Page 86 of The Confidant

Now that Max is out of earshot, his tension is riding high.

I give him a frown. I know things didn’t mesh between my family with Max and Trevor. Daniella eyed them like sides of beef the whole time they were helping her move. So much for her boyfriend supposedly being her One. She would have been devastated if that were the case. Not flirting.

Sophia gave them wary smiles with a lot of concerned looks at Maman.

Suzette welcomed them with open arms but gave me a good heads-up.

Apparently, Maman is okay with Tera but considers Trevor and Max as unwanted additions that will cause me trouble. Suzette warned me that she’s hoping to convince me to ship them out. Finding all of that out while they were standing right next to me was a slap in the face.

When they found out Tera was pregnant, Maman’s eyes narrowed and stayed on Max and Trevor as if they were a threat.

It looks like this will be an uphill battle all the way. She’s been calling me more often and being nosier about everything in my life. It’s beginning to drive me crazy. I shut down anything negative she brings up about Max and Trevor. As if she knows them from a single look. She didn’t even talk to them.

I don’t really talk about them because I’m not in love with them. We have no problems that we can’t hash out ourselves. Does that mean we’re at each other's throats nonstop? No. We have our own way of living, and it’s nobody’s business.

Suzette gets it, and I already know Addie does.

Juggling all of that on top of a sex trafficking ring, Matthias men all over town, South’s demented courtship of Shade, and my angel’s penchant for trying to take care of problems while hiding in the background, I’ve had my hands full. Not to mention making sure Tera eats, her nausea isn’t bad, and all the foot massages and cuddles we’ve fit in.

That stress can all stop now.

The trafficking/drug ring has been disbanded in a permanent way that I don’t feel bad about in the least. Shade and South are married and spend the majority of their time at home doing God knows what. Amanda has basically adopted Tera and worships the ground she walks on. Gabriel has promised to keep Tera safe, no matter what, and out of any further ‘business’.

Everything is all wrapped up in a pretty bow, and now I can pay my dues. I’m already picturing Addie forcing me to do something embarrassing in retaliation for the extended silence that’s stretched between us.

Unfortunately, the rest of the family has Trevor on edge about meeting my favorite sis. I know Max is planning on glaring and not talking to her. I want to see how long he lasts against Addie’s persistent happiness.

“Addie calls you two the frosting and sprinkles on the angel cake, Trevor. What do you think?”

“I think I’m glad we live here instead of near your mother,” he returns with a scoff.

My jaw ticks at his response, but I don’t comment. I can’t exactly defend Maman’s point of view. Especially when she told me over the phone that she wants us all to move to Louisiana so we can be closer.

I don’t want to imagine what that would be like. My flat-out refusal to move hurt her feelings. Something I try to avoid as much as possible while maintaining my independence. It’s a rough road, but our comfort has to matter more than her need to micromanage my life.

Max comes back, looking confused.

“Well?” Trevor raises a brow at him.

“Um, that’s not a tattoo shop,” Max gives me a worried look. “Are you getting Alzheimer's or something?”

“What are you talking about?” I stare back, baffled.

“That’s a crafts store, man,” he replies helplessly.

“What?” I scoff in disbelief and stand to check it out. “Addie and her damn pranks. Why am I surprised at this? It’s right up her alley.”

“She jokes a lot?” Tera bounces next to me with bright eyes. Max and Trevor follow, having a low discussion farther away. I notice Max looks concerned but try to brush it off.

He doesn’t know how far Addie will go to sell a prank. I once came to work, and my entire office had been transformed into a plushy raccoon haven. She even dressed one up with my own clothes to play me, glasses included. The rest were dressed as '80s exercise idols.

“Nonstop,” I sigh. “Nothing harmful or crazy. I bet she’s hiding to surprise us. I usually scare her when we meet up as a joke. And I haven’t told her Trevor or Max’s names, just to drive her crazy. She’s probably ready to enact her revenge.”

My resigned humor fades the closer we get.

Max is right.

The store has been turned upside down. Instead of a counter, I see shelves of yarn displayed. The construction is complete, and a sign proclaims that they’re opening soon.

---