“I do,” Donny answered, his tone dry.
“I figured they needed a break,” Ash continued, sliding the marker into his pocket. “You never know, those three might grow up to be like us.” And before anyone could fill in the blank of what that meant, Asher said, “Though, a tattoo artist, mason, landscaper, and rock star are unlikely.”
“Unlikely, but not impossible,” Evan said, watching the boys retreat into the shadows. “Life takes weird turns sometimes. Turns you don’t expect.”
Too true. Evan’s life had taken a turn when his wife died and left him in charge of their three-year-old son. And Donny’s life had taken a turn when his grandmother passed and left him a mansion he swore he’d sell, but now lived in. Connor’s life changed irrevocably last year after one of his best friends died. And Asher’s life had been changing since he learned about Hawk’s existence.
The turns his life had taken were intersected by more detours he hadn’t seen coming. Asher couldn’t have seen Gloria coming. And he never thought he would get a chance to win her back. Yet here she was, in his life, in his arms. Great with his son.
“Let’s get to it.” Donovan interrupted Asher’s thoughts. He walked to the nearest tree and started tugging strips of toilet paper from the branches. “Least it’s not raining.”
“You’ve become more patient in your old age, Donny.” Connor followed suit, carefully detangling the tissue from the library’s decorative bushes and flowers.
“They didn’t buy the cheap shit,” Evan commented as he and Asher loaded their arms full of Charmin.
“Bored rich kids,” Ash commented.
“We’ve come a long way, brother,” Evan said, but he was smiling.
“Yeah,” Asher said, and smiled back. “Guess we have.” A long way since they’d come down here with spray cans drunk off their asses and looking to cause trouble. A way none of them had expected, but each of them had embraced. Asher included.
Evergreen Cove was beginning to feel like home.
Red and blue lights slashed across the library’s brick wall and washed the lawn in color.
Asher and Evan took in the scene and exchanged glances. The officer, who’d parked his squad car on the edge of the lawn but hadn’t stepped from it yet, was seeing four not-so-sober guys, armloads of toilet paper. And at least three of them had a rap sheet—the scene of the crime this very site.
Brady Hutchins climbed out of the car.
“You’re kidding me,” Connor muttered. He didn’t have the best history with Brady after he and Legs had dealt with the potential break-in at her apartment. Brady hadn’t necessarily made a play for Faith, but he and Connor, from what Asher had heard from the girls, had had some sort of pissing match.
“Lock it up,” Evan muttered to Connor.
“What’s up, guys?” Brady called as he stepped onto the lawn, a grin on his face. He was in his blues, thumbs hooked on his belt, smug amusement coloring his tanned face. He had shaggy blond hair and was tall enough to look Asher and Evan in the eye. Which he did…right after scanning the TP-covered grounds. “Feeling a little sentimental?”
“Our reputation precedes us,” Ash mumbled to Evan.
“Don’t be a dick, Hutchins.” Connor dropped the wads of toilet paper he’d just collected on the lawn.
“I wouldn’t push me if I were you, McClain. I have cuffs.”
“Use those on your girl,” Asher said, and because he was supporting his friend, he added, “If you can find one.”
“Pardon?” The cop’s good humor erased as his jaw ticked.
“Hutch,” Evan said. “He’s kidding. We’re at the tail end of Donny’s bachelor party. We’re not driving. We walked down here to…” He paused, wisely, because the truth put Donovan at the top of a very high tree. So he rerouted. “Found some kids tearin’ up the place. Thought it our civic responsibility to run ’em off.”
How Ev was able to say “civic responsibility” without stumbling after the amount he’d had to drink was a remarkable feat.
“I signed their toilet paper,” Ash put in.
Brady blinked like he’d just noticed him.
Asher grinned. “I’m famous.”
Hutchins did not look impressed.
“We’re on cleanup duty, man,” Evan explained, holding his arms out to reference the disaster on the library lawn.
“You guys are interested in cleaning up the city, I can arrange that for you,” Brady said.
“Get that rod out of your ass, Brady. Lend a hand,” Donny said, his speech slightly slurred.
“He’s kidding, too,” Evan said, but it was obvious to all of them that Donny was not kidding. Donny didn’t “kid.”
“Mrs. Anderson wakes up, she’s gonna kick all of our asses,” Asher pointed out, because he’d just seen an upstairs light come to life across the street.
“Yours included,” Connor put in.
At the mention of Mrs. Anderson, Brady turned to look at the house behind him. Another light flicked on. This one downstairs.