Page 76 of Mistle-Ho

But also, not.

I learned a lot about Maddie while she and I hung out, and one of the biggest realizations was that she genuinely cares about my brother. Deeply. Apparently deep enough that she wants to protect him as much as he wants to protect her.

“Oh, honey.” My mom goes to give Leo a hug, but he steps out of her attempted embrace. “Don’t.” He shakes his head. “Don’t act like you’re sorry, because I know you’re not.” He backs away. “I’m not staying. I just came to give you the good fucking news.”

Leo storms out, and I follow right behind him, chasing him down the steps. “Leo, wait.”

He stops so quickly, I nearly collide with his back, feet skidding across the sidewalk as he spins to face me.

“If you’re here to apologize, you don’t have to.” His eyes flick toward our parents’ house. “I wasn’t talking to you in there.”

“Maddie loves you, Leo.” The words jump right out of my lips. “She didn’t say it, but I could tell.”

His brows lift. “You’re an expert on love now because you fucking love Gavin?” There’s an edge to his voice that makes me cringe.

“Kinda?” I don’t know what the right answer is, but I feel like admitting I am madly in love with someone who is also madly in love with me would be rubbing salt into a wound. Especially since no one is trying to kill either of us.

I don’t have to turn around to know Gavin steps in behind me. I can tell by the look on Leo’s face. It’s not anger or disappointment tightening his already tense expression. Instead, he almost looks…

Jealous.

And doesn’t that fucking break my heart.

He holds Gavin’s gaze for a few seconds before turning back to me. “Do me a favor and take care of Maddie.” He drags one hand through his already messy hair. “She really likes you, and she needs all the support she can get.”

“I really like her.” And finding out she’s willing to sacrifice her own happiness to protect my brother only makes me like her more. Makes me more determined to find my inner Babs so I can shred her lunatic of an ex-husband the next time our paths cross.

And I have a feeling they will be crossing.

I manage a little smile, hoping to ease some of Leo’s worry. “If it makes you feel any better, she’s pretty much stuck with me and my friends forever.”

I’m shocked when he offers a flicker of a smile back. “That does make me feel better, actually.” Leo takes a breath so deep it lifts his shoulders before turning to Gavin. “I’m still probably gonna kick your ass for fucking my sister.”

To my surprise, Gavin grins. “Understood.”

I watch as Leo goes to his car and drives away, then I look at the man beside me. “Why did you look so happy when Leo said he was going to kick your ass?”

“Because,” Gavin hooks an arm at my waist, pulling me close, “if he was actually mad, he wouldn’t have warned me.”

34

Love Cuss

Gavin

“HERE?” I TURN to lift a brow at Alexis, making sure I’ve got the sofa exactly where she wants it.

She taps a finger against her lips, tilting her head to one side as she assesses the new layout of my living room. “Maybe back where it was before.”

I wait, trying to decipher the look on her face. “You’re either constipated, or you’re giving me shit.”

Alexis scoffs, her mouth dropping open. “I don’t look constipated.”

I leave the couch where it is then head for where she stands next to the dining room table that was just delivered. “That means you’re giving me shit then.” I narrow my eyes. “Again.”

She lifts a hand to the center of her chest, resting it against the tits I love so fucking much. “I would never do something like that.”

A grin takes over my face because I love how awful she is at teasing and sarcasm. “You’d never do it well, that’s for sure.”

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