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“Just like your marriage,” Calvin added. “Ava, go inside. It’s time for me to talk to my sister alone.”
I thought she would fight him on it, but all Ava did was nod and leave us. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t want to be alone with Calvin until I was. My heart stuttered as I faced him down.
“Right when Ifinallyget everything, you have to ruin it. I don’t know how you found him, but I don’t buy your little love story. I know he only cares about making me mad, and he’ll never care about you.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Oh, I’m not. I know how you work.” He stepped closer, now in my face. “You always have to have something from me because you can’t accept that you’re second best.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Not enough, apparently. Because you’re still in my way. And I will stop atnothingto be sure you get what you deserve.”
Something about his voice, the dark tone of it, the way he glared, sent me back to when we were kids, when he would push me down the playground stairs for interrupting him or yell at me for being in the way.
Back then, he’d just been a kid. Now, he hadpower.He’d taken away my job and my health insurance. He was trying to ruin my neighborhood.
And mylife.
What else was he capable of? What would he do if he found the few people I cherished? The ones who liked me for me?
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” A hand clamped around my arm, pulling me away from Calvin’s too-close position in front of me. Levi’s voice was angry and when I turned to him, my breath caught. His eyes were narrowed, his chest puffed up. He looked like he was one word away from punching Calvin.
He was this madfor me.
And while it shouldn’t have, it filled me with a warm feeling that someone cared enough to get this angry for me.
“I think I’m talking to my little sister.”
“Actually, you’re talking to mywife. And I don’t tolerate your bullshit like everyone else does.”
“You’re really getting defensive overher? You do realize who you married, right?”
“I’m very aware of who I married. The only person fucking lost isyou,so let’s clear a few things up. Amy is mywife, and I’m in love with her. If I ever catch you intimidating her like that again, I’ll show you exactly what a weak little bitch you are. Do I make myself clear?”
“T-this isn’t wrestling in freshman year anymore.”
“I’m always up for a rematch, Calvin. Especially when you mess with someone I love.”
“You can’t touch me.”
“Can I not? Remember, Calvin, it took one call for me to shut down your little revenge tactic on your sister, and you cut all control you had on her when you fired her. And I’ll be sure you can’t do anything else to her.”
“And when you’re done with her?”
“You’ll be waiting a long fucking time for that.”
Calvin’s eyes widened and then his anger returned.
I didn’t have time to feel anything about Levi’s declaration. All I knew was that my fear was back and my stomach was roiling with unease.
“W-we should go,” I said, grabbing Levi’s arm. “I think I’ve hit my limit of drama.”
Levi turned to me, his expression softening the second his eyes met mine. “Okay,” he said. “Lead the way.”
“What, you’re just leaving?” Calvin demanded.
“Yes,” I said. “I just wanna go home.”