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Zig cocks his brow. “Did you forget what she does for a living? She’s not going to let information slip out.”
“We don’t know that. I don’t want Salem upset. It’s not good for the baby.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. You know what else isn’t good for the baby? Getting put away for murder, which is exactly what’s going to happen if you don’t stop treating me like I’m made of fucking glass.” Salem tosses the towel she was holding onto the counter and crosses her arms.
“All you had to do was say, ‘We haven’t told Salem and Astrid anything yet, so keep it to yourself,’” Avery tells Oz quietly, gaining everyone’s attention.
Oz sighs and rubs his hand over his face. “Do I look like I’m thinking rationally, Avery? Is this the face of a cool, calm, and collected individual?”
“No, it’s the face of an asshole, which is unfortunate for Zig because he has the same one. What’s your point?”
“That was mean,” he pouts before he tips his head up to the ceiling and blows out a breath. Eventually, he drops his head back down and stares at Avery. “Logically, I knew you wouldn’t say anything. I just—”
“Logic goes out of the window when your woman and baby are involved,” she answers for him.
“Yeah.” He sighs, then steps forward. “I’m a dick.”
“I know,” she replies, not giving him an inch. Zig grins, and I can hear the girls laughing in the kitchen, but I don’t take my eyes off Oz.
“But lucky for you, you’re not the biggest asshole in the room, so I forgive you.”
I raise my hand. “That would be me, right?”
Avery sighs. “Actually, I was talking about Slade, but now that you mention it…”
This time, even Slade cracks a smile.
“Alright, crisis averted. Nobody is going to spill secrets because our men are going to fill us in over lunch, aren’t they?” Astrid claps her hands.
“Babe…” Slade starts, but Astrid glares at him.
“Do you want to sleep on the sofa tonight, babe?”
He raises his hands in surrender.
“That’s what I thought. So, Avery, right? Nice to meet you. Come tell me all the embarrassing stories about these idiots you can think of.”
A collective groan goes up as Avery relaxes and walks toward the kitchen. “Well, there was this one time Oz went to town with a giant dick drawn on his face that he was completely unaware of…”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Avery
I liked Salem and Astrid. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they were both super sweet, which surprised me. I can only imagine what they were told about me.
I look around at all the guys laughing and joking before turning back to Salem, who seems to have morphed into the pioneer woman before my eyes. “Are you sure I can’t help?”
“No, I’ve got it. I swear cooking is the only damn thing these guys will let me do anymore,” Salem grumbles.
Astrid looks at me and grins. “Apparently, being pregnant makes alpha men go into overdrive.”
“She’s not kidding. Watch this.” Salem coughs before speaking louder. “I’m just going to get the casserole out of the oven.” Heads swivel in our direction before Jagger, who joined us earlier along with Wilder, jumps to his feet and hurries over, nudging Salem out of the way.
“I’ve got it.”
Salem rolls her eyes.
I cover my grin with my hand. Jagger carries the casserole over to the table. As soon as he’s gone, the three of us look at each other before dissolving into fits of laughter.
