Page 163 of A Little Complicated

Her eyes widen. “Oh, I am?”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “Do you wanna know why?”

“Why?”

I cup her cheek and run my thumb along her silky skin. “Let’s get through brunch first.”

With a smile, she leans into my touch and asks, “And then?”

“Then…” I lean against the counter and let out a slow breath.

“Hey, you okay?” Her forehead tugs.

I nod. “Yeah, I’m good. Just winded.” I give her a wink, continuing, “Andthen, after brunch, we’re gonna tell our families everything, and I’m gonna shout from the rooftops how it’s you and me. It’llalwaysbe you and me. Right, Goose?”

I grab her hips and slide her off the counter. Once her feet touch the tile, I pick the shorts and black underwear up from the ground, dragging the fabric up her silky skin until she’s covered. I slip her bra on and pull her shirt over her head. Satisfied, I tug her toward me, kissing her one more time as my hip finds the edge of the counter, and I lean against it.

“You should get back out there,” I suggest.

“Fiiiine.” She rises onto her tiptoes, kisses me one more time, and slips out the bathroom door. She doesn’t have a chance to close it as she screeches to a halt, her muscles turning to steel. “Oh. Hi, Aunt Mia.”

She slams the door behind her.

49

OPHELIA

Islam the door closed behind me to shield Maverick from his mother’s view, preparing myself for the inevitable while my fingers bite into the round handle and my knees threaten to give out.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

“What in the—” Aunt Mia gasps as she takes in my disheveled appearance, her expression hardening on the solid wood behind me. “Who’s in there, Ophelia?”

“I—”

She steps closer. “Move aside, Lia.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and shift to the left, giving her access to the bathroom door. She pounds her fist against it.

Maverick opens it immediately, his skin paler than usual. “Mom—”

“What. The actual. Fuck?” she spits, though she has the decency to keep her voice quiet as she glares at her son, demanding an explanation.

I suck my trembling lip into my mouth and look at Maverick, but he’s as quiet as I am. Just as speechless. Just as blindsided.

“How could you do this to your brother?” she demands. “He’s loved Ophelia since you were both kids. And you.” Her disappointment taints the air and tears well in her eyes as her attention slices to me. “How could you do this to him, Ophelia? Archer loves you. He would never do something like this to you.”

“I know,” I rush out. “I know he wouldn’t.”

“How can you…” She bites her tongue and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m so shocked and—”

“Mia,” Uncle Henry calls. He appears at the end of the hallway, his brows knitting when he catches us staring back at him. God, he looks so much like his boys. It only shreds me more.

“Everything all right?” he asks.

“Dad,” Maverick starts.

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