“Look, I get that she’s your sister.” I pick up my po boy and take a bite. Then I shake my head. “But I’m drawing a line.”
I swear, Tyler swells again, leaning forward with menace in his eyes. He opens his mouth, but then Nina rests a hand on his elbow.
“We just don’t want Stella hurt,” she launches in, her voice squeaky, but surprisingly firm. “Stella deserves better than that.”
Every one of my muscles contracts.
“I would never hurt Stella.” The words are pure reflex. Animal instinct at even the thought of hurting Stella. I’m scowling. “Why the fuck would you think I’d hurt her?”
Nina bites her lip. “Because Maggie warned me off you.”
It feels like someone soaked my innards in kerosene and flicked down a match. I grit through my teeth. “What the hell do you mean?”
Nina’s hand grips Tyler’s forearm again, possibly stopping him before he lunges over the table at me.
“When she came to the house a few weeks ago,” Nina explains, her voice only a little shaky. “She thought you were helping me because… because you—”
Please tell me you’re not sleeping with her.
Maggie’s text sears my memory. I clench my jaw so hard I’m in danger of cracking a molar. If Tyler doesn’t beat the shit out of me, Bear will. Because Maggie and I are going to have words.
“And what did you say to that?” I ask, reining it in.
Nina’s gaze softens. “That you were just helping me out. And you’d been a perfect gentleman.”
At this Tyler’s eyes narrow in a way that communicatesAnd it better stay that way.
I swear, I almost laugh. What else is there to do?
“Okay, so if I’ve treated you right, what makes you think I’d do Stella wrong?”
Nina’s soft look turns almost pitying.
Pitying.
From Nina.
All at once, being the object of Nina Lemoine’s pity feels like the siphoning off of my spinal fluid.
“Because,” Nina says, “you’re afraid of commitment.”
“Maggie said that?”I practically shout. I ignore Tyler’s flared nostrils. “Did she also tell you I just got out of a three-year relationship?”
Nina picks at her paper napkin, turning it into confetti. “She did.”
I draw in a slow inhale through my nose and try to calm down. My fight isn’t really with Nina or Tyler. It’s with Maggie. With my family. With the way they see me. They way I’ll never be what they want me to be.
It’s a fight I can’t win.
If I’m not a good Catholic boy headed for the altar, I’m trash.
I exhale. At least I’ve got reason on my side. “Does being with someone for three years sound commitment avoidant?”
“Well, no, but—” Nina breaks off.
“But what?” I press.
She glances at Tyler, and I catch his near imperceptible nod. Nina looks back at me. “Maggie said any girl who fell for you would end up with her heart broken.” Nina straightens, her brow hardening in a way I’ve never seen. “We don’t want that for Stella.”
