Two Bar Mitzvahs (No Weddings #3)(22)

Did I feel bad about my sisters and Hannah calling her Selfish Bitch? Fuck no. I didn’t like being surprised in the hallway earlier. Madison should’ve known that would set me off. And besides, she’d put me through the ringer years ago. Madison had earned the nickname. The vulnerable side she’d shown at the coffeehouse last week was too new—foreign.

It would take a lot more than that for me to trust she could be different.

***

The ride back to my place was quiet with the wind tunnel around my bike and helmets on our heads, which gave us both mental space to process what had happened at the country club. Hannah didn’t say much during dinner prep or the main course, but I didn’t want to have a heavy conversation in front of the guys. Yet, even with Ben and Mase being in rare comedic form, her difference escaped no one’s notice.

I began to worry, and was about to say something, when Mase spoke up.

“Hannah, you okay? You’re poking that fish like you expect it to swim away at some point.” Mase slipped a scrap under the table to a whining Ava. The sounds of chomping quickly followed.

Hannah glanced at me like I understood.

And I thought I did, if being unsettled was the source of her hardened expression and quiet demeanor. Sure as f*ck was for me.

She shifted her gaze to Mase. “Yeah. Just got to see the notorious Selfish Bitch from afar.”

Ben choked on the wine he’d been swallowing. “What? Who’s ‘Selfish Bitch?’”

“Madison,” I muttered as I scowled at my empty plate.

The guys stared hard at Hannah. Ben put his wineglass down. “Hannah, that ‘Selfish Bitch’ could only hope to be anything remotely close to you.”

Mase gave a single hard nod. “Never liked her. Cold. Calculating.”

I agreed with Mase and Ben. “Is that what’s wrong? They speak the truth, babe. You are amazing.”

She let out a hard sigh and pushed back from the table, straightening. “No, it’s not like that. I’m just pissed. I’m mad that she may be trying to hurt Cade. The business. What we’re all working so hard to create.”

“Madison can’t hurt me. She can’t hurt us.”

Hannah’s gaze dropped down to her plate, frowning.

Frustrated at seeing her unfazed by our words, I scraped my chair back and stood. “That’s it.” I scooped Ava up into my arms. “My room. Now.”

I towered beside her, pointing in the direction of the hall. When all Hannah did was glance up at me, raising her eyebrows with a challenging expression, I plopped Ava into her lap, yanked her chair back, and lifted Hannah out of it, puppy and all.

Hannah squealed, then laughed as Ava drowned her face in puppy-bath licks on our way down the hall. I shouldered through my half-open bedroom door, kicked it shut, and leaned over the bed, carefully depositing my cargo on it. Ava raced around on the comforter, tail wagging on her fuzzy little body as she vibrated with excitement.

Hannah grinned. “What was that all about, Neanderthal?”

“Sudden puppy-love therapy. I’ve heard it’s effective.” I crossed my arms.

Hannah straightened out, reclining on the bed as she extended a welcoming arm toward me. I took her hand and stretched alongside her, kissing her softly. Ava, however, wriggled her cute little ass in between our chests. Then, once she got situated, she collapsed from her effort with a soft chuff.

Ava’s eyes drifted shut while Hannah stroked a soft ear before kissing it.

Not wanting our sudden happiness to subside, I lifted Hannah’s fingers and kissed the back of her knuckles. “I meant what I said. You are amazing. You are everything to me.”

“You are my world too. I’m just frustrated. On how to protect you from her. It doesn’t matter to me what she said to you at the coffeehouse. About her having changed. The stunt she pulled at the country club doesn’t show it. I don’t trust her.”

When she exhaled on a heavy sigh, I tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her gaze to mine. “You don’t have to trust her. Hell, I don’t. Just trust me. Believe in my ability to protect us—to handle everything.” I leaned forward, careful not to disturb Ava, and kissed Hannah, long and slow.

When I pulled away, she said, “I’m sorry little things keep throwing me. Especially surprises from our past.”

Irritated that any shit from my past was affecting Hannah, I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. I had to stay calm, bolster her. Not get sucked under by it. Because the damned surprises were throwing me too. “No, Hannah. Don’t apologize.” I shook my head. “Pissed and frustrated, but staying here to fight with me—that’s being strong.”

She lifted a corner of her mouth in an attempt to smile but it fell. “I hate that you have to see her. I don’t like any authority she has over us.”

“She doesn’t have authority over us. Not real power.”

“Okay, but I can’t promise that I won’t get frustrated. Or angry, if she keeps pulling stunts like she did today. Or want to knock Madison on her ass.” She gave out a dry laugh. “I may need more puppy therapy.”

With care not to wake Ava, I lifted her limp body and tucked her into a far corner of the bed, up against the pillows. Then I sidled next to Hannah. “Actually, if we have this discussion again, we need to ramp up the method of therapy.”