Page 14 of Lost the Handle

I press my lips together, letting out a long breath. “I was just about to call Ava. I have to cancel. My sister is going through some stuff, and she asked for me to come over.”

He doesn’t seem to care, and I’m sure he was only asking because I would give him someone to talk to. As much as I want to believe my charming personality appeals to him, I’m just the dude his niece is marrying. To give me a chance is to give her a good life.

Little does he know, I’m only around for a year.

His face shows nothing as he says, “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it all works out.”

He pats my back and then turns as I say, “Thanks, Doc. See you tomorrow.”

He doesn’t acknowledge me while heading out the door as I exhale. Fuck me. Now I gotta call Ava. I hit her contact without reassuring Posey. She already knows I’m coming, even if I did have other things to do. My family is everything to me, and the pain Posey is feeling isn’t something I want her going through alone. I’m not saying that Boon, her husband, can’t handle it, but he’s hurting too. I think sometimes it’s nice to have support from outside your circle.

“Quinn,” Ava answers in a clipped tone, like I’m more a burden than her fiancé. “Are you on your way?”

“I’m not,” I say with more irritation than I intend. “I apologize, but something has come up. Posey got some bad news today, so I’m gonna go and have dinner with her.”

I’m met with silence. “My parents are expecting us. We canceled twice this month.”

I canceled. Because being around her family is like being in a funeral home. Everyone is drunk and miserable. I don’t get it. They’re songwriters, for God’s sake. They write love songs and happy little tunes. How can they be so depressing?

“Plus, Uncle Jeremy will be there,” she adds, and I run my free hand through my hair. “Can’t you visit with her tomorrow?”

I drag my hand to the back of my neck, squeezing it tightly. “Sorry, she needs me.”

She lets out a huff. “I really don’t get you. We are attempting to make this upcoming marriage seem real, but you keep canceling on my family. How are they supposed to believe us?”

“Ava, I don’t think they care one way or another,” I admit. “They hardly acknowledge me—or you, for that matter.”

“Still, they need to see us together.”

“They do, they have. Sorry.” I pause for a moment, then say, “You could come with me. Dr. Abrams knows I’m going to my sister’s, so it would be like you’re supporting my family.”

“No way. I don’t want to go over there. Your family hates me,” she snaps, and I roll my eyes. “But I will use that excuse, for sure.”

“My family hates no one. They just don’t understand why you aren’t very friendly with them.”

“Because I don’t care one way or another about them. This arrangement isn’t between me and your family. It’s with you.”

“I understand?—”

“I don’t think you do, but whatever.” Her voice turns dark. “It’s your career if this doesn’t work.”

She hangs up then, and I know she expects me to call back. To say I’m coming. But I have no intention of doing that. I bent to her will a lot when I first agreed to this, but now, I’m getting annoyed. She wants me to be weak, and I’ll admit I have been. I’m not proud of that, but I stopped caring. After a full year without Emery, I was more broken than I like admitting. To my family… Hell, to myself.

I hadn’t felt anything in years, and when Ava buttered me up and then asked for my help, I couldn’t say no. I liked how it made me feel. I don’t know what has happened since I agreed to this. Ava has always been snotty, but she was kind to me. We hit it off from the top, and we enjoyed studying together. We challenged each other. And when we found out we were both Nashvillians in Boston, we clicked. I thought she was cool people, but now, I’m not so sure.

I feel used.

Which, I guess, in a way, I am.

We pushed back the wedding because Benson and Cameron are getting married at the end of the month. Ava and I are to wed the first week of June, and it can’t come quick enough. Iwant this to be over. I want to be done with her, and once we’re married, things will even out.

Well. That is, if I can control Emery.

Which is like trying to wrangle a tornado.

That’s a later problem, I tell myself.

My sister needs me, and that’s all that matters.

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