Page 53 of Sinfully Yours

"Define weird," I say, reaching for a piece of bread from the basket in the middle of the table. I rip off a bite, chewing far too aggressively, like that will somehow end this conversation.

Dean just lifts an eyebrow, which is the equivalent of sayingdon't play dumb with me.

Ryan, of course, takes a different approach. He grins and leans his elbows onto the table, voice turning smug. "You're avoiding the question."

"I'm not avoiding anything."

"You are," Nate chimes in, smirking. "Which means there's something to avoid."

Oh, my God. This is a nightmare.

I swallow the too-dry piece of bread, stalling. "We're… fine," I say finally. "Everything is fine."

"Uh-huh." Ryan narrows his eyes. "That sounded very not fine."

"It's fine," I repeat, trying not to sound like a malfunctioning robot.

Dean crosses his arms, clearly skeptical. "You don't seem sure about that."

"Maybe because I didn't expect my entire family to suddenly develop a deep interest in my love life."

Nate chuckles, resting his chin on his hand. "Well, it's not every day you date a guy you supposedly can't stand."

I hate how perceptive they are.

"That was years ago," I mutter, stirring my iced coffee even though I have no intention of drinking it. "And he was a jerk. He isn't anymore."

Ryan's eyes sharpen instantly. "What does that mean?"

I internally curse myself.Stupid. That was stupid.

"Uh…" I flounder, trying to find a way to backtrack, but it's too late. They're all locked in.

Nate, watching me closely, suddenly grins. "Holy shit."

"What?" I snap, as if I don't already know.

He just shakes his head, delighted. "You really like him."

Ryan's eyebrows shoot up. "Ava…"

Dean exhales heavily, rubbing his temple. "Christ."

I groan, dropping my head into my hands. "Why are you all acting like this is a crisis?"

Ryan looks at me like I just suggested befriending a serial killer. "Because it is, Ava. This is Liam Carter. The same Liam Carter who used to get under your skin so badly that you once threw a drink at him at Nate's birthday party."

"It was one drink!" I huff. "And it was just water!"

Dean, ever the realist, cuts in. "But it was on purpose."

I throw my hands in the air. "I was eighteen!"

Ryan shakes his head, still looking unconvinced. "So, what changed?"

I open my mouth. Then close it.

Because I don't know.

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