Whatever It Takes (Bad Reputation Duet #1)(23)

My chest tightens again. I figured as much, and then I fixate on something else he said. “So…does everyone call him Lo?” I try to straighten my glasses.

“Mostly.” He watches Maximoff shake a comic book—oh, the baby actually slobbers on the corner, trying to gnaw on the pages of Young Avengers.

“I’ve been calling him Loren. Is that bad?”

He almost smiles again. “You’re his fucking sister. I don’t think he’ll care either way.”

I hesitate to ask something more, but I just let it out in one breath, “Do you think he’s happy I’m here?”

His hardened eyes, like stone, nearly soften. “These relationships we have with each other—they’re not fucking easy, but I wouldn’t want to lose a single one. I think Lo feels the same.”

“…is now a good time to be here?” I wonder. “Lily just had a baby—”

“Yes,” he says deeply, strongly, full of heart. “Lo’s the best I’ve ever seen him.” It reminds me that Loren, or Lo (that’ll take some getting used to), struggles with alcohol addiction, hereditary, on his father’s side.

The worst part: I’ve actually watched him relapse. The paparazzi never missed a beat.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opens, Lo hugging Lily against his side. She’s much shorter than him, and her limbs seem ganglier next to his defined biceps, all lean muscles. They stop at the rug, zeroed in on their baby Maximoff chewing the comic book.

“Close your eyes,” Lily says quickly and then nearly jumps on Loren’s back to shield his view of their son destroying Young Avengers right in sight.

“It’s too late, Lil,” Lo says. “I’ve seen it.”

I smile as she climbs up his back. Lo holds her like he’s going to take her for a piggyback ride, and her hands fit across his eyes.

“You didn’t see anything!” Lily says.

I wish I could snapshot this and send it to Maggie. My smile fades…or is that wrong? I shouldn’t want to publicize them anymore than they already are. That’s not why I’m here.

Maximoff rips a page.

“Ryke,” Lo groans. “I blame you for this.”

“He’s not even crying right now. I’m doing a fantastic fucking job.”

“You gave him a comic book, and he can’t even read yet.”

“He’s starting early then,” Ryke says. “Maybe you should’ve given me his diaper bag or something.”

I listen to them, but their banter isn’t totally registering in my head anymore. I remember that Loren just talked to my mom, which means I could be receiving a one-way ticket to Maine soon.

Lily uncovers Lo’s eyes. “We’re in a store with tons of toys on the walls. You could’ve taken a Green Goblin action figure.”

Lo chimes in, “Or Wolverine, Black Widow, Hulk, Spider-Man—”

“For fuck’s sake, okay. I got it.” Ryke retrieves the ripped and wet comic from Maximoff and then picks him up. The baby giggles, and both Loren and Lily look like proud parents, their smiles infectious.

I shouldn’t be here, I think. They just had a baby. I try to remember what Ryke told me, but my gut is telling me not to impede on their lives too much.

“You should babysit more often,” Lo tells his brother.

“Fucking hilarious.” He hands the baby to Loren, and Lily slides to the floor.

I crumple the muffin paper, finished eating, and when I look up, Loren is suddenly focused on me. I have trouble reading his features.

“Your mom is going to fly out this weekend to talk with you. Until then, you can either stay with us in a guest room or at a hotel. I’ll pay for the expense, no problem.”

It’s not a terrible verdict. My mom will probably reiterate what she’s said this whole time: if you stay here, you’re on your own. You make your own mistakes now.

“A hotel works,” I tell him. “I don’t want to impose any more than I already have.”

His baby squirms in his arms, so much so that I can’t take stock in his expression. Lily ends up taking Maximoff so Loren can continue talking with me.

“If you change your mind, the invite is always open.” And then he asks, “How old are you, by the way?”

“Seventeen.” It’s not like I could hide it much longer.

“That’s what I thought.” He pauses. “You know, Daisy is pretty close to your age.”

Daisy Calloway is nineteen—and Ryke’s girlfriend, and also spontaneous, lively, and so much cooler than I’ll ever be.

Ryke gives his brother a look that I can’t decipher.

Loren adds, “She’d probably love showing you around Philly. Is this your first time here?”

Daisy Calloway? Showing me around? I don’t think she’d be fond of me. I like books. I like scrolling through Tumblr and surfing the internet. I like sitting activities, and Daisy is always seen moving. She’d probably try to take me on a wild adventure, and I’d slow her down.

I nod. “Yeah, but…” I stand up since everyone else is, and I find comfort in my backpack, slinging it on my shoulder. “I’m not sure she’d like me. I mean, I don’t ride motorcycles and…other stuff like that.”