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.A silence falls through the room.My eyes flick to Flynn as thoughts of the last time I saw a gun flash through my mind’s eye.He drops his head into his hands and I can only assume he’s thinking of it too.Hell, I’m pretty damn sure we all are.I don’t want to be anywhere near another gun as long as I live.And this brings up a really good question: What in the hell is Benji planning to do with this gun?Kent glances at each of us in turn before stepping in front of Benji and relinquishing the gun.“Penicillin’s in the fridge.Keep the gun unloaded while it’s in my house.I’m going to bed.There’s only one spare room.You guys can decide the sleeping arrangements.” He turns to walk away, and then pauses, swiveling back to glare at all of us.“Don’t nobody be touchin’ my shit, either.”Jaxon raises an eyebrow, his arms crossed over his chest.Benji jerks his head once in affirmation.Kent gives us all one more scathing look before he stomps down the hallway.A moment later, a door slams and I jump, startled by the unexpected sound.“Well he’s just precious,” Kameron says flatly.24BenjiI tug the handle on the fridge and peer inside, sifting through the bottles.A gallon of milk and a package of bologna sit amongst all the medications.It’s the only food in here, and somehow it just looks odd next to the many bottles.I find what I’m looking for and kick the door closed as I gaze around the small kitchen.My stomach is churning, bubbling with the need to purge, but I swallow the rising bile down and do my best to ignore it.If I were a syringe¸ where would I be?Pivoting on my heel, I open the cupboards closest to the refrigerator.No luck.The only thing inside is an awkwardly large collection of movie glasses like the kind you can buy for a couple extra bucks with a fast-food value meal.I close the doors and move on, opening and closing every cabinet in the kitchen before pulling a silverware drawer open.“What are you doing?” Briar asks from across the counter.Her eyes follow my movements as I reach into the drawer and pull out a sealed syringe.Because, of course, that’s where Kent would keep them.She doesn’t insult me by trying to hide the reluctance on her face.It’s obvious she doesn’t really trust me.I can’t blame her, but it still stings a little.“For Flynn.”She takes a step closer, resting her palms on the counter separating us.“Is that…clean? I mean, where did he get this stuff from? How do you know that’s really Penicillin in that bottle? Can we trust this guy?” She opens her mouth as if to launch another onslaught of questions, but thinks better of it, and instead shakes her head.She pulls her bottom lip into her mouth, biting down nervously.I blink, trying to shove the memories away, but they slam into me mercilessly.I had just passed my driving test.I couldn’t let go of the new license in my hand.Every few minutes, I’d look down at it and smile.It represented freedom.Adulthood.A new chapter in my life.All I could think about was borrowing Grandpa’s old grocery-getter and taking Briar for a long drive.Hell, I was even willing to let Jaxon tag along.But as soon as I knocked on her door, Briar was pulling me toward the barn, intent on riding.“I passed,” I said, planting my feet and slowing her momentum.“Awesome,” she replied, her lips curving up into the smile that always had a direct effect on all parts of me, inside and out.“Let’s go for a drive.”She finally turned so she could face me full on.The smile faded from her face.“We can ride King wherever you want to go.”What kind of fourteen-year-old wasn’t jumping at a chance to hop into a car with their best friend without parental supervision? Most girls would be all over this.But Briar sure as shit wasn’t like most girls.“I don’t want to ride, Bri.I want to drive.With you.”“Oh,” she blew out on a breath.“Okay.” She released my hand, but followed me over to the car.At the last second, I decided I should try to be a gentleman and reached for the handle at the same time she did.Our hands met and I curled my fingers around hers.Her eyes flicked up to meet mine and she bit down on her lip.I’d already known how great it was to kiss her, but I wanted to know what it would be like if I were to draw her lip into my mouth and nibble it in the same way.We’d never done that.Nothing more than the quick, chaste pecks.“Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered, her voice gravelly with nerves
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