Page 55 of Mr. Infuriating

She glanced at Brittany, who seemed enthralled watching the whole exchange.

“Nothing.”

Now I was silently willingDerrickto drop it.

Alas…

“It’s not nothing. You started to say something; please continue.”

Becky had never been one not to take the bait. Things hadn’t changed.

She planted her hand on her hip and jutted her jaw toward us.

“I was going to say I’m not surprised you’re a big fan of nepotism, considering how you were able to afford the bar in the first place. You never would have gotten it off the ground without Maverick’s help.” She cast a glance in my direction, but since I hadn’t said a word, it seemed she decided to spare me from her wrath.

At the moment.

Derrick shrugged, like he had no fucks to give on Becky’s behalf. I knew I was going to be the one paying for that later, one way or another.

“What can I say, our family’s awesome.” He dropped his arms to his side and winked at Britt. “You’re lucky you’re a Mitchell. Don’t ever forget that.”

Becky’s face grew even more sour while my daughter beamed up at my baby brother like he was a rockstar.

“I won’t.”

No sooner had they gone back to their chairs, when we heard, “Uncle D!” Brayden looked at us from the sidelines with a big smile. “You made it!”

Derrick raised his fist.

“Heck yeah! I wouldn’t have missed it! Score a goal!”

“I’ll try!”

My brother dropped into the chair I’d brought for him and cast me a sideways glance as he buffed his nails on his shirt.

“What can I say? They love their Uncle Derrick.”

“Much as I wish I could, I can’t even argue.”

“I mean, what’s not to love, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

His face fell and he leaned further back in his chair, taking obvious offense.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m sure there are plenty of women who could think of a few things.”

He pawed at the air, as if dismissing my words.

“I never lie to anyone. They all know the score. It’s not my fault if they choose to think they’re going to be the exception. You know as well as I do that there are—”

“No exceptions,” I supplied for him.

It was a matter in which we usually agreed.

Only, I found myself considering making a business exception for a hot seventh-grade English teacher.

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