Page 351 of Lodestar

“You’re about to meet the matriarch.”

“Thought I already met her.” Her bewildered frown prompted me to add, “Aoife.”

Her lips twitched. “Not me?”

I snorted. “No. You’re not matriarch material.”

“You’re so great for my ego.”

“I try. But don’t make it out like you’re miffed when we both know you’re not.”

She shrugged. “You could at least pretend to make me feel better about myself.”

“That’s Aidan’s job. Not mine.”

“Why did I miss you again?”

“Because no one tells you the truth like me,” I teased, laughing at her huff. “But no, I’m not nervous about meeting Lena. I’m surprised you were.”

“You know how I am about the mafia.”

“Actually, I’d forgotten,” I admitted.

“That’s probably because you were in boarding school when that shit show went down.”

My nose crinkled. “One of my many interventions. I should have been there for you back then.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s the opposite of fine when you have a crush on the mafia?—”

“Oh, shut up.” She shoved me in the side. “Lena’s okay.”

“Whether she is or isn’t is no concern of mine.”

“They all rally around her.”

“I figured that out on my own,” I retorted. “Is this a warning? Don’t get on her bad side or Conor will dump me? Because, Vana, I can tell you now—I’ve done worse shit to that man than piss his ma off and he hasn’t thrown me to the curb. I think I’m set for life with him.”

“You want to be set for life with him?” she inquired softly.

“That’s what you picked up on?” I groused. “And yes. I do. Like I told Aidan—I’m keeping him.”

“He isn’t a puppy you were gifted for Christmas.”

“Thank fuck he isn’t. Do you remember what happened to that dog Dad got me?”

“Didn’t he end up giving him to one of the roadies?”

“Yeah, because I kept forgetting to walk it and Dad got sick of standing in dog shit on the tour bus.” I chuckled at the memory. “You don’t need to walk cats, do you?”

“No. You can, but you don’t have to.”

“Did you walk Teabag?”

“Surprised you remember Teabag.”

“You loved her,” was all I said. “And only you’d name a cat after a sex act.”

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