“I apologized.”
“Fuck you. It was meaningless. You don’t even know what you did, so how the fuck can you fucking apologize?”
“You said you were hurt.”
“You didn’t see it, though.” Rebel gestured to Jana. “We all see her pain. You’re just ignoring it.”
“How the fuck can you go from saying you want to…” Diesel’s focus was Jana. “Never mind.”
“From saying I want to fucking marry you to hating you? Or from saying I want to marry you while defending Jana, which I also hold against you by the way. Youmademe accept her before I could pout and cry and stomp and try to make you feel really fucking bad.” She sniffed and folded her arms, missing Axel’s admiration. “So which is it, fuck face?”
“Suppose I said it’s neither?”
“Then I’d call you a new motherfucking liar. Only ten months of my fucking life were spent without knowing you, Diesel. Iknowyou.”
“How can you defend Jana?”
“Probably ‘cause no other motherfucker was defending her, Diesel,” Axel said with disgust. “She’s our family now, so we got to take up for her when Diesel’s not around.”
“What Axel said,” Rebel said.
“You think I’m part of the family?” Jana whispered.
“You are,” Rebel said. “So ironic. I’m throwing Diesel the fuck out ofmyfamily after accepting you.”
“Whatever Diesel did to you, he didn’t mean it,” Jana said.
“Diesel means every fucking thing he does,” Rebel said. “He’s a fuck face fuckhead and is the one who set Kaia up with Fia just so I’d find out.”
Rebel was right. She did know him, but that didn’t help his guilt. It didn’t take away his role in how hurt she was right now.
“I love him,” Jana said.
Rebel studied Diesel, her blue eyes touching every angle before she held his gaze. The question in her depths morphed into realization. Clenching his jaw, Diesel glanced away.
“You know what I’ve realized over the years watching my parents, Jana?” Rebel said, still looking at him. “That you have to give someone a chance to apologize and show a different side of themselves. You have to be open to love if you can only see what’s in front of you.” She dragged her gaze away from him and looked at Jana. “Take you for instance. Diesel can’t stand any other man looking at you or talking to you. You don’t get jealous over someone if you don’t care a little. Unfortunately, he’s a cave man with a Neanderthal brain and not very in touch with his feelings.”
Jana giggled and Rebel smiled.
“I-I’ll bring your clothes back in the morning,” Jana said.
“Keep them. I have more.”
“Okay. Can I raid your closet again?”
“I swear to Christ, Diesel, ifIhave to do one more thing that you should do,Imight fucking marry Jana just to be fucking petty,” Rebel snapped, then glared at Jana. “We’re going to the fucking mall next week. I’ll buy you a bunch of new stuff to welcome you into the family.”
“I never know what to buy myself,” Jana said.
Rebel threw Diesel a putrid look. “I’m well versed in shopping. I got you covered.”
“I’ll give you my debit card, Jana,” Diesel said.
“I couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can,” Rebel piped in.
When no one else said anything, she and Axel left. Kaia stumbled behind like a lost puppy.
