Page 104 of Seeds of Malice

Avery smirks. "You're good enough for him here, but not in front of the people who actually mean something to him."

Dax's eyes widen. "Shut up, Avery!" He focuses on me, claiming, "I never said that, so don't listen to my annoying sister." He turns back to her, ordering, "Avery, go away."

I blink hard.

"Oh, are you going to cry now?" she taunts.

I hate myself because I feel like I might. And I hate how Avery, Cindy, Marcey, and even Bobby can get under my skin and make me so emotional.

Dax slides his arm protectively around my shoulders, calming me. He declares, "Ivy and I have other things to do tonight. Theparties are overrated anyway. They're getting old, Avery. Stale. Like you."

She smirks. "They won't be stale if she comes."

Everything about that statement makes me uncomfortable. I shift in my seat.

"Oh, but wait, you can't handle it," she taunts again.

"Avery," Matt reprimands.

She looks at him and bats her eyes. "Yes, Matt? Is there something you want to say? Maybe you don't want to go either?"

Matt clenches his jaw and stares at her.

"You're such a bitch, Avery," Dax proclaims.

She gives us her fake smile again. "I may be a bitch, but at least I know what I am. At least I'm not pretending to be a Ms. Goody-two-shoes when I'm really not."

"I'm not pretending to be anything," I declare.

She huffs. "Sure you aren't. You're here, your daddy's gone, but as soon as your daddy comes back to the estate, you're not going to have anything to do with my brother, are you?"

My gut flips. How does she know about my dad? I glance at Dax.

He shuts his eyes and shakes his head. He mutters, "Avery, you seriously become bitchier by the second." He opens his eyes and pins a nasty scowl on her. Then he adds, "I'm so glad Dad can inform you of whatever's happening on the estate. It's a good thing you'll never run it, though, huh?"

Her face falls for a moment. Then, she recovers and glares at him. "Too bad it'll only stay in our family for a little while until you run it into the ground."

"You wish," Dax hurls.

Matt clears his throat. "Are you two coming to the party or not?"

Dax looks at him as if he's never seen him before and is bored. It makes me uncomfortable. I wish he wouldn't do it, but maybe there's a reason he doesn't like him.

Matt seems nice, though. It makes me wonder what he's doing with Avery. But then again, she's gorgeous and looks perfect, so Matt's probably into her.

Avery suggests, "They're not coming. It's too adultish for her. She needs something more preschool-level."

"Avery, shut up," Dax orders.

I put my hand on his arm. "It's okay. You don't have to yell at her. Why don't we go to the party?"

He turns and stares at me.

I push, "You don't want me to go with you?"

"It's not that. Of course I want you to go, but we had other plans."

"Yeah, because he's embarrassed by you," Avery says.

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