the chair in front of the fire pit. Flames flickered and crackled, painting shadows across the wooden boards.
I popped the first tab, clinked it against the unopened can, and raised it to the fire.
"Here's to you, buddy. I'm sorry...for all of it. I've been a shitty friend and you deserved better. Way better. Rest easy, Wade."
