Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest Series Book 7)(111)

Taylor took it, still eyeing us with raised eyebrows. “We’re cabbing it home, right?”

I nodded. Even drunk, my cheeks were hurting. “And no calling Logan for a ride.”

She would call him, and he’d call Mason, and both of them would come, and then Mason would find me. We’d find a dark corner, and tonight would be for nothing. I held up a finger. “Tonight is about friends. Not boys. Friends.”

Taylor watched me, sober.

Courtney’s eyes were glazed over as she propped an elbow on the bar to rest her head. She was watching me. So was Grace, weaving, her cheeks flushed, and a hand over her mouth to keep in the infectious giggles that’d been spilling out all night long. And then Heather stood next to Taylor. Her long dirty-sexy blond hair was messed, and her black eye shadow was smudged, but her eyes were still alert.

I took a moment, looking at all of them watching me back.

They were here because of me, for me.

I opened my arms to them. “I love you guys.” I couldn’t look away from Heather. “How’d I get so lucky? Why do you like me?”

“Oh, Sam.” Taylor sighed.

Courtney brushed a hand over her eyes, and Grace’s hand fell from her mouth.

Heather reached for me. She held me tight, whispering against my hair. “I’ve got my dad and brothers, and I’ve got Channing, but you’re family too. You gave me a family too, you know.”

I clasped on to her. I meant what I said—why did she like me? Why did anyone like me? Some days I was weak, whiny, and wishy-washy. And those were the only W characteristics I could think of when I was intoxicated.

I was so goddamn lucky.

“You’re not any of those.”

I pulled back.

Heather shook her head, wearing a wry grin. “You’re not weak. You’ve never whined. And you’re damn sure not wishy-washy. You love, and you love hard, and you never complain. I know you stepped away from Mason, and I know it probably killed you to do that. Don’t think of yourself that way. Anyone who says that shit about you is the weak one. They’re the whiny ones. Don’t ever let yourself be defined by someone else’s biases. Got it? You’re one of the strongest people I know, and that’s saying a lot.” Her hands caught my shoulders. “Got it, Sam? Tell me you got it.”

“Got it.”

The words spilled from my tongue. I hadn’t realized I’d spoken out loud. But she was right. I was strong. My shoulders lifted and straightened. I did love hard. I was more than what others might say. They were the things they said.

“Thanks, Heather.”

Her smile turned gentle.

I groaned. So many tears. I was sick of them. “I think we should do more shots.” I lifted my hand to order them, but Heather pulled it down.

“I think you’re good with those,” she said. “Here.” She gave me a different drink, like the one she’d given Taylor. “That’s a Long Island Iced Tea. You can sip on that the rest of the night.”

“Sip?” I sneered. “You mean chug?” And I proceeded to do just that.

“No!” She laughed, and so did Taylor. Both tried to pull the drink away from me.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this, Sam.”

I rarely was. I’d drink one or two, then stop. I couldn’t remember the last time I was really inebriated.

“Me neither,” Heather added.

Then Grace announced, “I’m so glad we became friends this year.”

“Yes! Friends!” I reached for my glass again. This time it was half-full. I could finish the rest, no problem.

“No!” All of them kept it from me.

“Come on.”

“No.” Courtney grabbed it and pushed it far behind her on the bar. I couldn’t get to it without losing my place by my friends’ side. The bar was dramatically busier than when we first arrived. I swayed on my feet, taking it all in.

“Where’d all these people come from?”

Taylor chuckled again beside me, and Heather said, “They’ve been here since we got in.”

“Really?”

Everyone nodded.

“Oh.”

I hooked my fingers around the loops on my jeans and tried not to sway. They were staring at me, waiting for something.

“What?”

I felt another wave of gratitude crash over me. Jessica and Lydia were my best friends growing up, but neither was loyal.

Then there was Becky.

Oh, Becky.

I had loved Becky.

She stood at my side when everyone deserted me, and she continued to stand there even during the ridicule and attacks. Even when the guy she always loved showed interest in me. I never should’ve become friends with Adam. That was on me, but it didn’t matter in the end.