Lost the Handle (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation #8)

Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

Quinn

I may need a new set of siblings.

Posey sits with Zac in her lap as she grins at her phone. Beside her, Shelli is holding back laughter with Roman in her lap while looking from her phone to me then back again. It isn’t enough that I’m getting roasted in our group chat; she has to watch my face too.

All while my phone is going off like a fucking winning slot machine.

Shelli: Y’all, this is so awkward. Ava is big mad, like in full pissed-off peacock mode.

Posey: While our girl Emery is just being Emery. All smiles and happiness. Acting like Ava isn’t even here. It’s insane.

Shelli: It is, and poor Quinn looks like he wants to die.

Owen: Fucking hell, I bet it’s awesome. Has Emery tried to kiss him in front of Ava yet? And if a catfight breaks out, you better record it.

Evan: It better not break out before I get there. Callie is taking forever!

Shelli: I can’t promise anything. Ava looks like she’s about to blow. The tension is so thick!

Posey: I’m just waiting for this to explode. Even Mom and Fallon are being weird, trying to talk to Ava, but Emery keeps bringing the attention back to herself. It’s awesome.

Evan: #TeamEmery

Owen: #TeamFuckAva #TeamEmery

At that, both my sisters snicker, and I glare at them.

P

osey: Now Quinn is getting mad. Sorry, bro. And also #TeamJustWantYouHappy

Shelli: I think he might hate us a bit. #TeamEmery

They’re right. It’s fucking mayhem in here, and I can’t deal with everyone.

Me: All of you do remember she hurt me, left me, right?

I sigh heavily as I look up to meet Posey’s gaze. She gives me an apologetic smile, and I just shrug. I expect nothing less. Everyone loves to laugh at my expense. It’s because they’re jealous I’m a genius and Mom’s favorite. Everyone wants to be Mom’s favorite.

But that title belongs to me. #HaHaMomLovesMeMore

Then my phone is sounding once again.

Owen: Yeah, my bad. #TeamQuinn

Posey: #TeamWhateverMakesYouHappy

Evan: #TeamQuinn

Shelli: I’ll always be #TeamAdler, but I choose Emery over Ava every second of the day. She hurt you, but I think she came back with the intention of fixing things and showing you that she knows she fucked up. No one can miss the way y’all look at each other. It’s real.

As my siblings all like Shelli’s text, I roll my eyes and tuck my phone into my back pocket. I don’t have a medal in the mental gymnastics it would take to dissect that text. I think it’s because I know Shelli’s right. I shake my head, ignoring that like I have been ignoring everything in my life.

It doesn’t work, but I like to fool myself into thinking it is.

As they all claimed, the room is tense, and everything feels off. It’s awkward as fuck. Emery was here before I arrived with Ava. My soon-to-be bride didn’t say shit to me the whole way here, just typed on her phone. Even now, she stands beside me with her phone out, typing away. She gets away with it since everyone knows she’s on call for the ER today. I’m the only one who knows she’s texting Yvette, and I don’t give two shits.

Because I’m doing everything I can not to look at Emery.

“What are we waiting for?” Ava asks, and I almost jump like I was caught watching Emery color with Zac. If Ava knows, she doesn’t let on. I’m leaning against the counter in the kitchen, where everyone is gathered. My sisters, Emery, and the kids sit at the table while Mom and Fallon move around the kitchen, getting dinner prepared. Dad, Lucas, Aiden, and Boon are probably off hiding somewhere. If I weren’t worried that Emery would say something to Ava, I’d be with them. My dad didn’t even ask me to go with him. I think he knew. I just hope my being here is enough.

It’s a stupid thought, but I’m holding on strong.

I glance over at Ava. She’s wearing a dark blue Dior sundress that goes to her knees and leaves her strong arms on display. Her hair is down, with pieces pulled back from her face to show off her dark-rimmed glasses. Her eyes are sharp, her face full of annoyance as she looks on expectantly. “My brother and Callie. They’re running late.”

“Do we have an ETA?”

At her question, I don’t miss the way everyone glances over at her. I meet my mom’s eyes, and she doesn’t look very pleased. I very quickly answer, “They should be on their way.”

“Good. I’d like to eat before I get called in. I’m sure they’ll be reaching out soon.”

“Oh, your salad is ready, Ava. I can add some steak on top,” Mom says, but Ava waves her off. She smiles at my mom, and it throws me. Wow, she’s trying today. That’s weird.

“No, I’ll wait. I’m just hungry.”

“Eat more than a salad, and you wouldn’t be,” Shelli says with a sweet smile. “I mean, you’ve got a banging body, but I’d rather have a tummy than live off lettuce.”

Ava smiles tightly at her. “I have to be in good shape to make it around the ER.”

“Of course, she’s only teasing,” Posey says, cutting Shelli with a look that has our older sister pressing her lips together. I’m not sure whether it’s to hold in her next retort or her laugh.

Yeah, I need new siblings.

Everyone laughs, though it feels forced, and Ava looks away, not laughing. I exhale, wishing to be anywhere but here. When I feel Emery’s gaze on me, I can’t stop myself from meeting her eyes. She gives me a small, supportive smile, and I wish that my heart didn’t trip over itself. Or that the damn butterflies in my gut didn’t choose this moment to salsa dance.

Of course, she looks fucking stunning. She’s wearing a cute little black sundress that hugs her tits in the same way I want to. Her hair is down, all her curls wild over her shoulders and along her spine. The back of the dress is open, showing off the long expanse of her gorgeous back. A back I want to nibble on, lick, and bite into when I’m nailing her from behind.

“Since I’m not one to drop hints or beat around the bush, and I’m never sorry for being forward. Maybe dump your fiancée so I can be on the receiving end of you moaning my name and coming all over me. It’s way more fun, don’t you think?”

The most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life.

I want to be embarrassed; I want to feel like shit that she saw me the way she did, but I don’t. I wish I could be as bold as her. Throw caution to the wind and take what I fucking want. Jump, and pray I land on my feet and don’t fall to my death. I’ve always admired that about Emery.

Hell, I admire everything about her.

I feel Ava staring a hole in the side of my face. When I meet her pointed gaze, she arches a brow at me. I shrug and take a page from Emery’s petty book. “What’s Yvette going on about?”

Ava’s eyes narrow. And leave it to my sisters, because Posey asks, “Who’s Yvette?”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Ava moves her gaze from me to my sisters, that fake fucking grin on her face. “My roommate.”

“Oh, is that why you aren’t living with Quinn yet?” Shelli asks, mischief in her eyes.

Ava swallows, and I can tell she’s hating the attention. All the special women in my life are waiting for an answer, and funnily enough, she nods. “Yes, we’ve lived together since we were eighteen. I didn’t want to leave her high and dry—or pay for a place I’m not staying in.”

Not that she ever plans on moving in with me, despite what we tell our families. Mom, being Mom, says, “How kind of you. It must be hard to go from living with someone you’re so close with to living with a new husband.”

Oh, Mom, if only you knew how close they are.

I snort at that, and Ava throws me a dark look. Returning her attention to my mom, she smiles, but then she pauses. I watch as her eyes narrow, and she points at the photo collage in the middle of the kitchen. It’s of all the Assassins kids. Well, the OG ones that my mom and dad are super close to. I take in the photos of my siblings and me in different pictures with all the Brooks kids, Tate Odder’s kids, the Allen sisters’ kids, and more. In the center, though, is a photo of Emery and me. It was when we were about to go to the Jonas Brothers concert. My lips are on her cheek, her face bright and rosy. Her eyes are wide, full of excitement and desire. My hand rests at her jaw, but even as I’m kissing her cheek, my eyes aren’t shut.

They’re on her.

It’s a very intimate picture that my mom stole from my Instagram and blew up to frame in the kitchen. Not that I am surprised by this. My mom is always taking our photos and blowing them up to put around the house.

A lump forms in my throat when I move my eyes back to Ava. She makes a huffing noise that I know means she’s not impressed by the photo. Posey doesn’t miss it and narrows her gaze.

This isn’t going to be good.

“That’s us and all the kids from the team our dad played on,” Posey informs her, and Ava slowly nods.

“Yes, and a photo of Quinn kissing Emery.”

Yup. This place is about to blow.

I can’t look at Emery. I am sure she’s stretching or doing jumping jacks to get ready for the fight. Or maybe even finding the best knife to use from the knife block.

I should have warned Mom to hide those.

Fallon clears her throat as she waves Ava off. “Yes, but all the kids grew up together. They’ve all always been very tight. I mean, my eldest is married to Shelli. We’re very close-knit.”

“Not helping, Fallon,” I mutter, but I don’t think anyone hears me.

“Sure,” Ava says, deadly calm. “But that photo was taken, when? Judging by your hair, it was only a couple years ago.”

“Five,” I answer, my heart hammering in my ears.

“Yes, which means that’s around the time you two became more than friends. Correct?”

I press my lips together, but then I answer. “Correct.”

She nods, her brows furrowed and her lips in a thin line. She looks over at me, and I know I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth. “I don’t know. Seems inappropriate for there to be a photo of you kissing your ex in your family home when you’re engaged to someone else who comes to this house.”

It’s so quiet, you could hear a puck drop. My heart hammers in my chest as I say, “This is my mom’s home. While I am always welcome here, I don’t have any say in what is on the walls.”

“But your mom is a very accommodating woman,” she says, her voice sickly sweet. “I’m sure if you said you didn’t like it, she’d take it down.”

“Who says he doesn’t like it?”

At the sound of Emery’s voice, my stomach drops. I look over just in time to see her turning in her seat. She reminds me of that James Franco GIF where he turns, grinning ear to ear, and then winks. She has nothing but mischief on her face. Of course, she winks at Ava, her eyes full of wicked intentions. “It’s a great picture. We were very happy.”

Ava bristles beside me. “Yes, but you’re his ex. As his fiancée, I don’t appreciate it.”

Emery’s lips curve even higher, and I see the fire she’s about to burst into shining in her gray depths. “You may be his fiancée, but I am his future.”

Well. Fuck. Me.