“Callie, don’t you dare move.”
Callie is torn; I can see that. I put my sub down and reach out, squeezing her shoulder. “Why don’t you go inside?”
The man points his finger at me. “Who the hell is that?”
“None of your business,” Aviva sneers. “Get inside, Calliope.”
Callie gets up quickly and goes inside, leaving her books and papers outside. I look between Aviva and her dad. The resemblance is there, but so is a lot of disdain. Pretty sure Aviva may rip his eyes out.
“Why’d you go on and do that, sugar?”
“Because I told you, we are done with you. Why are you here? You aren’t welcome,” she says, her voice low and threatening.
I have to admit, I’m sorta turned on.
I find myself standing up and moving toward her. I don’t think the guy is a threat, but just in case, I want her to know I am there. As I come up beside her, she looks at me, and I see the fear in her eyes. Her jaw is tense, and she looks like she might blow a gasket. I don’t know what this guy did, but my heart shatters in my chest for her. Gone is the playfulness and teasing from before.
I have to protect her.
Chapter Seventeen
Aviva
You’ve gotta be kidding me.
I have been thinking nonstop of Nico all week. At first, I was pissed he came into my shop and started a fight. But the more I thought about it, the more I understood. I could have left a note that morning, but I ran because I was scared. I didn’t want to know if he didn’t want me. If he did want me, what was I supposed to do? I’m such a mess, and he’s not. I’ve gone back and forth with myself about calling him and trying to figure things out, but my pride wouldn’t let me. Plus, I told Jaylin I wouldn’t, no matter how much I wanted to.
When I saw him get out of the car, all my anger from him yelling at me and losing his shit on me came back. I knew I couldn’t say anything to him. Wouldn’t say anything. But then I watched him with Callie. It wasn’t the first time, but after being intimate with him, being in his arms and kissed gently… I don’t know, but this time is different. The way he tended to Callie, made sure she understood while also making her laugh, pulled at my heartstrings. Next thing I knew, I was making him a sandwich and pouring him a big cup of Cherry Coke.
When I came out here, it was honestly to give him the sub and go. A thank you without saying the words. I didn’t expect him to ask me out again. I figured after I went wild on him, he’d be bored by me. But he still stared at me with that look. That all-consuming look that sends me over the edge. I know I should resist; I know he won’t want me for long, but I really want to say yes.
And then, of course, because life likes taking me in the ass, my dad shows up.
I just want one thing in my life to go well.
Nico’s hand moves along the small of my back, and I know it’s to let me know he’s here. I appreciate it more than I can ever express, but it would be great if Nico could just leave. I look up at him. He doesn’t look back at me. “You can go.”
His eyes stay on my dad. “Nope, I’m good.”
Why do he and Callie want to send me to an early grave? Dad points to Nico. “Boyfriend?”
“That’s none of your business,” I say sharply, my eyes cutting to his. He looks like absolute shit. All scraggly and dirty. I don’t know where the car came from—oh, wait. Yes, I do. From the money he stole from me. Surprised he didn’t use all of it on drugs. Would have been nice if I could have used it to do the same, but nope, I’m scrambling to make ends meet. “What do you want?”
“I think we need to talk. You’re trying to get me off the damn lease of this place. I own this shop.”
“You own jack shit. This is my shop. You gave it up when you decided to chase your next fix,” I sneer. I swear to God, I have a few choice words for Dustin Sr.
“You can’t take me off.”
“I can, and I have. It’s all legally complete.”
“But it’s not,” he says, his beady brown eyes on me. “I want my share of this business.”
I scoff. “I have run this place, by myself, for nine years. You get nothing.”
He knows this; he’s not stupid. Yet he has to say something to hurt me. “Then I’ll fight you for Callie.”