Page 116 of What About Us

“We’re a tight-knit family,” Tucker says, and Chad rolls his eyes. “Does that bother you?”

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Chad replies. “You’re way too involved in each other’s business. Case in point right now. Ava’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”

“Of course she can,” Easton replies with a nod. “We’re not trying to talk her out of marrying you. We’re trying to figure out why she would want to in the first place because you never say nice things to her in front of us, she’s not glowing with joy, and you’ve been dragging your feet on the wedding.”

“All of the answers to those questions are between Ava and myself.”

“Personally,” I begin, fully out of patience, “and I can’t speak for the others, but I’d like to know what the fuck your problem is.”

Chad’s brows pull together in a scowl. “What?”

“If you’re unhappy in your relationship,” Zack says, picking up the torch, “why are you with her? Because it’s obvious to all of us that you’re fucking miserable. I’ve never seen you smile at her. Not once.”

I blink in surprise and think back over all the times that I’ve been around Chad, and I have to admit, he’s right. “Now that I think of it, I haven’t either.”

“I smile at her all the fucking time,” Chad replies. “Your family is more affectionate than most. Don’t tell me that there’s something wrong with me because I don’t fawn all over her.”

“You fucking should,” Easton growls. “You should adore that woman and make it real crystal clear to anyone else that she’s yours and you’re fucking obsessed with her. You treat her like . . .”

“I treat her like a partner,” Chad cuts in. “Like an adult woman. I’m not going to coddle her. That’s demeaning. She doesn’t need that.”

“Smiles are coddling?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. “Showing affection, like kissing her cheek or holding her hand is demeaning?”

“He must be really great in the sack,” Zack says, shaking his head, and Chad’s eyes narrow.

“Fuck you, Zack.”

“Oh, no thank you. I’m pretty sure it would be a disappointment.”

“Listen,” Tucker breaks in. “Ava insists that she loves you. That you’re the one she wants to marry. It’s a mystery to the rest of us.”

“It’s the fucking Bermuda Triangle,” I mutter, shaking my head. “If you were just nice to her⁠—”

“I’m fucking nice to her,” Chad breaks in, his voice rising. “I’m respectful, I’m kind.”

“So kind that you keep trying to postpone the wedding,” Tucker says, his voice a little harder now. “You proposed, Chad. E and I were there.”

Chad drags his hand down his face in agitation.

“And you didn’t say one fucking word about loving her,” Easton growls. “Not once in that whole fucked-up proposal.”

“She knows I love her.”

“Do you?” Zack demands. “Do you love her? Because none of us can actually tell.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass if you can see what I feel for Ava. It’s between me and her, and if she’s happy that’s all you need to know. The rest is none of your fucking business.”

You could hear a pin drop as tension blooms between us.

“Oh, Chad.” I breathe out a sigh and lean forward, bracing my elbows on my legs. “The thing is, it is our business because she’s our baby sister.”

“Don’t I just fucking know it,” he growls in agitation.

“Apparently, you don’t know it well enough,” Tucker says. “I don’t like how fucking sad my sister is all the time. I don’t like that you’ve wiped so much of the fun from her eyes. Her outspokenness.”

“She needs to learn to⁠—”

“No one asked you to speak,” Easton cuts in.