Cheater (Curious Liaisons, #1)(75)

I hugged her as tightly as I could, hoping to at least convey in that hug that I was sorry, so damn sorry.

She relaxed in my arms and kissed me on the cheek. “I can’t say I’m surprised—I know how close you and Avery were.” No accusation tinted her voice, but I couldn’t be sure if she was being honest and kind or passive-aggressive. “I wasn’t surprised at all to hear the good news.”

Please let the good news be the marriage and not some other random made-up story that I had to lie about.

Avery saved me by snaking an arm around my waist and shrugging. “Thanks, Mom. We’re really excited we were able to reconnect.”

“Yeah.” A familiar voice echoed through the kitchen. “And we’re all dying to know how that happened.” Brooke threw back her glass of wine and zeroed in on Avery and me with an intensity that had me wanting to both strangle her and run in the opposite direction. Her hair was dyed a fake red that made her face look harsh, and her dark eye makeup didn’t help, nor did the slutty white dress that showed enough boob and ass to make her look like a prostitute.

“I think”—Avery glanced up at me—“that’s a secret we’d like to keep between us.”

I could have kissed her for that save.

So I did.

Hard.

She gasped against my mouth as I mauled her in my parents’ kitchen and shoved all the doubt anyone may have had about us out the window. Take that, nasty witch.

When we broke apart, Avery’s chest was heaving. God, I wanted to devour her right next to the cheese plate.

Her cheeks bloomed with a pretty pink before she laid her head against my chest and laughed. “Sorry, got a bit carried away.”

Tess sighed happily, then poured more wine. “This really is wonderful—we’ve always wanted Lucas to be a part of our family, and now he will be.”

“Yay,” Brooke said sarcastically from her spot near the bar.

I was about to tell her to shut the hell up when Kayla appeared from around the corner, wearing a dress that was even more scandalous than her sister’s. Red, with a plunging neckline, plus high heels and dark makeup to complete the look.

What the hell was wrong with Avery’s sisters?

“Wow, this is so familiar.” Brooke tapped her chin. “But wait, we just need to switch out the sister.” She sighed. “Maybe next time I’ll get my shot. God knows our kiss was briefer than the one you guys just shared.”

Avery lunged toward her as gasps ricocheted around the room. God, Brooke was such a bitch.

I held her back even as her nails dug into my arm, most likely deflecting her anger toward me to keep from ripping her sister’s head off.

“Brooke,” Avery’s father said, shaking his head. “That’s enough out of you.”

“What did I do?” she asked innocently. “I’m just kidding.”

“The hell you are.” I curled my lip.

Brooke’s eyes widened. I’d had to put up with her shit all through high school when she bullied both Avery and Kayla.

“Apologize,” I demanded, crossing my arms.

The kitchen was silent again.

Avery groaned.

“Now.”

With a sigh and a fake smile, Brooke winked at her sister and said, “I was just kidding, Avery Bug. You’re so lucky to have Lucas Thorn in your bed. Just make sure he stumbles into the right one—we don’t want a repeat of last time.”

She sauntered off, leaving me burning with rage and a heavy, heavy dose of guilt. Because she was right. I did go into the wrong bedroom, and I did pursue the sister of my fiancée. It was my mistake. And now I was paying for it all over again—and so was Avery. Which just made me all the more enraged because I wanted to protect her.

I wanted to love her.

And Avery’s eyes filled with tears.

“Come here.” I tugged her into my arms. “Don’t listen to her, okay?” I knew we had an audience, but my only goal was to make sure Avery didn’t take what her sister had said to heart, because Brooke had no idea just how her comments had hit home.

Because I was a cheater.

I knew it.

Avery knew it.

And she was looking at me like she knew it—like she knew I was one choice away from ruining whatever we had, even though that was the last thing I wanted.

“Let’s go for a walk.” I gripped her hand, grabbed two full glasses of wine, and shoved past Brooke and Kayla, who were already conspiring in the corner—at least that’s what it looked like, though Kayla was wiping tears from her cheeks.

Hell. I was in absolute hell.

“Happy engagement,” Avery muttered. “You know, if this was real, I’d be pissed.”

I froze. “The engagement? Or us?”

“The engagement.” She stopped walking. “I know you’re real—I sleep with you.”

I sighed and kissed her head.

“Once all the family members from both sides are here, we’ll make our apologies and leave,” Avery said in a steady voice. “Austin and Thatch are already planning on giving us an out.”

I’d forgotten they were coming.

At least I’d have one person other than the moms and Avery who didn’t want to kill me, right?