“So this is the guy from the eulogy, huh? Now would probably be a good time to remember all the negative feelings so you can maybe stop crying.”
What the…?
I blink and see Sebastian coming into focus, and I’m more confused than ever.
4
ASH
Liv’s expression goes from confusion to horror in a nanosecond as she stumbles away from me. I go to reach for her, but she goes directly to Matt’s family, and I’d only be making a scene if I stopped her.
Honestly, I’m beyond shocked that we’re both here for the same funeral. I mean, what are the odds?
I got here late and when I walked into the visitation room and the line was almost done, I was afraid I wouldn’t get to come up and pay my last respects. Then, when I stepped up and realized I was standing behind Liv, I had to question if I was even at the right funeral. My head’s still spinning, but out of the corner of my eye, I spot the pastor walking over to the family and know I need to get to my seat.
But first…a goodbye.
Hey, buddy. I can’t believe I’m really standing here saying goodbye. I know I never told you, but…you changed my life. I don’t think I can ever repay you for the boost you gave my confidence or how you opened my eyes to all the possibilities in front of me. So…thank you. Rest easy, my friend. Until we meet again. Amen.
I turn and offer my condolences to Mike’s family before trying to find an empty seat. Mike and Zayne are sitting with Loren, Roxie, Vanessa, and…Liv. Mike looks at me and shrugs because there are no vacant chairs in their row, and I end up all the way at the back of the room sitting with people I don’t know.
The pastor steps up and says a brief prayer before the funeral director instructs all of us to move over to the chapel next door. It’s actually attached by a breezeway, and I consider waiting for the guys or walking alone, but the decision is made for me as the throngs of people begin walking. I know I’ll catch up with them in the chapel and silently vow to save a row for all of us.
Is it a coincidence that Liv was sitting with them? Like…was she looking for a place to sit and just grabbed the first empty chair or are we seriously friends with the same people?
My head starts to ache because it’s all so bizarre, but I’m not going to get answers until much later.
“Ash! Wait up!” Mike calls out without being too loud. He jogs up beside me, clapping me on the shoulder. “Sorry about the seats back there. The guys on the end went to high school with us and Matt, and we hadn’t seen them in years. Then Olivia showed up and before I knew it, the row was full.”
“It’s not a big deal. And we weren’t in there for that long, so…”
“Are you doing okay? I wasn’t sure you were going to make it and then we saw you comforting Olivia and…” He pauses. “I didn’t think the two of you knew each other.”
Awkward…
And I decide not to mention how I know her because that’s a long story and now isn’t the time.
“I don’t,” I say, sliding my hands into my trouser pockets as the line comes to a halt at the entrance to the chapel. “She was just all alone up there and looked like she needed someone to sort of comfort her.”
I hear his quiet snicker and choose to ignore it.
“Plus, I saw the pastor walk in and wanted to make sure I had a moment to pay my respects to Matt and his family.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to formally introduce you after the funeral,” he says as we’re ushered into the chapel and find a row. By the time we’re all seated, I’m at one end and Liv is at the other—which makes sense since she’s going to be getting up to speak. I say a quick hello to Loren, and reach down to shake Zayne’s hand, before offering a small wave to Vanessa and Roxie.
Olivia doesn’t even look my way. Instead, she’s staring at her phone to go over the eulogy, I’m sure. I don’t stare too long because I don’t want to draw attention to myself, so I lean back and sigh.
“This is freaking bizarre,” Mike says lowly. “Like…how? How is Matt gone? I swear it doesn’t feel real, even though we all just saw him in the casket. Part of me kept waiting for him to sit up and say, ‘Psych!’ and then burst out laughing for pulling the ultimate prank.”
I chuckle because that sounds like something he would have done.
“You just never know, right? You never know when your time’s up.” He shakes his head. “His mom said he never had any real health issues, but I have to wonder if all the partying he did contributed to the aneurysm.”
“It’s possible, but we’ll never know. People have them with no history of drug or alcohol use, so it’s all speculation.”
Beside me, he laughs softly. “I know it’s terrible to say, but I always thought he was going to go out in a blaze of glory. Like some girl’s husband or boyfriend was going to do him in after catching them or it would be in some kind of crash while he was drag racing.”
I shake my head. “Was he still doing that? I thought he gave that up.”
