Page 72 of Shameless Expectations

“We always do,” Monti mumbled as she shifted in her seat on the plane. They’d been in the air for twenty minutes, finally flying smoothly after takeoff.

“Good.” Athena looked across Monti to the window. She hated sitting next to the window. It was always cold and cramped there. Though now she could probably identify that it was because it was confining and not as easy an escape if she needed to run. Thankfully, Monti hadn’t minded switching seats since Fallon had forgotten Athena’s preferred placement.

They sat in silence for another five minutes, during which Athena checked her watch several times. Monti barely moved, staring at the back of the seat in front of her as if it held the world’s most interesting book.

“Have you read Bristol Flyte’s newest book?”

“I’m sorry, what?” Monti shook her head, blinking wildly as she tried to catch her bearings.

Athena sighed. “What did I say?”

“Something about a book.” Monti frowned.

“No. That’s not what I meant.” Athena folded her hands together in her lap. “If this is about the other night, when I invited you, I hope you didn’t feel obligated to come with me.”

“Obli…” A deep line formed in the center of Monti’s forehead. “No, I didn’t feel obligated. Why would you think that?”

“You’ve been…” Athena waved her hand over Monti as if indicating something, but she struggled to put a word to it. “…distant.”

It was the best she could come up with.

“Oh. That.” Monti reached over and took Athena’s hand, setting it in her lap as she covered it. “How much does Fallon know about your relationship with Kevin?”

“As much as she needs to know.” Athena pushed her shoulders into her seat, the odd turn of the conversation putting her more on edge than she’d been before.

“Does she know about Kevin’s partner?”

“No.”

“Does she know about why you two are married?”

“Why would she need to know that?” Athena winced at her tone. It was so sharp. She hadn’t meant to come off as so defensive, but she could barely hold herself together right now. Monti was prying in ways she didn’t need to. How many times could Athena explain this? It wasn’t the norm in society, but it wasn’t unheard of either.

“I’m asking because of something she said. Well, something she asked me.” Monti trailed one hand up and down Athena’s arm, still gripping her fingers with the other. “I’m not explaining this well, I’m sorry. Fallon asked if we’d had sex.”

Athena’s lips parted, but no words left them. She stared wide-eyed at Monti, her brain already spinning in a thousand ways. She hadn’t talked to Kevin yet. She’d meant to, but the thought of even starting that conversation had her blood running cold. They’d agreed to have those conversations before any relationship, and as far as she knew, Kevin had honored it. But for Fallon to know…

“She’s my big sister, Athena, and as much as I would love to hide things from her, sometimes she can read my subtleties.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She’s not stupid when it comes to me being attracted to women and particularly what type of women I like. She made the leap before I did.”

“Before you did.” Athena bit the inside of her cheek, her stomach twisting in knots. This wasn’t how she’d wanted the conversation on the plane to go. She wanted to escape immediately, but she was stuck on a plane somewhere between Seattle and Dallas. “If you don’t want this—”

“I do. Athena, I promise you I do. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” Monti lifted Athena’s hand to her lips and pressed a delicate kiss to her knuckles. “I told you about how our parents died, but what I didn’t really talk about was Fallon. She fancied herself as a substitute mother to me, as much as I despised it.”

Athena could see that. Monti would hate being coddled, and Fallon would want nothing but to coddle. Fallon was such a mother hen, even when it involved Athena. She should have realized that Fallon would have picked up on the nuances of her marriage with Kevin. Fallon had been there nearly every day for years, and while she and Kevin were familiar, it was clear to anyone who had insight that they weren’t romantic.

“Fallon cornered me in the library today. That’s why I was late.”

“Cornered you?” Athena faced Monti, quickly dropping her gaze to their still-joined hands. This felt so good. Yet the conversation was tense and confusing. She couldn’t follow the logical path that Monti was taking.

“She wanted to know if we’d had sex.” Monti tightened her grasp on Athena’s hand. “Normally, if it was anyone else, I’d avoid telling them anything. But she’s my sister.”

“And she’s my personal assistant.”

“Yes.” Monti kissed Athena’s knuckles again. “And I told her that we’d kissed a few times.”

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