Fractured Minds (Rebels of Sandland 3)

I thought about firing off a quick message to let them know that I wasn’t a total loser, but what would I say? No, I won’t play your stupid games? Let my uncle go and I’ll dole out my own justice? They didn’t have a heart. They’d take him out and then drag me down too, just so they could revel in my torment, and I wouldn’t ever let that happen. They knew everything, and that was their ace card. I was holding a fist full of jokers with no way out. I couldn’t take the risk. I had to at least try and make this happen.

“I was glad when you called us all to ask us what we were up to today, Finn.” Ryan sat opposite me in Zak’s living room and glanced at each one of us as he spoke. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you all about.”

Brandon was sprawled in his armchair of choice, sipping his tea and scrolling through his phone.

“You’re getting a hair transplant and you want our opinion,” Brandon joked without looking up. “I say go for it. Time isn’t on your side and the shine from that forehead of yours is making it difficult for me to see my screen.” He shook his phone and then threw his head back, laughing at himself.

“Fuck you,” Ryan threw back, but he smirked. He loved the banter. “No, I’ve been thinking about asking Emily to marry me. Thought I’d let you guys know first.”

“What, you don’t have her father to ask permission, so you’re coming to us? That’s sweet, dude. We love you too,” Brandon teased.

“Like I’d need permission. She’s mine, I just want to make it official.”

Brandon finally stopped scrolling and put his phone down. Then he leant forward with a serious expression on his face, like he was about to argue the pros and cons.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing, but Harper wants to wait until after the babies are born.”

“I don’t think it works that way,” Zak huffed on a laugh, sounding like he was taking the piss out of Brandon’s comment.

“What would you know?” Brandon frowned back at him. “You’re the expert at sealing the deal in the bedroom, not the fucking church.” Brandon was seriously irritated and he wasn’t afraid to hide it.

“You’d have a church wedding?” I asked, trying to diffuse the sudden tension in the room, but still shocked that he’d want a traditional ceremony. I knew him better than anyone, and I’d always had him down as a ‘run off and get married with the minimum number of witnesses so he could fast forward to the honeymoon’ kind of guy. He smirked back at me, knowing exactly what I was thinking.

“That’s what Harper wants. And what she wants, she gets.”

“Yeah, and she’s a chick. Chicks like to be surprised. Don’t wait until after the babies come. Surprise her now. That’s what she really wants.” Zak did have a point.

Brandon rubbed his chin in thought and nodded to himself.

“Maybe you’re right…”

“Of course he’s right,” Ryan shot back, rolling his eyes. “Now, can we get back to me? I’m the one with the engagement ring in my pocket.”

“Well, show us it then,” Zak demanded.

Ryan reached into his jeans and pulled out a little black velvet box. When he opened it, we all gathered round to look at the diamond ring inside. It looked pretty impressive, but I was no expert.

“She’ll love that, Ry,” I said.

“Just think of all the car parts you could’ve bought for the price of that thing,” Zak joked.

“Since when did we turn into a bunch of pussies who talk about weddings and look at rings?” Brandon stated, ever the realist.

Ryan snapped the box closed and smiled to himself.

“You’ll be the same when you get Harper’s ring.”

“I’ve already got it,” he replied in a deadpan manner.

“Can we see?” Zak was really getting into the spirit of this conversation, considering he was a sworn bachelor for life.

“No. It’s in my bedside drawer at home.”

“No, it’s not.” Zak chuckled. “She’s probably trying it on right now and sending photos of it to her mates.”

“Fuck off.” Brandon grimaced and sat back in his chair, then a panicked expression came over his face, and I could tell he believed what Zak had said.

“So, where are you going to propose?” I asked Ryan, to take Brandon’s mind off the fact that his secret hiding place probably wasn’t so secret.