Page 161 of Mad Love

That did sound kind of fun, but I knew this holiday was important to Ryan because of Grandpa. Besides, it was Cori’s first Christmas without her dad, and she seemed to be struggling with that.

Beckett Cain sucked as a father, but Corinne’s kindness and innocence quickly let her forget and rewrite the history so he wasn’t always a massive twatwaffle to her. As other kids in her school got excited about going home to see their parents for Christmas, Corinne had started saying she couldn’t wait to see her daddy, too.

Grandpa and Ryan had been talking about it last night, and I knew they were worried about her. Part of Corinne’s disabilities made her guileless and way too forgiving of past wrongs. It was easy to see how Beckett had been able to manipulate her. All she wanted was to be loved, and she would’ve done anything to gain her father’s acceptance.

“Maybe,” I hedged, giving Bex a tiny smile for an answer.

Her face fell a little, because we both knew that this year, I wouldn’t be running around Europe with her.

“But you’ll have fun,” I said, forcing myself to be happy for her.

She sighed. “I’d stay here, but Mom has been really weird lately, and I think she needs this break.”

“Is your dad going?”

She shook her head. “No. She hit him with divorce papers today.”

“Shit,” Linc murmured. “Seriously?”

Bex looked less than happy. “Yeah. I mean, I know it’s for the best. They’ve hated each other for years, but it’s still weird, you know? I’m pretty sure my dad will move to the East Coast to be closer to work, since his government contracts were renewed.”

“Makes sense,” Ash said. “Sorry, Bex.”

“It is what it is,” she declared, taking a drink of her soda.

“All the more reason you should come party with us tonight,” Linc told her with a grin.

Court grunted and glared at his best friend. “She said no.”

Bex narrowed her eyes at him.

“Besides,” Court added, his features hardening, “it’s hard to get laid if it looks like our little sister is tagging along.”

Bex winced like she’d been slapped.

“Dude,” I snapped, annoyed that he was being an asshat. “Seriously?”

Court drained the rest of his beer. “Sorry. I mean, you should come if you want to.” Yeah, that sounded totally sincere.

Looked like these two were back to being solely antagonistic. That was always fun.

“You’re pretty quiet over there, Ry,” Linc pointed out. “All good?”

Ryan nodded, the movement almost lazy. “It’s just nice to have a minute to fucking breathe.” He scowled at Linc. “Even if your crazy ass can’t sit still.”

Linc scoffed. “All I’m saying is we should take advantage of a night in the city. Recent circumstances have been difficult on us all, but I’d like to remind my dick that the world has a lot more options than my hand.”

I choked on my water. “Ugh, gross, Linc.”

He didn’t look ashamed at all. “Mads, I love you, but unless you and Ryan are planning to open your relationship—”

“Fucker,” Ryan muttered, wiping a hand over his mouth.

“—or Bex decides she’s suddenly willing to give us a shot…” Linc shot her a suggestive look.

Bex laughed. “More like I’d castrate you with a rusty razor laced with ebola.”

Linc moved to guard his junk even under the table. “See? My only other options are dickwad one or two.” He hooked his thumbs at Court and then Ash.

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