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“When are you two going to address the media?” Bianca asks us as she leans over the table to steal Linc’s scotch, which she downs in one gulp before waving the thick glass at him.
He shrugs while he exchanges a glance with Ethan. Getting to his feet he wanders off to collect a fresh round of beers and another bottle of Rebel Rye.
“I’ve asked,” Summer says. “He won’t let me make a statement on his socials. Even though it would help control the narrative.”
Rebel’s eyebrow is like a booster to the telepathic signal we share.So you don’t trust her either.
Is that what you think this is?I raise an identical brow and throw in the slightest headshake.You couldn’t be more wrong.
Keeping Ivy away from the media might only serve to build a frenzy, but I’m not ready to put the woman I love in the way of a mad man.
“It’s me, my fault,” Ivy says. “I’m not ready to be in the spotlight.”
“Well, that might have been something you should have thought about before getting involved with my brother.” Rebel stares at her while he rotates his glass between his fingers.
There’s no malice in his tone, it’s all very matter of fact. Still, it makes my chest catch fire and I have to rub at it to ease the sensation. He doesn’t trust her, he hasn’t warmed up to her yet; fine. He wants to be angry that I took her with me to Ro’s; okay, I can deal. But he can keep his opinions to himself or between him and me. Ivy doesn’t need to hear them. “Fuck off.”
“Hey, how about we cool our jets,” Riot suggests. “We’re all still frayed from earlier. How about we save serious conversation for another day?”
“I could kick his ass.” I leer at my twin. It’s part joke and peace offering, but I also mean it. Ivy is my girlfriend. She’s mine. She isn’t going anywhere. He needs to get on board with that.
“You think?” He slumps back in his chair and folds his arms over his chest, but he lets out an amusedhumph.
“You don’t believe me.” I deposit Ivy on the chair as I climb to my feet and start cheerfully rolling up the sleeves of my Henley. “Fine. Let’s take it to the grass.”
Summer lays a restraining hand on his arm when he starts to rise. Directs her gaze at him. “Seriously?”
“It’s all fun and games…” Rebel says.
“Until one of us ends up with a police escort,” I finish. And hasn’t that happened a time or two? Or, well, more. Which is always funny because it’s not like either of us is going to press charges against the other. “Now, how about you apologize for upsetting Ivy and we can both move on.”
The lines around my twin’s eyes deepen as we stare each other down. Finally he rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
Capitulate, bitch.
Fine.He huffs as he turns to my girl. “That was harsh of me, Ivy. I apologize. Please don’t feel like you aren’t welcome.”
I would so smack you upside the back of your head if you were over here.I give him the stink eye.
He retorts with a tip of his head and a two brow raise. Then adds a smirk just to really get on my goat.Oh, yeah. Want to try it?
I dare him with a widening of eyes that ends in a half wink-squint that Burke Heart taught me.You can practically hear the whistle of the tumbleweeds rolling by.Come over here and find out.
“So Ivy, have you thought about what you want as a nickname, hmm?” Bianca asks.
Ivy frowns as she adjusts the blanket over her lap. “N-no.”
“You could always go with Rovy,” Linc says.
“Rovy? It’s not bad,” Summer tips her head as she thinks it over, probably considering a million different ways it might show up in social media.
“It’s better than Iogue. Like what even is that sound?” Bianca waves her glass around.
“It sort of sounds like the noise one might make if they need to be sick,” Ethan says.
“Iogue,” Ro says. “Yeah, that is not good.”
“It’s not like you can talk.” Bianca grins. “What would you be if you two came out as official? RoRi, RiRo.”
