Page 108 of Seeds of Malice

I turn to leave the room, and my heart almost stops.

She and Matt huddle together, chatting like they're old friends. There's a comfort between them, and I don't like it.

Ivy tilts her head back, laughing.

My gut drops. I clench my fists at my side. What the fuck?

I'm about to go over there and punch Matt when Avery interjects. "Aw, the two dorks are bonding."

I scowl at her. "Why are you with Matt?"

She doesn't respond. She tosses me a knowing look, pursing her lips.

"Time to make the magic work," she chirps and saunters over to where Ivy and Matt are standing.

I follow her, trying to keep my cool.

In a loud voice, she accuses, "Why are you hitting on my date?"

Matt and Ivy both spin.

Red fills Ivy's cheeks. She insists, "I'm not hitting on him. We were just talking."

Avery puts her hand on her hip. "Sure you weren't. I saw you eyeing him at the restaurant as well. I thought you were into my brother."

Ivy's eyes widen. "I am into your brother. Stop talking crazy, Avery."

She sarcastically laughs. "I'm talking crazy? You're hitting on my date and my brother's standing over there. He just took you to one of the nicest restaurants in town, and this is how you repay him?"

"I wasn't hitting on your date!" Ivy exclaims.

I step next to them, and I can't contain the disapproval growing on my face. I pin it on Ivy.

She grabs my arm, fretting, "Dax, I wasn't, I promise. We were just talking. Avery's making stuff up again."

Avery scoffs. "That's convenient. Turn it on me. But I'm not the poor girl using my brother and his generosity and then tossing it in his face, am I?"

My admiration for my sister appears.

Leave it to Avery to spot-on play her role.

It's too soon.

What am I saying?

"I would never do anything of the sort!" Ivy cries out.

I tug her into me, scowling at Matt. I state, "It looks like your date was hitting on Ivy. Keep your nerd-boy away from her, Avery."

"I wasn't hitting on her," Matt insists.

"Sure you weren't," I seethe.

Avery steps next to Matt, sliding her arm through his. She asserts, "That's ridiculous. Why would he hit on her when he's with me? You don't go from escargot to SPAM. Isn't that right, Matt," she coos, batting her eyes at him.

Adoration fills Matt's expression, mixed with shock. He stutters, "Th-that's not nice, Avery. We talked about this."

Her eyes widen. "So you were hitting on her?"

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