NEVER GOODBYE (An Albany Boys Novel) by Kerri Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

you. We can’t have any other kind of relationship no matter our brash feelings.”
                  His frown deepens and I reach up and stroke the line between his eyes with my thumb making him closes them. “You don’t or you can’t?” he asks, his melancholy breaking my heart.
    This is worse than I thought it would be and much sooner. I like this boy. I like him a lot and can tell he’s a little broken inside from something more than what his father is. I’m sure whatever it is, it will be painful to know and hurt him more to tell, but it’s like the day I met April. I know Vaun where it counts. I believe in him.
                  “Both,” I say.
                  “Is it your dad? I can meet him if that helps. It scares the shit out of me like you wouldn’t believe, but I’ll do it.”
                  I titter, “It’s not my dad. It’s a pass kind of thing.”
                  Vaun takes a long breath and chews his inner cheek. “Firstly, that’s your first pass used up and, secondly… Is a pass forever?”
                  “No.”
                  “Is saying no to an us a forever deal?”
                  I think this over for a second and know I could be totally honest with my answer. “No,” I say, because if I survive this disease, the treatment, and he still wants to be with me then I was going to jump at it. If I die … he’ll forgive me since I did him one astronomical favor. Because who the hell in their right mind would want the tragedy of dating a dying girl?
     

3
    Balance of friendship
     

Harper
    ‘Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.’
    Aristotle
     
                  He beams and kisses my forehead and I can’t describe how good it makes me feel. “If ‘friends’ is what you want, then friends is what I’ll give.”
                  “No pressure, no slick lines to try to get me in your bed?” I almost want him to say no, but I know if I’m to have anything with him that will last he needs to agree.
                  “No pressure, I promise. As for slick lines to get you in my bed, baby I don’t need slick lines.” He winks and I laugh because this is exactly what I need.
    “What’s your stupidest lie?” he asks as he flops back on the ground and pulls me to him so I can lay my head on his shoulder. I try to ignore the urge to touch his stomach and chest. Damn best friend etiquette.
                  I blush and grin at the memory before I allow the words to form. “No, I did not stuff my bra with tissues.” He laughs so hard I’m almost knocked off his shoulder and then he grabs for the top of my dress. I don’t think he gets much of a look before my hand hugs the material to my chest and my scream echoes across the air.
    “No tissues there.”
                  I can feel the heat in my face like a fire and bury it in his shoulder. Whatever happened to best friend etiquette? Oh that’s right; it was me trying to make peace with that. Vaun on the other hand seems to be waging war against any kind of protocol. I’m sure glad I’m wearing a bikini underneath and relish in the easy going turn our relationship has taken despite the innuendo.
                  He tucks his hand under my chin and lifts my face so I have no choice but look at him. “You can’t be shy with your best friend. A best friend shares all.”
                  “Do you share all with Carter?”
                  “Whoa there, no need to be like that.”
                  I laugh because he makes it easy. “At the risk of getting all gloomy and serious, what’s your most selfish lie?”
                  He nods and pulls me in tight. There’s a long pause and for a moment I think he isn’t going to answer but then he does. “Of course we have a connection.” He sounds sad