Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,1

my bed every night, like he knew I needed his security and companionship when the rest of me felt lost.

Sadie’s direction was set, while I floundered and wondered what I had spent the last four years doing. I had a business degree now but no clue what to do with it… if anything.

“I need to do this.” I tugged the keys out of my pocket. “We’ve been tied down for the last four years, and I have this craving to explore and see what’s out there.” I loved San Diego, but it was very vanilla, and something in me felt this dire need to find more, to really feel life.

“I get it, girl. Doesn’t mean I’m not nervous about you taking a road trip across the States alone.”

“I have barely two weeks before my brother’s wedding.” My brother, Kyle, was marrying his high school sweetheart, Amie, the two so perfect and still so in love it was disgusting to watch. “My sister is already angry I’m not coming right away. She has a million events and things she thinks I should be part of. She demands I be there four or five days before the event.”

I liked Amie, but if I had to attend a bachelorette-type event every day for the next two weeks, there would be murder and mayhem.

“Do not let you sister get to you. She always has a way of manipulating you.” Sadie pointed her finger at me. “Be strong.”

“Right.” I snorted. “Have you tried to ever say no to Kasey?” My brother and sister were twins, five years older than me, and were the golden pair in our hometown. They even had golden-brown hair like my mother, with huge hazel eyes like my father. I was literally the black sheep with my straight, dark brown hair and matching eyes, taking more after my father’s mother.

My parents thought they were done, happy with a boy and girl, when I came along. Surprise! Not that they didn’t love me to death, but I felt from birth I was not on the same road map as the rest of the Maxwell clan. My sister and brother were the cheerleader and jock, the A students, popular, beautiful, and overachievers. To come behind the great Maxwell twins was a bar I could never reach. Most teachers were at first gleeful in finding out who I was related to, until they discovered I was nothing like them. Average B student, I floated through school, more the introvert, with only two good friends. My extracurricular activities barely extended to the volleyball team, and I was far from the star in that. Actually, the whole team sucked.

“I better get going. Would like to make it to the Grand Canyon by tonight.” I opened my arms, hugging Sadie.

“Bitch, I’m going to miss you so much.” She squeezed me back, her voice thick.

“Don’t start.” I swallowed back my surge of emotion.

“It’s just strange. All this is ending.” She waved at the apartment we rented after living in the dorms. “You have been the only person I can tolerate for long periods of time. Even Nathan annoys me after a weekend.” She wiped her eyes. “Can’t believe we won’t ever live together again.”

“Please. I’ll probably be knocking on your door in San Francisco, begging to sleep on your sofa.”

“The place I rented is four hundred and eighty square feet. I won’t have a sofa.”

A laugh bubbled up my throat. I hugged her tighter before I stepped back.

“I want you to be careful, but have fun. Find a hot cowboy somewhere in Wyoming. Ride him until you forget about those other assholes.” Sadie nudged me. “Do not pick up your phone for Ethan; he doesn’t deserve shit from you. You’ll be seeing the other douche at the wedding, right?”

I cringed. “I hope not.” Both guys had worked hard at worming into my heart, and then when they did, they stomped, spit on, and burned it.

Jason, my high school crush, was the typical rich, popular, handsome jock you were warned about. I fought his attention for a long time before he broke me down into thinking he was actually a good guy. Basically, he won me over to take my virginity, dump me, and brag about his conquest the last few months of school to everyone. I wanted to get as far from him, the embarrassment, and town as I could, which landed me across the country in San Diego University.

It took me a long time to trust again,