Rebel averted her eyes, remembering what that lab guy had said about legalities and genetics for blood relatives. Yet Diesel’s life was so complicated.Hewas complicated, still tied to Tabitha, still planning to marry Jana.
Still friends with Narci, whose main goal in life was to torment Rebel.
Diesel was one wrong perception away from destroying Rebel completely. He’d come to her the moment she texted the other night, but she didn’t want to live her life always at war with her significant other. She didn’t want to be bored, but she wanted peace. Most of all, she wanted respect.
“I’ll just go home. I want Kaia to teach me, Diesel. Not you.”
“Should I be insulted?”
“Why fuck with your normal state? You stay fucking insulted so go for it.”
“This is important to you.”
“It is.”
Diesel dangled his keys in front of her. “You’d prefer to deprive yourself than to humor me?I’ll sit in the fucking back seat. I just want to chaperone.”
“I’ll be fine with that, Huahua.” Kaia rubbed her shoulders, ending with a friendly squeeze. “This is about you.”
“Doggie boy is right,” Diesel told her, dropping his arm to his side.
“Then I’m doggie girl, right, fuck face?” she asked, unable to believe how Diesel pulled off being juvenile, assholish,andoverbearing.
“If that’s your heart’s desire, sweetheart.”
If she allowed it, Diesel would make Rebel spend most of the night exchanging barbs and throwing her off-balance.
“We can all go,” Jana said.
Tired of having her voice rise from behind, Rebel moved to the side and turned, so she could see Jana, Kaia, and Diesel.
Jana twisted her hands together. “I know how to drive. We can take turns teaching Reb, Kaia.”
Why was Jana addressing Kaia instead of Diesel? And why was Rebel reading something into the way Kaia and Jana interacted?
“You aren’t invited, Jana,” Diesel told her. “Go back to the treehouse. I’ll meet you there later.”
Flushing, Jana’s shoulders slumped. Rebel almost invited Jana to tag along—until she lowered her lashes and gazed at Kaia through heavy lids. Once again reminding Rebel of Fia and Tennysee and Tauriel and all the bitchesshe hated, including Nyx.EspeciallyNyx, dead though she was.
Maybe Rebel was still emotional and tired and annoyed. She wasn’t properly reasoning the situation and being overly sensitive. Maybe she hadn’t even fully forgiven Jana and remained suspicious of her. It didn’t matter. She’d figure it out later. Right now, she just wanted Jana to stop making googly eyes at Kaia.
Grabbing Diesel’s hand, Rebel snatched his keys. “Two handsome men all to myself?” She blinked like a fucking airhead. “How can I resist?” She smiled at Jana. “I’ll text you, sister, and tell you all about it. Enjoy the treehouse.”
Kaia’s amusement pleased her as much as Diesel’s surprised laughter.
“Did you have to, Reb?” Kaia asked as they reached the Mercedes.
Did she? Probably, but she wasn’t sure. What Rebel took as flirting by Jana because she was so used to competition and treachery even when it wasn’t warranted could’ve simply been Jana’s way of communicating.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I didn’t likethe way you two were acting.”
“You were jealous?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
His relieved grin confused Rebel and he hugged her. “Babe, you have nothing to be jealous of. You’re my Chi. No other girl matters to me. Now or ever.”
“Okay,” she said, suddenly feeling scared and vulnerable. “I’m not ready for sex.” And she still had his texts where he’d asked her for more. “If you want that, tell me. We can be friends. Just don’t cheat on me. I will never fucking forgive you. No, I’ll have you fucking killed.”
