Page 156 of A Little Complicated

I chuckle and pull her closer. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks.” I can almost hear her rolling her eyes. Suddenly, her breath stalls, and she murmurs, “Do you think Archer told your parents about us?”

“I don't know,” I answer honestly. “I haven’t really talked to any of them lately.”

“Why not?”

“Guess I’ve been a little preoccupied.” I pause, dragging my fingers along her bare arm. “Truth be told, I haven’t really talked to them since my diagnosis.”

Her brows pinch as she lifts her head from my chest. “You haven’t?”

“No. I guess it’s easier pushing them away than lying to their faces.”

She sinks against me even more. “You need to tell them.”

“I know,” I sigh, the familiar pressure in my chest making it hard to breathe. “I will. One shitstorm at a time.”

“I guess so,” she concedes, not looking too happy about it.

“We could always skip brunch altogether,” I suggest.

Her lips purse. “No more running from our problems, Mav. Isn’t it what you told me?”

I sober. “Guess so.”

“But”—she leans down and kisses the tip of my nose—“I agree with waiting to tell the families about us until we have a better idea of how Archer’s going to play everything. I don’t think we should walk in together and act like a couple when we don’t know where Archer’s head is.”

“Agreed.”

“Good. So we get through brunch, I chat with Archer, and you chat with your parents. We keep a wide berth while everything settles, and we all live happily ever after.”

“Sure. It’ll be a walk in the park.”

She grins back at me. “Exactly. Also, don’t tell my dad I’ve ever been on the back of your bike, or he’ll never let me go anywhere with you again.”

My smile widens. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good.” She kisses my nose again. I roll her onto her back and deepen the kiss.

It’s like she said. I’m not gonna waste another minute with her. And I want her again. Here. Now. Under the stars. In my bed. Wherever I can have her.

I want her.

I want her forever.

47

OPHELIA

Ididn’t know what to expect when I arrived at brunch with Finley and Dylan, but everyone pretending everything was hunky dory was the last thing I anticipated. I’m pretty sure I’m going to break out in hives if I have to stay in this house for another second, but it’s not like I can ditch out on brunch when I just got here. Oh, how I wish I could, especially since my parents decided to switch the location from my house to Archer’s and Maverick’s childhood home late last night.

Everyone’s here. My parents. Their siblings. Everyone’s kids. There are at least fifty people packed into this place. All I can say is it’s a good thing the Buchanans are loaded and can afford a massive mansion like this one, or there’s no way we’d all fit in one house.

Thankfully, the huge home also has a large patio overlooking their backyard, and I’ve managed to find an ounce of privacy, but I’m not naive enough to think it’ll last. It is pretty, with rolling hills, tall trees, green grass, and a perfect view of the city.

But even the gorgeous view isn’t enough to distract me from the fact no one has mentioned Archer’s outburst during Never Have I Ever, and no one has mentioned my relationship with Maverick, either. Why haven’t my parents said anything? It’s not like Tatum would’ve kept it to herself. And what about Archer’s parents? They have to know, right? But if they do, why haven’t they approached me and yelled at me for screwing everything up?

A wet nose hits my thigh, and I nearly jump out of my skin. Squatting down, I say hello to the Buchanan’s family dog.

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