“Reb—”
“Don’t ruin it, bro,” Kayce warned, then sat next to Rebel. “Here, let’s watch TikTok while those two sort out your big gift.”
Rebel nodded happily.
Mattie dug her claws into Kaia’s arm and dragged him across the room. “If you confess and make her cry, I’m telling Diesel.”
“She deserves to know,” Kaia returned, sick inside at the prospect of lying to Rebel and Diesel murdering him if Kaia made her cry. As much as he’d enjoyed fucking Fia, he’d never regretted sex more than he did with her. That one night could cost him a future with his dream girl.
“I can’t live with the guilt,” Kaia whispered.
“Then choke on it,” Mattie responded, as evil as ever. “You weren’t even a couple, dummy.”
“She doesn’t feel that way!”
“Yeah, because all of you are stupid,” Mattie spat. “Rebel knows her father and brothers. If you lied to her about one thing and she discovers you lied to her about something else–both major–that will be a dealbreaker.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, too. We’ve talked about it. If you knew how to keep your mouth shut, I’d tell you to ask her why it would be so upsetting to her if she found out you and Fia slept together. But,you,waa-waa-whiner will fold under the pressure.”
“She deserves to know!”
“If you say anything, Diesel will win,” Mattie snapped. “Do you really want to give him that satisfaction?”
He didn’t, but neither did he want to give that motherfucker ammunition. Currently, Diesel’s gun was loaded and cocked, ready to fire the truth of that night to Rebel, no matter how much it hurt her.
“What are you two still talking about?” Suspicion laced Rebel’s tone. If not for her cast, she probably would’ve walked to them. “What do you really have to say, Kaia?”
“You’re right. After he told me what he’s getting you, I decided to warn him not to ruin my celebration by worrying about Kayce’s shopping spree,” Mattie said, peeping around him. “Stop being so distrustful, bro. Tell him why he has to open the bubbly.”
Smiling tentatively, Kaia turned to Rebel again.
Her blue eyes were thoughtful, narrowed. She gazed at Kayce, who shrugged and sat on the edge of the bed. He knew the truth. He’d seen the video and congratulated Kaia.
“I-I thought I heard Fia and Diesel’s names,” Rebel said, her vulnerable look hitting Kaia like a blow, her suspicion panicking him. “What were you two really talking about?”
“Nothing important.” Mattie fisted her hands on her hips. “You’re obsessed with Diesel and jealous of everything he does with another girl.”
Rebel stiffened but didn’t refute Mattie’s words.
Mattie sniffed and nodded at Kaia. “Why are we here withhim?”
Rebel flushed, the pinkness sweeping over her skin like Barbie’s bubblegum. “I’m not jealous,” she hissed, then glared at Kaia, unaware he’d just been hit with inspiration. “If Diesel and Fia were telling the truth about you sleeping with her, I will smother you in your fucking sleep like I would Axel if he fucked with my hair and then never talk to you again.”
“If you smother him, he’ll be dead,” Kayce pointed out, resting his elbows on his knees. “You wouldn’t be able to talk to him.”
Rebel glowered at his brother.
“Just saying,” Kayce mumbled.
“If itistrue,” Rebel went on, “then Momma and Mattie probably know. Which is what you two were whispering about just now.” She folded her arms. “It also makes more sense why all the guys hated you.”
“Would you smother Mattie?” Kayce asked.
“Of course not, doofus. They are trying to protect me, but dick owners are manipulative, small-minded man babies who congratulate each other’s fuckery, so fuck you.” Rebel swallowed and grabbed her crutches. “I-I think I’m leaving.”
“Fuck, Rebel!” Kaia’s frustrated snap halted her. Jealousy toward Diesel agitated him. “Maybe you want it to be true, so you can pine over Diesel.”
