“Not a fucking thing that I’m interested in sharing with you, fuckface,” she replied. “But what I’m tellingyouis I fucking hate you.”
He blinked, stilled. Stared at her.
Probably at the ease in which she said the words. Somewhere inside her, she really felt that way. It was just buried underneath girlish fantasies and childish dreams. As much as she understood that Diesel was a motherfucker, she just didn’t want to accept it.
He’d never spare her feelings if he cheated. He’d never spoil her or stand by her. Or…
It didn’t matter.Hedidn’t matter. She’d had a crush that no one ever took seriously, especially Diesel. Not only didn’t he take how she felt as something real, he wasn’t interested in safeguarding her from further hurt. He wasn’t even divorced from Tabitha and was already living with Jana. Or whatever he was doing.
“You hate me because ofJana?” Diesel demanded, the first one to break their silence.
Rebel smirked. “You moved her in here, not caring how I felt, so fuck you. Get out and take her with you. Please don’t darken my fucking door again.”
His expression pained, he glanced from her to Jana several times. “I want you to be happy for me, Rebel.”
She was so tempted to push the issue, but she couldn’t bear Diesel’s turmoil. Then, there was Jana, who looked so devastated. The entire situation confused Rebel. She couldn’t understand why Diesel proposed to Jana if he didn’t intend to put her first. Nor could she understand why Jana accepted if she didn’texpectDiesel to put her first.
“Can you do that for me?” he asked softly. “Congratulate me? Want the best for me?”
Tears rushed to Rebel’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Three miserable motherfuckers would do no one any good. “I’m happy for you, Diesel. And you, Jana. Just give me a chance to accept your upcoming marriage and stay out of my way.”
“Would you prefer I find somewhere else for Jana to live, sweetheart?”
Most definitely. Those words tickled her tongue, but she scraped her teeth across the appendage and ignored them. Especially when Jana’s continued despair and devastationaffected Rebel. Something else that confused her. Why did she even care?
“This is your house too, Dee.” Her voice cracked, but she forced her tears away. “You have every right to move whoever you want in. Jana is so much nicer than I’ll ever be. She might gentle you down, give you the peace you’ve always searched for. As long as you’re happy, I am fine.”
Diesel walked to her, his tall, muscular frame blocking her view of Jana. He didn’t seem to give a fuck that his back was to the woman he intended to marry while he focused on Rebel.
He tipped her chin up. “You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. Do you know that, Reb?”
She wished he’d leave so she could cry. She shrugged.
“They look like glistening sapphires.”
“Would you just go?” she whispered, not pointing out how fucking disrespectful he was being to Jana. He’d argue that Rebel was his sister and he her brother, but his words felt so…so…intimate. The intensity with which he said them didn’t sound very familial. How could either one of them think this was okay?
Or, maybe,herthoughts were wrong and Diesel’s were right. Maybe she didn’t trust him because of his reputation and she’d smother him with her demands for accountability. What did she know? Jana must’ve believed in Diesel a lot, more than Rebel could ever. As her adopted brother, he’d abandoned her, lied to her, and disregarded her. She couldn’t imagine what he’dthinkhe could do to her if they were anything more.
He could only ever be her brother. Nothing more. Nothing less.
A sob rose up. “I will be so fucking angry if I start to cry in front of you.”
“The Blonde Viper returns.”
At his dry tone, she made herself smile.
“Your birthday is in six weeks. What do you want?”
“A hot pink Corvette. Momma and me can match.”
He dropped his hand and stepped back. “Will you know how to drive by then?”
“It’ll be a new car. It’ll last until I learn.”
“Obviously, you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“Rule’s in LA. Whatever Momma and Daddy were going to spend on a party, they can put toward my gift. I don’t want to celebrate my birthday without my brother.”
