The Chase (Briar U #1)

4 Fitz

4

FITZ

I WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WITHOUT A HANGOVER . That’s what happens when you only drink three beers and are back in your hotel room before one a.m.

On New Year’s Eve.

Aren’t I the poster boy for good behavior?

My phone informs me of a dozen messages and missed calls. Dragging a hand through my messy hair, I roll onto my back and sift through the notifications.

My parents each texted at precisely 12:00 a.m. I can just imagine them sitting in their respective houses at 11:59, hands hovering over their phones like they’re preparing to slap the buzzer on Family Feud , each one desperate to be the first to get a message through. They’re so frickin’ competitive.

MOM: Happy New Year, sweetie!! Love you so soooo much! This is going to be the best year ever! YOUR year! Woot woot!

Oh dear God. Mothers are not allowed to say “woot woot.” My dad’s text isn’t much better.

DAD: Happy New Year. We got this.

We got this? Got what? Parents trying to sound cool is a whole other level of secondhand embarrassment.

My friends’ messages are more entertaining.

HOLLIS: Where da fuck r u?? Patty’s just getting started

HOLLIS: *patty

HOLLIS: *parting

HOLLIS: Party!!!!!! FUCK THIS PHONE

GARRETT: Happy New Year!! Where’d u run off to, Colin?? (Still feel weird calling u that)

My old teammates Logan and Tucker send their New Year messages to our various group chats. Tuck and Sabrina include a picture of their baby, which prompts about a million heart-eye emojis from our friends.

Pierre texts something in French.

My teammates blow up our team thread with well-wishes and random videos, grainy and impossible to hear, of the various parties they attended.

One teammate’s name is noticeably missing from the group chat and my phone in general. Shocking. No word from Hunter.

I bet he was too busy to text anyone last night.

Busy, busy, busy.

I ignore the sharp clenching in my chest and force all thoughts of Hunter and his busy, busy night out of my head. I continue scrolling through my phone.

A girl I knew in high school sends a generic note. For some reason, she still has me in her contacts list, so any time a holiday rolls around I get a message from her.

Hollis sends a few more texts that make me chuckle.

HOLLIS: Yo. bar’s closing. where u at. assuming getting a bj or sumthin?

HOLLIS: after patty at Danny’s house. new buddy. u’ll luv him

HOLLIS: OK then

HOLLIS: gunna assume u ded

HOLLIS: hope ur not ded, tho!!! I 3 u, bro. new year, new us. word.

Oh man. Someone needs to confiscate that dude’s phone when he’s wasted. Still laughing, I click on the next message in my inbox. It’s from Dean.

My humor fades the moment I read it.

DEAN: Happy New Year!! Was hoping to talk to u before u took off. I need a huge favor, bro.

DEAN: Are u guys still looking for a 4th roommate?