Page 96 of Vegas Baby!

“Fuck, Ava, I’m not mad aboutherdoing that, I’m mad thatyoudidn’t. You haven’t told me a single fucking thing.”

“I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“Why didn’t you?”

“You know, believe it or not, this situation has nothing to do with you. I was kind of preoccupied and you were out of the country.”

“Why did you even have a baby shower if you were giving the kid up?”

Ice rolled down my spine. “I’mnot.”

“That’s not what Mom thinks.”

“I don’t give a fuck what Mom thinks anymore.”

Nathan’s eyes widened and he turned to me when we paused a stop sign. “Since when? You’ve been living up her asshole ever since you learned how to suck up.”

“If you’re going to be a jackass, I’m getting out.”

He growled, but took a few deep breaths, visibly trying to calm himself. “You’re my sister. If you’re in trouble, you’re supposed to come to me. Instead, I hear everything from Mom, and then find you shacked up with my best friend?”

“And what if Iwasin trouble?” I snapped. “Look how long it took you to show up.”

“I was busy!”

“So was I!”

“Okay.” He huffed. “We both fucked up, but I’m here now.”

“I see that. To do what?”

“To take you home, obviously.”

“Iwashome.”

“I can’t let you stay there. Mom said they’re dangerous. I don’t want to think that about Luke, but he defended the one who put Andrew in the hospital.”

“Oh, for god’s sake,” I hissed. “None of them are dangerous to me and Andrew was not put in the hospital. Micah protected me from Andrew after I had to lock myself in a fucking bathroom so he couldn’t drag me out of Mom’s.”

Nathan was quiet for a long time, hitting the highway and filling me with nervous butterflies that he really was still intending to take me straight back to San Jose.

“Please take me back.”

“Not yet.”

“So you’re taking me hostage now, too? I knew you were desperate for Mom’s approval, but I didn’t think you would stoop to this.”

“Can you shut up for two seconds please?” He took another calming breath. “Sorry, that was mean. I’ve gotten a lot of conflicting information and I’m trying to sort through it all.”

“You could just listen to me. Mom has an agenda.”

“And you don’t? You don’t think I saw how hard you were crushing on Luke back in the day? If all of this is some way to finally get him for yourself?—”

“Fuck you. He’s my scent match. We’re part of the same pack. And don’t you dare demean my feelings. I know the difference between a childish crush and what it takes to make an actual relationship work. I’m so fucking tired of everyone thinking I don’t.”

“That’s because you settle for scraps.”

“I do not.” I bristled, pissed that he was right even though I didn’t want to admit it.

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