All Panned Out

All Panned Out By Briana Michaels Copyright All names, characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to actual places, events, or real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission, in writing, of the author. www.BrianaMichaels.com Copyright © 2023 Briana Michaels Contents All Panned Out Copyright Contents Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Epilogue Other Books By This Author About the Author Dedication To the ones who fell for their best friend. Chapter 1 Seven Years Ago Peter “I can’t believe you got an actual job.” Faye snatches a fry from my plate and shoves the whole thing in her mouth at once. I take her untouched pickle and devour it in three bites. She smacks my arm. “I was saving that.” “Yeah, for me.” Rooster groans dramatically from his side of the booth. “You’re getting out of here, man. Friday nights won’t be the same without you.” “Come on guys, it’s not like I’m going into outer space.” “L.A. might as well be outer space,” Faye grumbles. “You’re gonna live forever away.” My stomach clenches because I’m going to miss this. Growing up with the same group of friends since the age of five has been a blast—Friday night basketball games at the park, baseball on Saturday mornings, BBQs, campouts, fishing, movie nights, gaming weekends. But after high school, we started splitting up to go our separate ways. I’m next and most likely last, which thrills and scares the shit out of me. But I have to go. If I stay… My gaze shifts to Faye as she snags another one of my fries. Then I shake my head. Nope. Not even thinking about it. Faye lived next door to me all the way up to when we split off after graduation. Now she lives in the same apartment building as me, only two floors up, with Rooster as her roommate. She picks at her burger bun. “Will you be back for Christmas?” “I’m not sure.” “What about my birthday?” “I’m not s—" “Damn, Faye, stop being so clingy.” Rooster grabs her beer and drains it. It pisses me off. Faye takes forever to drink her beer, so she was likely not done with it. Instead of calling him out on the dick move, I’m cutting him some slack tonight only because I don’t want to leave with regrets. The last thing I want is to get into a fight with one of my best friends over a half-bottle of warm beer. Raising my hand, I catch the waitress’s attention and order another round, winking at Faye as I do. She gives me a Thank You smile that burns me up inside. “Add three shots of whisky, too!” Rooster hollers. “Actually, make it six!” “Just the beer,” I say when the waitress stares at us with an uncertain look. “And some waters, please.” I hate how Rooster drinks so much. He’s lost, and it’s showing in everything he does lately. What will happen to him once I’m gone? I know Faye will watch over him, but she’s not his fucking babysitter, and the guy is out of control and lonely. My gut twists thinking of what’ll become of my friends once I’m out of here. When the waitress returns with only the beer, Rooster pounds his in three chugs. Wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand, he glares at my untouched drink. “Come on, Pete. You’re slacking.” “Are you trying to make me so hungover I miss my flight?” “Would you call me an asshole if I said yes?” “I’d call you an asshole no matter what,” Faye chimes in before I can say it myself. She scratches her wrist and I notice a bunch of hives clustered on the underside of her forearm. This girl needs to stop using herself as a test subject for her homemade skin care products. But damn, does she smell good. Whatever crazy concoction she’s got on tonight sends mixed signals to my dick, and I’ve had a hard-on since we ordered appetizers. We spend the rest of the night reminiscing and ragging on each other. I wish the twins were here to celebrate with us one last time, too. Our circle is shrinking. I hate that we’ve all grown up and are moving on with our lives… without each other. What started out as a fun, late-night-out ends with me feeling like maybe I made a mistake taking this opportunity. I’m homesick before I’ve even left and can’t figure out why. That’s a lie. I know exactly why. I just don’t want to admit it to myself or anyone else. But come on, not everyone gets offered a gig as a stunt man straight out of college. I’d be an idiot to not take this shot at my dream job. Right? RIGHT? Fuck. We take an Uber home. Rooster’s sandwiched between Faye and me, passed out already. I want to say a million things to Faye, but she’s being quiet, so I leave her alone. I don’t think anything I say will make either of us feel better, anyway. Once the Uber pulls up to our building, I hop out first. “I’ve got him.” Grabbing Rooster’s arm, I yank him out of the backseat and fireman-carry him up to the apartment. “Hang on.” Faye slips ahead of me and unlocks her door, opening it so I can carry our friend inside. Even dressed in a hoodie and leggings, it’s hard to consider Faye one of the guys. Guys don’t give me a hard-on like she does. Those fucking leggings show off her muscular legs and tight ass, and my hands itch to grab her pert cheeks. Spank them.