Page 55 of The Loves We Lost

Avery does as she asks without wondering about the request, even though it’s like ninety in the shade.

Viola watches Avery skip up the drive, and when she steps inside, Vi turns back to us. “Don’t you ever talk about me like that in front of Avery, both of you. In fact, don’t ever talk about me like that, period. Miles, I’m not property you pissed on for ownership. And Anthony, it’s been a year since we went on a fewdates. That’s all there’s ever going to be, so I would prefer it if you respected me as a friend.”

Anthony schools his expression. “I’m sorry, Vi. Didn’t mean to cause you trouble.”

“Thank you,” Vi says.

I grin. “Gotta be honest, I’m not gonna stop putting my arm around you or saying the shit you’re too nice to say to people yourself.”

Viola shakes her head, but I see the corner of her lips twitch in a smile.

“We got a report of the bikes coming into town,” Anthony says. “Wasn’t sure if it was the trouble you faced before you left. They came back that night, but they made one of my men out before they got off their bikes and sped off. Lost ’em on the way out of town. I’m assuming this is the outlaw they were looking for, from the doorbell camera footage.”

“I am,” I say.

“I was talking to Viola,” Anthony says.

“I know,” I reply. But a small voice nags at me. I’m about to leave. And Anthony, a cop who’s armed, comes rushing to help Vi, thinking she needs it. But maybe knowing this asshole exists makes me feel a little better about leaving the two of them behind here. So I take a deep breath for a moment. “Misunderstanding. But I’m pretty damn sure she’s safe now.”

Anthony looks up at the house, where the rest of my brothers are now walking towards us from behind the house. Avery is on Niro’s back, shouting at him to go faster.

“We drove Vi and Avery back, and today we’ll add some security measures to the house.”

Anthony looks to Vi. “He’s not staying?”

Vi shakes her head. “No, he’s not.”

Three words, but, fuck, the way she said them, there could have been a thousand. They make me feel less of a man, eventhough it’s one hundred percent her call to come back here. Makes me feel like I’m abandoning her, when she’s the one who left me.

I guess she feels the same, seeing I won’t give up being an Outlaw for her. We’re stuck in the same old stalemate.

“Have you still got my number?” Anthony asks.

Vi nods. “I do.”

“Use it. I’m assuming this isn’t trouble then?”

“It’s not. I’m grateful they’re helping with the additional security.”

Anthony studies Vi for a second but stops as Avery reaches us, still on Niro’s shoulders.

She offers Vi the sweater. “There you go, Momma.”

Vi takes it. “Thanks, pumpkin. And thank you for stopping by, Anthony.”

As Anthony walks back to his cruiser, Niro lowers Avery to the ground.

I tell Vi, “You two should get inside.”

“I’m not living the rest of my life hidden away,” Viola says calmly, before taking Avery’s hand and doing as I say.

“We getting on our bikes, or are we hanging for a while?” Halo asks.

“We’re hanging for a while,” Niro says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Vex needs to do some upgrades. Walk with me.”

We walk away from the house, from our bikes, from my heart.

“You have to persuade her to stay in Jersey. She can’t stay here in Pennsylvania,” Niro says.