“I need everyone out,” I whispered.
Mateo gave me a pain-stricken look, and I looked away from him. From Levi.
“Please. I need to be alone for a few minutes.”
Mateo slid his hand into Levi’s and led him to the door. “We’ll come back. We’re going to go talk with Austin. Okay? It’s going to be okay.”
All I could do was nod. But nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to be okay.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Mateo
It was very rare that I lost my temper. But between the blood on Levi’s face and the tears in Avery’s eyes, the moment we were out of her studio, I grabbed Austin by his collar and punched him hard enough that he dropped onto the sidewalk.
“Holy shit,” Evie gasped, tugging June out of the way.
Levi put his hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. Despite everything, having him at my side was a comfort.
“Fuck, Mateo,” Dallas gasped, kneeling down next to his brother.
Austin stared at me, dazed as he sat up. “You lied to me,” he said. “You went behind my back. Why didn’t you just ask me about Avery?”
“Because I know how you are,” I said. “And because Avery asked us not to tell you. And I agreed because I’ve been in love with her for two fucking years, Austin. Two years.”
“Why haven’t you done anything?”
“Because you act likethis,” I said. “Ever since she’s come back to Whynot, you’ve been completely overprotective. You haven’t given her any space. You’ve been constantly overstepping.”
“It’s really none of your business?—”
“It is now,” I said firmly. “Iamdating your sister, whether you approve or not.”
“Then you’re not my friend anymore.”
That hurt. Every muscle stilled as I blinked at him. “Really?”
He slowly got up, glaring at both of us. “Neither of you are friends. Levi, I asked you earlier this week after dinner. And you?—”
“I told you that you have nothing to worry about,” Levi said firmly. “Because I leave on Monday. And that’s the truth.”
My stomach twisted as he said that.
“That makes it even worse!” Austin yelled. “So you sleep with my best friendandmy sister, and then just leave? Is that really who you are?”
Levi’s hand left mine. “Yes,” he whispered.
Dallas tightened his grip on Austin before he could lunge at Levi. “And you lied to all of us about it.”
“Well . . .” Evie interjected, trailing off. “June and I have known.”
His mouth dropped. “What?”
“We’ve known,” June said. “And we’ve supported this too, because Levi and Mateo have made Avery happy. I don’t think they intended to hide from either of you for so long, but you guys have been too much since Kevin.”
“Kevinhurther,” Austin rasped. “And then to see bruises on her?—”
“Austin,” Evie cut in. “We all need you to drop the bruises. Avery consented to those. It has to do with BDSM.”
