Page 54 of Words I Couldn't Say
“I’ll cut your nuts off!” he declared, making slashing motions with his weapon of choice.
The boisterous activity around the dining table instantly came to a halt as all eyes came to me. Mouths twitched, eyes shifted, and I can’t deny that my balls retracted into their protective sac.
Sierra leaned over and placed her hand over his, lowering it and the knife before she safely discarded it from his little grip. “Pacey, that’s not very nice,” she scolded while obviously struggling to not laugh at her youngest son.
Pacey passed a frown back and forth between his parents. “But Dad said it first!” he protested.
Jeremy picked his own knife up and pointed it at me. “You heard the kid.”
Sierra rolled her eyes in my direction, waving him off in a shrug that said I shouldn’t be surprised—or worried. Ava had always been Daddy’s little girl, but the littlest Banks apparently possessed his personality.
“Okay, as much as Tucker and I would love to stick around and see what other threats you Banks men can come up with, I have a long day tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep,” Ava said, throwing her napkin down and scooting her chair back from the table.
Flynn scoffed. “Sure. More like booty sleep.”
Ava’s mouth fell open. “Flynn!” Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes darted around the table.
Her parents weren’t naïve to what we were doing, but that didn’t mean she deserved to be called out in front of her entire family. Especially in front of Pacey, whose eyes were now wide and questioning. It was only a matter of time before he asked what booty meant.
Eli shook his head at Flynn. “Not cool, man.”
Jeremy gave his oldest son a light smack on the back of the head, but I was the one who addressed him.
“Outside.”
Flynn didn’t move a muscle.
“Now.”
He looked at his parents, no doubt hoping they’d save him, but he was out of luck.
Jeremy just shook his head. “You’re on your own on this one.”
With a huff, Flynn pushed back from the table and stalked outside. Before I could stay anything, he folded his arms and glared at me. “I don’t know what the big deal is. Everyone knows Ava spends the night with you every night. And we all know you’re not just having innocent sleepovers.”
“And that’s your business why?”
“Uh, maybe because she’s my sister?”
“Which is exactly why you should be keeping your mouth shut. If you’re going to be any kind of man, you must respect women. That includes your sister. Embarrassing her like that in front of her family is uncalled for, and it wasn’t cool. What she and I do in private is just that—private. It’s between the two of us, and when you grow up and fall in love with someone, you’ll want it to be private, too.”
“You’re in love with her again?” Flynn asked.
I groaned. Naturally, that was the part of what I’d said that he latched on to. Still, I grinned at him. “Never stopped, buddy.”
“Good. Because like Pacey and Dad said…” His threat trailed off.
I slapped a hand on his shoulder. “I get it. I hurt Ava and I’ll be castrated. But, Flynn, you can’t hurt her, either. You got it?”
He nodded. “I didn’t mean to,” he said.
“I know that. But make sure she does, too, okay?”
When we walked back inside, Flynn went straight to Ava. “Sorry, sis. I was just teasing. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
She gave him a tight hug, which caused him to groan as she squeezed him in her tiny arms. “I know, Flynn.”
And, just like that, everything was fine.
We said our goodbyes, and then Ava grabbed my hand, leading me next door and straight to my bed. Our bed. Her eyes shone with playful interest.
“I may have a big date tomorrow, but tonight, I have you. And I definitely need that booty.”
I laughed, falling on top of her and giving her just what she needed.
And maybe, just maybe, going the extra mile so that, when she was out on a date with another man the next day, I’d still be the only man on her mind and in her heart.
