Page 77 of You Weren't Mine Then

“I’m afraid not.”

But she could.

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“You don’t have a restraining order against me yet, right?” she asked as soon as Avery opened the door the next evening. A fresh wreath had been hung over it. “I’m here because you don’t answer my calls.”

“I’m not used to us calling each other, and I’m not interested in speaking to you now.”

“Can I come in?”

“What do you want?”

“To tell you that I’m not in touch with Finn. You can lay off the threats, the restraining order, and let him spend Christmas with his son. Even here, in California.” She looked to the side to check if any of the neighbors were out.

“So, you are in touch with him if you know all this.”

“No, he just updated me and broke it off. Don’t do this, Avery.”

“Don’t tell me how to handle my ex-husband and how to raise my son.”

Ex? That was progress.

“I’m only giving you the relevant information,” she said quietly, trying to keep the conversation’s volume down. They had enough people in their business as it was. “This is what started all this, right? So, I’m telling you it ended.”

“You’ll say anything. You were always after what’s mine.”

“How? How was I always after what’s yours? We hardly see each other, and I wasn’t even here half the time. Avery, you and I both know that we never got along. But you know what? I ignored it. I never confronted you. You know why? Because of my parents. Beside me, you and your parents, and your brother and his wife and kids, are the only family they have. So, I kept the peace, and I never told them to stop calling us sisters when we obviously weren’t. You and I are not my mom and yours. They wanted us to have what they have.”

“How big of you.”

“It’s not big. It’s family.”

“Exactly. Family is off limits, so don’t go for your family’s ex. Leave my ex-husband alone.”

Good thing she didn’t say sisters before misters, or Anne would have broken down in much-needed laughter.

She took a deep breath. “I didn’t go for him, Avery. Not intentionally. And like I said … it’s not happening anymore. I won’t put him, or Max, in this situation. I’m not with him. Although, as you said, he’s your ex-husband.”

“And whose fault is that?”

An Avery punch to the gut. She didn’t know about their past, yet her method was to aim in all directions, and sometimes it hit just where it hurt the most.

Anne breathed out slowly and reminded herself that Avery’s relationship wasn’t her fault.

“You think you know him?” Avery continued. “I’ve handled that man like you never will.”

“What do you want, Avery? You already won. There was no competition, yet you won it anyway. You had it all. You have a son with Finn. Don’t ruin that by messing up your relationship with his dad and the relationship between them. Don’t.”

“I don’t need you to explain family to me. Unlike you, Anne, I didn’t live half my life across the country.”

Jaw punch. One she couldn’t even defend against without revealing the truth about why she moved.

“You’re right.” She gritted her teeth. She wanted to throttle her, but it was easier just letting her feel she had the upper hand. It was too late to change her, and it wasn’t her job. The mold had been cast wrong, and now they would have to deal with her as best as they could and with as little damage to Max as possible. “You already know what to do, Avery. I’m just reminding you not to ruin it for your son.”

Anne took another deep breath. “And I realize you’re hurt. I’m sorry for that part.” She looked at her cousin. A head shorter than her, Avery used to be much prettier, bubblier. But she was alone. She ruined every relationship she had ever had. Anne felt sorry for her. And if Avery had ever treated her as a real sister, she would have felt more guilt over being with Finn.

“Kill me if I understand what he found in all that holier than thou thing you have going.” Avery waved a hand across Anne’s features.

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