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“Kat, I don’t think that’s a good—”
“I’m staying.” I lift my chin in defiance.
“I’ll see about getting you a rollaway bed.” Aunt Cassie leaves the two of us alone.
“She doesn’t deserve this.” My voice cracks.
“No, she doesn’t. But we can’t pretend it’s not happening either. She needs help, Kat. Qualified, professional help.”
“She’s got me and Aunt C and—”
“You?” He spits the word. “That’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard. How can she possibly rely on you when you’re barely ever home, off doing fuck knows what, getting into all kinds of trouble. You’re the last person she can count on.”
A pained gasp spills from my lips as his words land their intended blow, pulverizing my heart into mincemeat.
“Kat, fuck, I—”
“Don’t. Don’t try to take them back. You’re right. I’m a selfish horrible person who only thinks about herself. At least you’ve got your new family. You can wash your hands of me now.”
“Katrina, that’s not—”
Aunt Cassie and the nurse choose that moment to return, wheeling in a rollaway bed for me.
“Can’t promise it’ll be very comfortable, but it’s better than nothing,” the nurse says.
“It’ll be fine, thank you.”
“The rest of you can stay for a little longer but then our visitation policy requires that you leave.
“Of course, thank you.” Aunt Cassie smiles but it drops the second the nurse leaves.
“Why does it feel like I just walked into the arctic circle?” She glances between us and I wait for Diesel to spew some crap to pacify her.
When he doesn’t, I say, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
“Whatever it is, you need to bury it. Your mom needs you. Both of you. She doesn’t need to be worrying about the two of you being at each other’s throats.”
“It’s all good,” Diesels says, barely meeting my gaze.
Guess we both said things we regret.
But if he thinks I’m looking to hug and make up tonight, he can think again.
28
RYDER
The fall out from Styx’s declaration of being in love with Kat wasn’t as dramatic as either of us was expecting it to be.
I think on some level, Diesel already knew. I mean, it wasn’t all that hard to figure out with the way Styx has watched her like a lovesick puppy for quite a while now. I guess he was just living in denial or some shit.
He might have sat there with his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were almost translucent, and the vein in his temple bulged so huge I literally thought it was going to explode at any moment. But at no point did he lunge for Styx.
I was ready for it. Sitting on the edge of my seat ready to dive into the middle as fists started flying.
I have no idea if it was his concern for Kat, or just the sheer pressure he’s feeling with Evelyn’s declining health, but he didn’t seem to have the fight in him that I’m used to seeing.
He’s lost some of his fire. And I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.
