Page 90 of Devious Love

With that, he hurries upstairs.

Head in my hands, I focus on breathing. It’s hard; the air in the foyer is thick and venomous. Feeling as though I’m suffocating, I drop my hands and step out onto the porch.

Dad joins me a few seconds later, and when he doesn’t speak right away, I light up a cigarette and take a drag. Then, I hold the pack out to him. He pulls one out as well.

We stand on the porch side by side, smoking. For several minutes, he doesn’t speak, but I know it’s coming. That’s how my dad’s always been.

“You love her?” he asks.

My throat tightens, making it impossible to speak, but he doesn’t need a response. He’s always been able to read me.

A humorless laugh escapes his lips. “Of course. How could you not?” He turns to face me, and I mirror him. “She’s worth it? Because this will complicate things. For everyone, but especially you two.”

Without hesitation, I nod. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Dad nods and puts his heavy hand on my shoulder. “Then don’t fuck it up, son.”

CHAPTER 24

her and me

DOMINIC

Age 22

November

I turnthe key with a sigh, and the engine of my Tahoe goes silent. The back seat is filled with two duffels and a bunch of miscellaneous stuff, and the trunk is full of boxes. Sitting here now, looking at the building in front of me, I feel both hopeful and relieved.

A new place. A fresh start. After two weeks in hell, it’s a fucking blessing.

I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white as Monica’s words replay in my head. Remi texted the photo she took to Matt, who was helping Monica prep for Mia’s birthday dinner when it came through. Monica was livid, and she’s been a raging bitch ever since, treating her daughter as if she committed a crime against humanity while I’m getting the silent treatment.

She’s always been hard on Mia, but now? Fuck, I’d do anything to switch places with her.

The passenger door slams shut, bringing me back to reality. I jump out and close my door, then join Matt at the trunk. He grabs a few boxes and steps aside, letting me do the same.

“Thank you for helping me,” I tell him again as we head to the stairs to my third-floor apartment.

He scoffs, adjusting his grip on the boxes. “What are friends for?”

The simple response eases my nerves. Things are still strained between us, but I have hope we’ll find our way back to the friendship we’ve had our whole lives.

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows over the balcony walkway as I stop in front of the door marked number 17 and set down my boxes so I can dig out the key.

Matt walks in first, scanning the space as he moves deeper. It’s not much—a single bedroom, a tiny kitchen, a bathroom, and a little balcony—but it’s clean, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of light. I’m so fucking happy I have this place.

We put the boxes on the floor near the couch then go back for another load. When we’ve brought all my stuff in, Matt rocks on his heels, avoiding my gaze for a moment. Eventually, he sighs and says, “You really think this is gonna make it easier?”

I slip my hands into my pockets. “What do you mean?”

“You moving out.” He holds out an arm, gesturing to the apartment. “You think this is gonna change how my mom feels? You think this will be enough to keep her from harassing Mia?”

I clench my jaw. “It should make it easier for both of us, because even though we’ve given her no reason to fixate on it, it seems like your mother’s main concern is hearing us fuck.”

Flinching, Matt rubs a hand down his face. “Don’t talk about sex and my sister in the same sentence.”

“Sorry. This whole situation is ridiculous.”