Page 53 of We Never Kissed

“Bro, you’ve been right with me through the hardest damn times of my life, helped me through them, but you never let me return the favor.”

Trying to take some of the edge off, I said, “So, this is about you?”

“Damn right it is.” He wasn’t laughing, though. “You know what. I’m just gonna fuckin’ go.” He stood and paced toward the door.

“It was your sister,” I blurted.

I heard his footsteps stop, and I turned to look at him.

“What do you mean my sister? What about Ava?”

Our gazes locked for a few beats, and in his I could have sworn I already saw anger building up. Almost as if he’d seen this coming a mile away. “The woman I’ve beenseeing. The woman who kept something from me… It was Ava…not Lauren.”

His mouth fell open, but no words came for several seconds. “I… You screwing with me? Because it’s not—”

“It’s the truth. But it’s not what you think. Ava and I—”

“Not what I think!” He ran a hand over his jaw. “How the hell do you know what I think when you never even gave me a chance to understand? God damn, Alex. You and Ava?” His head swiveled around like he was looking for answers or like she’d pop out from a room somewhere. “When— How—” He shook his head.

“None of it matters because we’re not together anymore.”

“None of it matters? Are you fucking crazy?” He backed away to the door. “I don’t know if I’m more pissed you were doing my sister behind my back or that you never trust me enough to tell me a goddamn thing. Jesus, Alex.”

I stood and paced toward him as he reached the door. “I know. I’m sorry. I messed everything up.”

“And you’re going to fix it, whatever you do.” He pointed at me. “And don’t think you’re taking the coward way out. You damn well better be at family dinner to face this shit you created!” Then he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Chapter 31

Ava

The table was set beautifully as usual, and when I carried over Mom’s famous cheddar mash potatoes and placed them on the trivet, my heart sank. Those were Alex’s favorite, so my mom often made sure to include them when she knew he was coming to family dinner. But I didn’t see him showing up on this night. He’d made it clear he didn’t want to see or hear from me, so I couldn’t imagine him coming. Still, his regular place was set and as I stared at it, my eyes watered over. I understood he was hurt, but to close me out was painful.

“I’m sorry Gunnar couldn’t make it,” Mom said, setting a basket of rolls on the table.

“He’s in Vegas, visiting his sister.” I kept my faceturned away, but her quiet pause had me sneaking a peek at her.

Mom was looking at the clock on the wall. “I’m surprised Alex isn’t here yet. Maybe he’s not coming?”

She glanced my way, and I shrugged and pretended to brush some crumbs off the table and into my hand.

“He’ll be here,” Sammy said, coming from the kitchen, his voice deep and edgy. He’d been a grump since the moment he, Cass, and Dax arrived, and much of it seemed to be directed at me. I hadn’t seen him act this way since the time I borrowed his car when I’d only had my learner’s permit, and then dented the front fender on a trash can.

My stomach dropped at his words. Had he spoken to Alex in the last few days? If he knew, which I doubted, why would he be so insistent that Alex would be here? I waited for him to look my way, and when he did, his eyes narrowed.

“Do you know any reason he wouldn’t be here?” Sammy said to me, his gaze unwavering.

My heart jumped into my throat. When I opened my mouth to say who knew what, Dax ran in, followed by Cass.

“Honey, can you take Dax to wash his hands, please?”

I caught a glimpse of Sammy’s jaw clenching before he turned to his son and took his hand. “Come on, buddy.”

“I’m sitting next to Uncle Alex, right?”

I didn’t hear Sammy’s answer as the door to the bathroom closed.

“We can’t wait much longer,” Mom said. “The food will get cold. Honey, can you grab your dad from the den?”

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