Page 62 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

“How did your dad take the news about not continuing to swim competitively after college?”

She opens her mouth to answer as our server comes.

“Well,” she says as soon as the server leaves, “he was disappointed. That’s an understatement, actually, he was heartbroken. It was worse than how he reacted to our,” she clears her throat and gestures between us, “the sex tape of us.”

“Really?” I can’t stop the small grin from crossing my lips. “Did you ever watch the sex tape?”

“No. Dad destroyed it.”

“Wait. If you didn’t watch it, and he destroyed it, how do we even know what was on it?” I wouldn’t put it past Jennifer to lie.

“He said he saw enough to convince him,” she says with a shrug. “The only good thing to come out of all that is the fact that I don’t speak or see Jennifer anymore.”

“Jennifer, huh?”

“She doesn’t deserve the title of mother or mom. She’s only hurt me, so she doesn’t get to claim to be my mother.”

“Good. She never deserved you.” There’s that urge to touch her again, and again, I ignore it. “Happier topics. I heard you went with Con to pick out Hoodrat’s engagement ring. What does it look like?”

“It’s classic and elegant,” she answers with a dreamy look on her face. “Totally fits her style.”

“Her style is ripped jeans, tank tops, stolen hoodies, and worn Chucks,” I say deadpan.

“Okay,” she rolls her eyes with a smirk, “how her style is evolving.”

Our conversation pauses when our food arrives.

“Con asked me to pack her bag for the trip this weekend. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to do it. Her schedule is so erratic.”

“We’re having a family dinner on Wednesday. You can do it then.”

“Just you and her or with Frank too?”

“Just the two of us. We started having dinners, just the two of us, every other week during spring semester of our senior year. Finding out we were related probably saved both of us from a pretty depressing time in our lives.” I can’t help the accusation that seeps into my tone.

Her eyes are shining with tears when I look up.

“Levi,” she blinks back them back, “I’m so sorry. I was trying to survive, too. This won’t work if you don’t stop with the passive aggressive comments.”

She’s right, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m angry. That I’ve been bottling it up for three years. Letting it fester inside myself.

“What won’t work?” I’m going to push her to admit she wants me back. I don’t care how uncomfortable she is with it. I know we belong together and so does she.

“Us,” she swallows nervously, “friendship or whatever.”

“Whatever?” I tip my head to the side.

She meets my eyes with a Volkov-worthy glare.

“Fuck you.” She stands. “I’m going to the ladies’ room, and then I want to leave.”

I watch her walk away, perfect ass bouncing in her skirt. I also don’t miss a table of guys that watch her with hungry looks as she passes. I pull my wallet out and drop a couple hundreds on the table before following her. She doesn’t get to keep running from me.

I watch her pass a woman leaving the restroom, and after a second, I walk right into the ladies’ room behind her. She’s standing with her arms braced on the counter looking down.

“I’m going to need you to spell out what you mean when you say whatever,” I say, startling her.

“Jesus, fuck, Levi! Get out of the ladies’ room!”

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