Page 58 of Lost the Handle

She gawks at me. “You guys act like you and she are still together, when you’re with me.”

“It’s a fucking picture!”

“They are all over the place here and at your apartment. Don’t you see how disgusting and pathetic you are for her? She doesn’t love you. Why can’t you get that through your head?”

“You don’t know shit.”

“I know you’re an engaged man.”

I lean in close, my eyes never leaving hers. “To a lesbian who brought her lover to my parents’ house yet wants to throw me over the racks for needing to be close to the one person I want.” Her eyes widen, her lips parting as she glares. I hold her glare, my whole body shaking. All I want is to be done with this. “Yet I’m the one embarrassing you.”

“I think we should take this back to our place. His family is watching,” Yvette calls to us, and I don’t need to turn to know her words are true.

Neither of us moves.

Instead, Ava bites out, “She threw you away like trash, Quinn. I picked you up, I was there for you, and now youwillbe there for me.” I press my lips together as she steps closer. “If I didn’t think she’d run her mouth, I’d be fine with you fucking her. But that girl is hell-bent on ruining this. You have to get rid of her or swear her to silence—I don’t fucking care.”

Emotion burns in my chest because I know she’s right. If I want this to succeed, I have to get Emery out of my space, out of my head. I survived these last three years, but that changed the moment she barreled into my apartment and made it hers. “I won’t do that to her. Hide her. I love her more than that.”

She shrugs, shaking her head. “You know she will never love you, right? This is a game for her. She wants you because I have you.”

I close my eyes, my jaw tightening. “Shut up.”

“She is a loose cannon, Quinn. She’ll never be who you need.”

But I know that’s not true. Well, she is a loose cannon. But she’s my loose cannon, the one I try my damnedest to keep from firing off. Some might not believe it, but her chaos brings balance to my life. And ever since she’s been back, I feel alive again.

Which only confuses me more.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admit, and Ava’s eyes turn wicked.

“Don’t be stupid, Quinn.”

Our gazes collide, and I can’t help myself. “I am starting to hate you.”

“I don’t care. This isn’t a marriage for love,” she reminds me, and my skin crawls.

That’s when I hear the front door open. She looks over and sends a quick smile. “Sorry, we’re about to leave.”

My mom ignores her and calls out, “Are you okay, Quinn?”

Before I can answer her, though, I hear heavy footfalls, and then my dad grips my shoulder. I look over at him, and he searches my gaze with eyes the same as mine. He tilts his head to the side. “Why don’t you two take some time to cool off? Come inside and call Ava later.”

I feel Ava watching me as she says, “I’d rather you come over, Quinn. Please. We’re not done talking.”

I hear it in her voice, the apprehension that she is losing her cash cow. “You can be done, though,” Dad suggests, his eyes still searching mine. “Just say the word.”

I sigh heavily, but I know Ava and I aren’t done with this conversation. “It’s okay, Dad,” I say, and I hate how his shoulders fall. I give him a small smile. “Everything is fine.”

“Doesn’t seem that way,” he replies, and my stomach clenches.

“It is,” Ava tries. “It was just a misunderstanding. High emotions with the wedding coming up.”

She tries to laugh it off until my dad sets her with a look. She presses her lips together, and in a growling voice, my dad warns, “Put your hands on my son again, and I’ll pay Emery’s bail.”

He squeezes my shoulder again and sets his gaze on me. “Call me if you need me.”

His words have a torrent of emotion swirling through me. “I will.”

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