I swear I heard my aunt swoon from across the table. May rolled her eyes. My mother nudged her and I had to bite my lip from laughing. It was about time.
“You kids have any plans for the break?”
“No. Just spend time together and get away from the circus, you know?” Josh said quickly. It rolled off his tongue, as if he’d already thought about it and it was sweeter than I expected it to feel. For the first time, I had understood why I was so desperate not to come alone. Wes never would have been this way with my family.
CHAPTER 22
JOSH
Christ, it didn’t matter what April did, her sister seemed annoyed. I caught every one of the eyerolls and the doubt etched across May’s face. I wanted to wipe it off, desperately. But I was balancing being respectful in front of her mother and grandfather, and wanting to tear her clothes off and show her sister that I wasn’t messing around. I had to be patient and wait for the right moment, though.
The kids were running around the yard or hanging in the water, and the guys were tossing whatever ball around they could. None of them seemed to be the athletic type. They couldn’t throw worth a damn and I had a sneaking suspicion that they were just trying to impress me. April was nowhere to be seen.
Worry began to sneak in. I crossed through the crowd of people still mulling around the yard in their groups. The aunts and elders were huddled around the deck near her Papi. As I approached the side of the house, the sound of hushed voices came out from the kitchen window. Her sister’s friend’s nasally voice caught my ear.
“There’s no chance they’re actually together.”
“No way.” Someone else agreed.
“He’s not her type.”
“Her type is anything that gives her attention. Remember in high school, the new guy was nice and sat next to her. She was obsessed with him for like six months.”
“It’s more like she’s not his type. Have you seen his trail of exes? There’s no way she’s his type.”
A murmur of agreement grumbled through them. Damn, these ladies were the epitome of mean girls. Was this how they treated her all the time? They were all chummy out front, but then behind her back, they talked shit.
“Besides, did you see how awkward he was, having to be next to her?” Someone sneered.
“She doesn’t make it easy.” One of the other women, I think it was her cousin who snorted.
“He must be doing her a favor.”
“Or lost a bet.” Her sister cackled.
There was a gasp, “Could you imagine?”
“I mean. She wouldn’t?” It was certainly posed as a question, but came out more like it was a statement.
“Her? Sure, she would, all she did was brag about this guy she was dating. The thing is, she never mentioned who. If she was with him, she would have been gloating and rubbing it in my face,” May remarked snidely.
My blood boiled. How was this her sister? So many pieces were coming together now. I understood why she was always so forward in the beginning, she’s had to fend for herself in this family of wolves. It was clear that April didn’t quite fit in with her bitchy sister or her mom who seemed to live in the clouds. I had half a mind to march in there and give them shit. But then, the best revenge was showing them something they could talk about it. It was time for some much needed PDA.
“Maybe they have to hide it?” Someone else said softer, as if she was defending April. Instantly, I liked whoever that was. “They look cute together.”
There was a scoff that I imagined came from her sister. That was it for me. Pact or no pact, April didn’t deserve this shit. I cleared my throat to get some attention, before waltzing into their little circle. The chatter stopped immediately as I watched three women with wide eyes watch me come around the corner. Her sister was putting candles on the cake and stopped abruptly when she spotted me.
“Sorry, I was looking for the waters that were supposed to be on the counter.” I smiled politer than necessary given the circumstances.
“Oh, I put them back in the fridge, didn’t want them to warm up.” One of them answered quickly.
“No worries.” I went and pulled out two bottles of water, making sure their eyes were trained on me as I spotted April with the kids. Once I reached her, I slung my arm over her shoulders and kissed the small nape of her neck, whispering, “We have an audience.”
Her head fell back against my shoulder. I handed her the water and despite not wanting to, I released her from my grasp and jumped into the jump ropes making the girls squeal with laughter.
April and I played with the kids for a few more minutes, making sure to latch onto everyone’s attention, and then I grabbed onto April’s hand and pulled her into me.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I growled at her, nodding towards a path off to the side of the house, but keeping in view of the window May was craning her neck to see out of.
