Page 78 of Lost the Handle

“Because he loves me.”

“Emery,” she chides. “I don’t like this.”

I shrug. “It’s all good. I promise. He’s leaving her. He is.”

“What if he doesn’t have any intention of doing that? What if this is his way to get back at you for breaking his heart?”

I gawk at my sister, hating that I hadn’t thought of that. I’m always ten steps ahead of everyone, but…no, I didn’t think that, because he wouldn’t do that. “Stella, be real. It’s Quinn. He isn’t vindictive like that.”

Her eyes bore into mine. “I don’t know, Emery. It makes me nervous.”

It makes me nervous too, but I don’t admit that. “I trust him.”

“I get that, but it’s all just messy.”

“So fucking messy. But I’m not worried. He told me he loves me.”

“I hope so, or you’ll be broken over him once more. I doubt you’ll go to damn California this time, probably go to Belize or something farther. Live on the beach.”

She’s not wrong, but I ignore that thought. I’m not going anywhere without Quinn. “He loves me, Stel.”

“Well, duh. He always has.”

“Yeah. So, believe me. He’s leaving her today.”

As she shakes her head, I bite into my cheek. I wait for the shame, but I feel none, and I think it’s because I know the truth. He never loved Ava, never wanted anything to do with her. He was just repaying someone he thought was a friend. Well, fuck that. I’ll pay the chick off and be done with the whole charade. I want to tell my sister everything I know, and I ordinarily would. We’re close, Stella and I, but I don’t want to tell her this. As much as he thinks he’ll look bad for what he did, I’m the reason he did, and that makes me the scum of the earth.

It’s better no one knows the truth.

“I hope you’re right.”

“He doesn’t love her,” I confirm, and I meet her surprised gaze. “He hasn’t even slept with her.”

She scrunches up her face. “You believe him?”

Why did I say anything? “Yes,” I say, urging her with my eyes to trust me.

Her eyes search mine, and I can tell she’s not so sure. “You know he slept with one of the waitresses at Brooks House.” I can’t help but glare, even if it isn’t my sister’s fault. She’s a manager at our family’s restaurant, so I know she’s telling the truth. I just don’t know why he’d choose someone there. Then again, I doubt he was in his right mind. “She didn’t know I knew him and told me it was the worst lay of her life. Said he wouldn’t even kiss her, didn’t care if she got off, fucked her, and left.”

I shouldn’t be pleased by that.

But I am.

“He told me.” I pause then. “I mean, not specifics, but that he had hooked up with a few people.”

She nods slowly. “Does he know you haven’t been with anyone?”

“Yeah,” I admit, wringing my fingers. “I told him.”

“I hope you’re not being naïve.”

“I’m not,” I promise. “Truly.”

“He should be fucking lucky you love him.”

I smile. “I think you mean I should be lucky.”

“No,” she snaps, her eyes a bit on the harsh side. She takes a step toward me, cupping my cheeks in her hands. Like I said, we’re close, but we aren’t hold-each-other’s-faces close. She let me sleep with her when I was younger and would get scared over the murder shows I’d watch, but she’s never looked at me like this. So much love, tenderness, and wild protectiveness in her eyes. Her voice is quiet as she says, “I will kill him dead if he hurts you, Emery Elaine. I let you run once. I won’t again. Not now, not ever. So, you better be damn sure that you believe him.”

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