Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

“Eh, that’s normal women who see it as an act of love. I’m with a strong-willed woman no one has ever done anything for.”

I take a deep breath and rack my brain for how I’m going to handle this. She’s going to yell, but I can handle yelling. Since I decided to do this and everything has been taken care of, she has been so much happier. She isn’t worried about making ends meet, and she’s living. I mean, she closed the shop to go to Barcelona because she wanted to. I knew then I was doing the right thing. She just has to realize that. She has to realize I did it because I am unequivocally in love with her.

“Well, I suggest you get ready. She did not seem happy, and Callie, that sweet thing, was in the background trying to defend you, but Aviva wasn’t having it.”

Callie. That’s my partner in crime.

“It’s okay. I can handle Aviva.”

I hang up and put my phone on the seat. I don’t know if I want to go to her house or mine. Maybe she’s sleeping and isn’t thinking about what I did. She probably isn’t that mad. Probably happy it was me and not some stranger.

Who am I kidding? She’s gonna skin me alive.

I reach for my phone and dial Chandler’s number. “Hey, you okay?”

“Well… Eh, listen, a little backstory. I paid Callie’s gym fees for the next two years, I paid off Aviva’s mom’s medical bills, and then I bought her the shop. How do I keep her from killing me?”

I’m met with silence. “So, do you need the plane to leave the country? Or should I just start planning the funeral? Am I on the life insurance policy?”

“Chandler, be real. Surely she can’t be that mad.”

He scoffs. “If she is anything like how Amelia has described, I think she is that mad and you are that dead.”

“But I did it because I love her.”

He lets out a long breath. “Dude, I know, but she isn’t going to see it that way. She’s gonna see it as pity because that’s all she knows.”

“Whatever. That’s bullshit. She loves me,” I say, and I’m almost to the house when I see Aviva’s car. “Well, shit.”

“What?”

“She’s here.”

“Well, nice knowing you. I’ll tell Carter and Hannah stories of you—”

I hang up and park behind her car. If I block her in, she can’t leave. I get out and lock up the truck after grabbing my bag. I don’t want to be yelled at, but I’m ready for it. I know what I did was for the best, and she’ll realize that once I explain myself. She’ll be okay. We’ll be fine. I’m not worried at all.

When I reach for the door, I pause. What if it’s not going to be fine? What if she freaks out on me and does something drastic? I mean, I knew better. I did, but I didn’t care. From the moment I met her, all I wanted was to make her happy. I wanted to make her smile because she needed to. No one as beautiful as she is should be so sad all the time. Not when I have the means to help her. It makes sense to me. Surely it will to her?

Okay, now I’m worried.

I push the door open, and she’s there, on the couch. Her eyes are wild, and her lips are pressed together firmly as she stands slowly.

“Oh, hey.”

“Don’t oh, hey me,” she snaps, and I nod as I shut the door.

“Okay,” I say. “What’s up?”

She glares. “What’s up? Are you serious, Nico? How could you?”

“What?” I know I shouldn’t be acting like this, but maybe if I play dumb for a moment, she’ll calm down.

Wishful thinking.

“Nico, stop!” she yells, her eyes burning with rage. “You lied.”

I hold up my palms, shrugging. “Eh, not technically.”

“No, it’s very technical.”

“I didn’t do it. My mom did.”

“With your money! I don’t even know what you were thinking. I didn’t even think you could lie!”

I give her a look. “I’m autistic, Aviva. I can lie just fine.”

She glares. “What the hell, Nico?”

“What? I didn’t lie about anything else. Just that.”

“That doesn’t make this better. How could you do this when you know I don’t take charity? I don’t want to owe you anything!”

“You don’t,” I say simply. “It’s yours, no strings attached. I don’t want anything but for you and Callie to be happy.”

“I don’t need your money to be happy! I just need you.”

“Well, I come with the money. And the thing is, Aviva, you were drowning. I have all this money. I wanted to make sure you were taken care of no matter what happens between us. You’ve been struggling for a while. It’s time for some good to come your way.”

She looks as if I slapped her. “How dare you? I am not a charity case.”