Page 22 of What About Us

My smile is humorless. “Says you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m just frustrated, and I didn’t want to go home to wallow by myself.”

“You can come wallow here all you want.”

She takes my hand in hers and links our fingers. “I’m glad you’re home for a while. I hate that you got hurt, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too. Tell me you’re not going to marry that moron.”

“I didn’t come here for this. And I’m going to get my way. February. I don’t want to wait longer than that, and I’m going to put my foot down.”

“Great. Put it down on his balls.”

She snorts. “I mean, one day I’d like children, so⁠—”

“Christ, I don’t want to think about you and Chad having sex.”

“I mean, I could have sex with⁠—”

“No one. You can have sex with no one. You and Harper are as pure as the driven snow.”

“Sure, if that snow is on the side of the highway, and maybe a little yellow.”

I glare at her. “I’m going to gag.”

“Not because of that. Jesus, you’re gross. Now I’m gonna gag.”

“Are you staying for dinner? Cassie filled the fridge with healthy meals.”

Ava wrinkles her nose. “Then no. I want carbs and sugar. And alcohol. Lots of it.”

“Fine, we can go out.”

“Won’t you get into trouble for cheating on your diet?”

With a laugh, I push off the couch and pull her with me. “By who exactly? I can have a cheat day. Carbs aren’t the devil.”

“They are for me. They stick to my ass.”

“We’re not talking about your ass.”

With Ava full of pasta and bread from Ciao, the Italian restaurant in Bitterroot Valley, and tucked safely in her house, I’ve just pulled into my garage when my phone pings with a text.

Cooper: What are you doing?

I walk into the house and grab an ice pack and water from the fridge, then cross to the living room and sit down.

Me: Just had dinner with my sister. What are you doing?

Cooper: I’m listening to Brit complain because she can’t cook for you on Wednesdays anymore.

Me: Aww. You miss me. How sweet.

Cooper: Fuck you, I didn’t say that.

I shake my head.

Me: Why don’t you guys come to Montana for a few days of vacation?