“It’s exactly fair, fuckhead,” Diesel stormed. “How fucking dare you tell me to use Jana and then cast her aside.”
His eyes narrowing, CJ stiffened.
“Either keep your mouth shut, CJ, or get out,” Aunt Meggie warned.
Although CJ wasn’t happy, he chose the former.
Aunt Meggie looked at Diesel. “Are you and Jana planning to have kids?”
“No. I don’t want children.”
“Youdon’t, but doesshe?” she asked.
There was no way in fucking hell he’d place that type of responsibility on Jana’s shoulders. He could hire a full-time staff for her, but the first time something overwhelmed her, he couldn’t be sure how she’d respond. Rebel was more suited to motherhood, given all her younger siblings.
“Suppose CJ is right, Diesel?” Aunt Meggie asked, unablenotto give that fuckhead validation.
“Jana isn’t a fill-in for Rebel!”
“Suppose that’s not true sub-consciously, son? What’s your end plan? How would you plan on leaving her to be with Rebel? What are you doing to work on yourself? You have a lot of unresolved issues, Diesel. We both know how you handle them, son.”
“That isn’t fair,” Diesel raged. “I haven’t fucked another woman since Jana came back to town.”
“It is quite fair. You may not have slept with anyone else, but you play mind games with Rebel,” she snapped. “Do I need to remind you about Fia? Or the pregnancy announcement?”
“I’m not some immature jerk.”
“Why am I wasting my breath?” she said in frustration. “Your level of delusion cannot be overcome.”
That hurt. “Your low opinion of me warms my heart.”
She made a face at him and folded her arms. Rebel hadn’t stolen her attitude and temper. She’d inherited it from her mother
Tossing her hair and tapping her foot, Aunt Meggie lifted her chin and waited for Diesel’s answer. Wanting to sulk in his room, he glanced at the door.
“I haven’t given you permission to leave, son,” she said.
“I don’t know what the future holds, Aunt Meggie,” Diesel said, having no choice but to relent and offer the brutal truth. “If…” He couldn’t fucking believe he was actually about to say stomach turning fucking words. “If…the…if…Rebel is…is…in—” He swallowed, ashamed and on the verge of tears. Aunt Meggie’s disgust didn’t help him. “I’m sorry.”
“Save your apology,” she barked. “If I overcome my complete and total revulsion and fight to save your miserable life, you better treat my daughter with the utmost respect. Most of all, overcome your self-hatred so you’d love her the way she deserves.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She started off, then halted. “My current anger toward you is solely because of Rebel, Diesel. I want both of you to find different partners. I want Rebel to enjoy her teenage years without planning her life with a grown man. I don’t understand how her crush turned intothis. At the moment, she’s the child. You’re the adult. It’s loathsome and disgusting.”
“I haven’t touched her.”
“I hope by the time Rebel’s eighteen, you and Jana have found common ground and are settled into married life. I hope Rebel sees something in Kaia.”
Diesel balled his hands into fists. “Kaia’s an adult, too.”
“I’m well aware, but his life experience compared to yourscan’tbe compared. Not only are you ten years older than him, you’reyou.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“As long as Rebel’s out of the equation, it’s lovely.”
“I don’t like Kaia.”
