Page 84 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“No,” she said. “I said I wanted to be independent and I have to do this alone.”

Coy looked hurt, but she wasn’t going to let it sway her. She had this.

“What practice is it?” he asked.

She showed him her notebook. “Same affiliation as Boston, only a satellite office.”

“I think that was Ava’s old office,” he said. “She used to come here a few times a month before she moved permanently. So when the time is right,ifyou want to transfer here you should be able to.”

“I think that might work,” she said. “I’m not opposed to it.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“I can compromise. I hope you don’t think I can’t.”

“Those things we have to learn about each other,” he said, reaching over and unlocking the door and opening it a crack.

It was a sign to not talk about this more, which meant he knew her well enough to let them put it from their minds.

24

SOMETHING TO BE MINE

“You’re joking,” Spencer said on Saturday as his best friend looked between Coy and Angel.

“No,” he said. They’d just broken the news to Spencer. Angel’s parents were in his living room too, having arrived not that long ago.

Spencer looked at Angel. “You two are dating?”

“We are,” she said, picking his hand up and threading their fingers together.

“No,” Spencer said. “You wouldn’t do this to me.”

Coy hated the pissed-off look on Spencer’s face and knew it would only get worse.

“I’m not doing anything to you,” he said.

“Spencer,” Barb said. “Stop being so stubborn and open your eyes to what has been in front of your face for years.”

He always loved Spencer’s mother for being so direct. But even he had been blind to what Angel had felt.

“So you two knew about this?” Spencer asked his parents. “How long have you known?”

“A month after they’d been dating,” Barb said.

“Wait,” Spencer said, his hands going up in the air. “How long has this been going on?”

He looked at Angel. She shrugged. “A little over three months.”

“What the hell?!” Spencer shouted. “And no one thought to tell me this? I thought we had each other’s back, Coy.”

“Calm down,” Todd said. “That has nothing to do with it.”

“You’re acting like an idiot,” Angel said. “Dad is right.”

“No,” Spencer said. “I’m right. And Coy knows it. You’re my best friend. You tell me everything and you didn’t think I should know you’ve been dating my sister for three freaking months.”

“It’s not something I would say in a text or over the phone. You haven’t exactly been around much yourself,” he argued.

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