Page 128 of Double Dare

“The real problem is that Rayne and Corbin let you boys get away with too much. I mean, look at the adults you’ve turned into!”

“Do. Not. Insult. Our. Parents.” Zahn’s shaking beside me. “Leave.”

“We’ll leave.” I try to walk away, but Zahn holds me in place.

“No, Laken. She’s the one in the wrong. She needs to walk away,” Dom says, standing behind me and Liam.

“Look,” Candice tries to calm the situation. “I’m just pointing out that…well, there are a lot of unusual relationships in this family. One of you got a girl pregnant without even dating her. One of you is with a man, a drug addict, no less. And two of you are dating the same…girl.” She looks me up and down. “And the rest of you? You’re just immature, sex-crazed fools.”

My stomach feels sick. Yes, she’s entitled to feel however she feels. Not everyone has to agree with the things we do and see as right, but is there really anyone who wins when it comes to situations like this? Her goal is to hurt, and it’s working, so what’s the best outcome here?

My heart is hurting for every person she just insulted for being happy. My heart hurts because I miss Gar. My heart hurts because reality can be a bitch sometimes, and a family reunion isn’t the place you expect this sort of confrontation. Would it really be so hard for her to keep those thoughts to herself—since our relationships aren’t hurting anyone—enjoy the weekend, and then go home where she won’t have to witness us anymore? These boys were raised with openness, and I don’t see a fault in that. It hurts to watch someone else degrade it when so many people would benefit from Rayne and Corbin’s parenting style.

Zahn lets out a low breath. “I feel sorry for you, Aunt Candice. That you can’t enjoy one weekend without trying to ruin it for everyone else.”

“Sorry for me?” she laughs. “Because I know right from wrong? Because I don’t cross lines that shouldn’t be crossed? Because your own parents messed you all up? Because if you were my children, you’d be healthier, more successful, with the right people, and happier.”

“Stop talking,” Kade snaps, coming up in front of us. “Now.”

“Say another thing about my girl, my brothers, or my parents, and I’ll—”

“Jed.” I tug on his wrist to stop him from saying something he can’t take back.

“See?” Candice shrieks. “Completely skewed sense of respect! I don’t know what your mother taught you, but this isn’t acceptable.”

“She taught us love and respect, and people like you, Aunt Candice, don’t deserve any fucking respect,” Zahn says, getting even more heated now.

“Candice.” Rayne walks up, giving me a soft smile before focusing on Candice. “I think you should leave before you disrespect another member of my family. We don’t welcome intolerance here.”

“Intolerance?” Candice is still smiling, looking at the gathering crowd for help, trying to show just how right her opinion is. “Can’t you see you raised men who can’t think for themselves? A twenty-one-year-old son with a child on the way? You’re lucky you escaped teenage pregnancy, and that poor child won’t have parents who can—”

“Get out,” Rayne shouts. “You aren’t welcome here.”

Guilt settles in. Once again, Rayne has to go to bat for our relationship, only this time, it encompasses her other sons as well.

“Laken!”

I spin around at the sound of my name, seeing Gar walk across the snowy lawn with a pissed off look on his face. He tries to pull me away, but when I give him a look, trying to get him to hold off for one minute so I can make sure everyone is okay, he doesn’t listen.

“What the fuck is this shit, Laken? Why would you do this?” He shoves his phone in front of my face.

I’ll chase you out of town. Gar is mine.

Stay the fuck away from Gar, Amber.

Leave or I’ll make you leave.

Gar doesn’t even like you. Leave before he hurts you.

Kade reads over my shoulder, and when he just laughs, Gar glares at him. “You know her, Gar. Use your fucking head.”

“Really?” Gar scoffs. “Then what’s this?” He opens my Instagram account and shows me all those indecent photos in a private chat.

“How’d you get into that? I closed my account, and I never had those photos!”

“It’s a screenshot,” he says. “Keep reading, Laken.”

In a chat with Amber, under all those photos, there’s a message.

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