Page 54 of Joey

I lean forward, squaring up to him as he goes on giving me that infamous Dante Moretti glare. “Like you two have ever let me be around other guys?” I yell. “Wherever I go, whoever I meet, as soon as they hear my last name, guys shrivel up and back off faster than I can blink. You think it’s easy being me, Dante?”

“What about Toby?”

I shake my head. “I don’t like Toby that way.”

Lorenzo remains silent, eyes fixed on the road ahead while Dante practically foams at the mouth. “Someone else then!” Dante shouts.

“I don’t want anyone else. I want Max. I’ve only ever wanted Max, and despite your huge ass ego thinking this is about you, it really isn’t. It issonot about you. It’s about Max and me. Nobody else.”

He grumbles something under his breath and throws himself back into his seat. He’s acting like a petulant child, throwing a fit because I played with his best friend. And I’m the spoiled brat?

My phone rings, and I take it out of my purse, groaning inwardly. If I don’t answer it now, Mo will just keep calling.

“Hey, Mo.”

“Hey, girl. How was your date?”

“Fine.”

“Fine?” She snorts. “Sounds fun. Did you at least pop your cherry?”

“No.”

“No?!” she shrieks. “For fuck’s sake, Joey. What the hell are you waiting for?”

“I can’t really talk right now. I’m in the car with Dante and Lorenzo.”

“Oh, I get it.” She snickers. “So you did?”

“No. It’s not that.” I sigh.

“You’re in the car at 7:45 a.m. with your brothers, and it’s not because they had to come pick you up from a guy’s house?”

“I’ll call you later, Mo.”

“Make sure you do. I can’t wait to hear all the juicy details.”

Then she hangs up, and I go back to glaring at the backs of my brothers’ heads.

* * *

As soon aswe got home, I was marched back into the house like a runaway teen. Ignoring the sympathetic glances from Kat and Anya, I stomped upstairs to my room.

I’m beyond pissed at my brothers right now. I can’t even think straight. I want nothing to do with them, and that includes their wives too. I’m so over being treated like a second-class citizen in this house.

I lie on my bed, unshed tears blurring my vision as I stare at my phone. No word from Max. Not even a text. Nothing. Was last night a lie? All just a part of his possessive asshole routine? Is he like that with all the women he fucks?

I scroll through my recent calls, and my finger hovers over his name. I could call him, right? But ugh! Why should I? He told me to leave.

Someone taps softly at my door.

“Go away!” I shout.

“I would, but I can’t. Your niece is demanding to see you,” Kat replies.

Damn! That sneak brought the big guns. “My niece who is five months old and can do nothing but giggle and squeal?”

“And cry,” Kat adds, laughing. “But, yes, that’s her.”