Page 78 of Stand Your Ground

I shrugged, though my stomach bottomed out at the thought. Maven was the only one I’d ever told the whole story to other than my parents.

And Maven was the only one who believed me.

I couldn’t handle it if I told my sister and she reacted the same way my parents did.

“I find it hard to believe she hasn’t put the pieces together,” I said softly, chest aching with the truth in that confession. “But just like Mom, I think she’s afraid to ask me about it. She knows if I tell her, if I confirm her suspicions, then she’ll have to act on that discovery. And just like Mom, she doesn’t want to lose access to their little slice of society.”

Maven’s lips curled. “God, and you wonder why I had such a thorn in my ass about rich people for so long.”

“I never said you werecompletelywrong,” I pointed out. “Only that the actions of your snooty ex were not indicative of the actions of the hot rookie you were being paid to follow around.” I took a sip of my drink. “And I was right. So, you’re welcome.”

“I’m really sorry you have to deal with this,” Mave said, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “It’s not fair. How can I help?”

I sighed. “Just be there with a bottle of wine on the other side of their nuptials. And maybe save a night for me to curl up on your couch — emotional state to be determined.”

“Consider the date saved.”

“Thanks, bestie. Now,” I said, grabbing her hand in mine. “Let’s get back out there with some chicken nuggets in hand before Ava—”

“Oh, no you don’t.” The cute little brat flipped her hand up over my head and twirled me until I was right back at the table. “I am sorry to hear about your terribly misguided mother, but not sorry enough to let you get out of telling me what’s going on with you and Carter.”

“Nothing is going on between me and Fabio.”

Maven smiled sweetly but picked up the nearest utensil. “Lie to me again, and I will stab you.”

“That is a plastic spoon.”

“They say the dullest knives are the most dangerous.”

I laughed through my nose, but then covered my face with my hands and let out a long sigh. “Fine,” I clipped when my hands dropped. I pointed a finger at her. “But you cannot tell a soul, and you need to keep your reaction in check to what I’m about to tell you.”

“We listen and we don’t judge,” she promised. “Although, now I’mveryintrigued.”

“I’m serious about not telling anyone. We signed an NDA.”

Her eyes shot wide as she sipped her wine. “An NDA? Jesus, Liv, what’s going on?”

I chewed my lip. “I’m giving him lessons.”

“In how to fill a cavity?”

“In how to pick up women and please them in the bedroom.”

Maven nearly spit out her wine, and she winced with the effort not to before coughing once she finally swallowed it down. “I’m sorry, I think I just hallucinated. Did you just say—”

“That I’m teaching Carter Fabri to be a sex god in exchange for two-million dollars?” I picked up my cup and tilted it to my lips. “Indeed, I did.”

Maven’s jaw dropped, and she looked around before leaning over the table and whisper-yelling, “What?!Two-milliondollars?!”

“We listen and we don’t judge!”

“I’m not judging! I’m foaming at the mouth for details! SPILL.”

Her eyes were wide as I listed out the full scenario. I told her everything, from when Carter first proposed the idea and I’d looked at him like a psychopath, to our most recent lesson.

And because Maven was my best friend and I’d never left her out of my kinky stories before, I told hereverything.

By the end of it, she was both fanning herself and getting a refill of wine, like she needed to drink to process it all.