The Last Piece of His Heart (Lost Boys 3)

“I do have to protect her.”

“From Frankie fucking Dowd?”

From his father. And mine.

I didn’t answer.

“You haven’t brought her to the Shack.”

“I asked. She said no.”

Holden blinked. “Oh.”

I raised a brow. “So it is possible for you to shut the fuck up.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

He started to speak again but I cut him off. “Stay out of my business, Parish.”

Holden sulked, then nodded his chin at something across the quad. “Oh look. Here comes my other dumbass friend, being miserable instead of being with his one true love.”

I looked to where Miller walked with Amber Blake. They’d hooked up at Homecoming. He felt he owed it to her to stick around while trying to get over Violet at the same time.

It wasn’t working.

Amber went to kiss him goodbye and got only a peck on the lips. She snapped at him, tossed her long blond hair behind her, and stormed away. Miller’s shoulders slumped and he joined us at the wall.

He frowned at our silence. “What?”

“We were just admiring you and Amber,” Holden said. “The very picture of relationship bliss. Blinding, really, how radiant you two are in your happiness.”

I shot Miller a commiserating glance. “He’s in a fucking mood.”

“I can tell,” Miller said with a small smile, then sighed. “Not today, Holden. You either,” he said to me, since I usually gave him just as much shit for staying with Amber.

“Ronan is in no position to talk,” Holden said. “The two of you are the poster boys for pointless self-sacrifice and deprivation.”

Miller frowned. “What’s he talking about?”

“No idea.” I cocked my head at Holden, my stare hard and pointed. “Seen any good football games, lately?”

His mouth shut with a clack. “Assholes, the both of you,” he said and walked away, his coat flaring behind him.

Miller’s brow furrowed. “What was that about?”

“It’s Holden,” I said with a shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

I waited to see if Miller would buy it.

Holden had confessed to me that he’d been responsible for River Whitmore ditching Violet at Homecoming. “I ran interference,” he’d said. I could only guess what that meant, but it was clear that River was the guy Holden had told me about earlier. Neither one of us kept shit from Miller, but the situation with Violet was messed up enough already. No need to add Holden into the mix.

Miller was nodding heavily, his thoughts full of Violet. As usual. He didn’t believe it, but they’d make their way to each other, eventually. I’d heard him sing to her at the party and I’d seen her reaction. He poured himself into that song and she’d felt every word.

Because he has something to offer.

Jealousy stabbed me in the gut; the same old hunger. I pushed it down, buried it deep where it couldn’t hurt Shiloh.

It wasn’t much but it was all I had.