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“Never again, tequila Never Again You're dead to me”

-Riley Tennyson

“ARE YOU FUCKING serious? You’re still going?”

I lift my eyes in the mirror and lower the tube of lipstick in my hand

Richard is standing in the doorway of our bedrooainst the fra pissed and a beer or tay fro from the bottle in his hand, squints, and points it at me

“This is fucked up, Ri,” he slurs “Seriously Way to back me”

I sigh as an ache pinches in the center of my chest “He’s my brother,” I remind him “Honestly, what do you expect me to do?” I stand fro opened on the bed, further explaining, “I can’tAnd Beth is like, o” I slip the tube of lipstick into , zip it closed and pack it inside the duffle I grip the sides and look up at Richard when I’ my words sink in this time “I’m kind of stuck You knoant you there with o to this without you, it’s just—”

“It’s just your brother is a fucking dickhead and you’re backing hime too”

My shoulders drop

“Don’t say that You know that’s not true”

“Yeah? Do I know?” His brows reach his dark hairline Before I have the chance to respond, Richard straightens in the doorway and shakes his head, looking disappointed inhis free hand through the air in a brush-off motion “Go Do what you want I don’t really want you here right noay”

I blink “What? Why?”

He doesn’t really mean that, does he? Why wouldn’t he want et him fired

Ihis or ive it as much as I crave to feel it myself, but halt a foot ahen Richard’s head jerks up and I see his eyes Eyes that are burning now, heated with anger and bitterness and blame

And it’s all for me

“This is fucked up,” he snarls “You’re et invited to this shit?”

I bite the tremble in my lip Tears threaten to build behind my lashes

I can’t really argue with Richard on this one I feel the sa so who’s specifically not invited That’ll just cause tension, and I don’t want anything ht to Reed or Beth

“I’ a shortened trip will help sht after it’s over I’ll probably be back before you even have time to ether I’ll help you” I take a step closer “Okay?”

“No, it’s not fucking okay” He narrows his eyes athis side over mine, so how the fuck can any of this be okay?”