Page 67 of Wanted You More

Sighing, I pull my hand back. “Look, I love both of you. I know I did things that annoyed you and Dad, but at least I’ve figured out how to live. That’s all I hope for you to do too.”

His lips twitch, giving me some indication that he’s at least hearing me out. I can’t help but laugh when he says, “I’m pretty sure Dad would prefer you were more like me when it comes to your way of living.”

I snort unattractively. “That’s probably true, but at least he doesn’t have to deal with it now that I’m at school.”

There’s a disapproving expression on his face that makes him look a lot like Dad. “Are you at least being safe?”

The one thing I’m good at in life is embarrassing my family, so I stick my tongue out and reply, “I’ve got plenty of condoms, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

A throat clears, making me turn to see Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Noah Kingsley all standing there.

Wolfe laughs when I blush.

It’s Elizabeth who says, “Hi, sweetie. We saw you two over here and wanted to pop over.”

Noah’s eyes are closed as he shakes his head, and Benjamin sighs heavily at the conversation they walked in on.

When Dad joins us again, he sees the three new people and the various expressions on their faces and warily asks, “What’d I miss?”

It’s my pipsqueak of a sibling who tells him, “Austen was just talking about how she’s having responsible, safe sex.”

Dad’s face turns bright red, and I think Ben’s is nearly the same shade.

Noah mutters, “Christ,” under his breath, causing his mom to rub his back and attempt to hold back her amused smile.

She looks at me and plays the mediator of the group, as always. “That’s very smart of you, Austen.”

I glare at Wolfe, but all he does is grin and finally start eating his chicken tenders. I silently hope he drops them all on the floor.

Clearing my throat, I turn to Noah. “I figured you’d be working or studying or something.”

Last we talked, he was exhausted from all the shifts he was taking at work and struggling to balance all of his classes at school. As much as I wanted to catch up, I knew he didn’t have the time for me.

I had—have—to be okay with that.

I’m not the only person, or the only girl, in his life.

“I try seeing my family once a week for dinner,” he tells me, gesturing toward the table I’m at. “Like you, I guess.”

Ben finally speaks up. “We’ll leave you all to it. We just wanted to say hi and see how everybody is.”

Dad plays civil as always, giving him a generic response about how all is well. Wolfe focuses on his food as if it’s suddenly the most interesting thing in the room.

And me? I torture myself.

“You should join us,” I suggest.

Dad’s eyes shoot to mine with cautious warning, but I don’t take it.

I jab my finger toward Wolfe. “I’m trying to convince my dweeb of a brother to join a club at school and make friends. Maybe you guys have some suggestions since you were more active in stuff like that. I remember seeing photos at your house of Noah on a few sports teams.”

Elizabeth brightens. “Noah, didn’t you take a few shop classes that would meet after school once a week?”

“Cherry Cove doesn’t offer that,” Noah reminds her. “But yes, I did. I played basketball and soccer too. It’s not for everyone though.”

He says that because he knows Wolfe isn’t a sportsy person.

I pull out the chair next to me. “If you guys haven’t eaten yet, then join us.”

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