Page 83 of End Game

“Avoiding me?”

“In part.”

“Why else?”

“None of your damn business.” No way was he sharing how he felt like a stranger any time he walked into the Friary or Annex.

“My source said your convo with Liv looked serious. Did you talk to her about the issue I brought up about Kayla? The one I specifically told you to keep her out of?”

Ash slanted a look at the bedroom door he’d pulled closed, but not completely shut. He envisioned Kayla standing on the other side, listening. But he prayed she was oblivious to the volatile conversation a room away.

“We were talking about something more personal.”

That cranked his brother’s back into the upright position. “Personal to whom?”

Ash hesitated. Before Zeke’s arrival, he assumed Liv would have given her fiancé an earful about how his overprotectiveness had let their secret out of the bag. Unless she was Zeke’s source, which he doubted, Liv had kept their discussion to herself. He almost wished she hadn’t. Maybe this entire uncomfortable conversation could have been avoided.

“Ash, personal to you or Liv?”

“To you and Liv.”

Zeke stared at him for what felt like a full rotation of the sun. “Liv told you?” His voice held notes of confusion and jealousy.

“No.”

“How’d you figure it out?”

“You.”

“I didn’t fucking tell you.”

“No, you wouldn’t, would you?”

“Can you blame me?—?”

Ash held up a hand, cutting off his tirade. “I used my investigative skills. Why else would you have been acting so squirrelly and way overprotective at lunch the other day.”

“Bullshit.”

“Believe me or don’t. Doesn’t change the fact.”

Zeke scraped thick fingers through his dark brown hair. “Was she pissed at me?”

“No, bro,” Ash said. “She seemed relieved to be able to talk to someone about the baby.” He forced a smile. Not because he wasn’t happy for him, but he doubted the gesture would be welcomed or returned. “Congratulations.”

A grin split across his brother’s face, surprising Ash and revealing a set of white teeth that he hadn’t seen for way too long.

“I still can’t believe it. We’ve been dying to notify everyone. I’m sure Liv mentioned we’re waiting until the end of the first trimester, which is just a few weeks away.”

“Understandable. It’ll be great having a little Blackwell running around. With any luck, Phin, Rohan, or Cruz will produce a cousin or two pretty soon.”

Zeke’s attention strayed to the women’s sneakers next to the sofa. “What about you?” The question seemed reflexive. A ghost of the past, when banter between them was as common as breathing. As if realizing the same thing, Zeke winced. “Never mind. None of my business.”

“Well,” Ash said, “if that’s all, I need to get back to my guest?—”

The bedroom door swung open and out walked Kayla, wearing a lightweight cream sweater, skinny jeans, and brown booties.

She snagged her handbag from the chair and stopped by Ash to kiss him square on the lips. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” She eyed Zeke, a slight curve to her mouth. “Congratulations. I expect to be invited to the baby shower.”

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