Page 42 of Avenging Azalea

“Titus, seriously, you’re…just not made for this shit. You’ll end up shooting yourself within a year.”

“Only you can be completely insensitive every time you open your mouth. Look, I may not like the glitz and glam, but I can handle it.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what the hell do you mean?”

Ronan waved his hand at me.

“Titus, you’re the nice guy. You want to marry for love and loyalty. You want the family of four with the white picket fence and all your fucking dogs. Vera is not that. Just get out of it.”

“I don’t get you. I’m marrying Vera for you. I’m a stand-in, so you don’t have to marry her. What do you think will happen if I back out? Nathaniel won’t be taking my place. He and Savannah already have a signed and consummated contract, a son, and they are moving forward with wedding plans.”

“Don’t get me started on that. I can’t believe he wants to marry a fucking FBI agent. What the fuck is our brother thinking?”

“It’s called true love,” I said.

“See, you just proved my point. True love is a myth, a fantasy, a fairytale for fools. He’s doing this because she had his kid. That demon seed tied him to her forever, and Father is about to have a coronary over it.”

He crossed his ankles and got comfortable. I still couldn’t figure out Ronan’s motive. There was always an angle with him. I loved my brother, but you also had to be careful about everything you said, or he’d happily use it against you.

“Demon seed? Brother, you do know how babies are made, right? A stork didn’t fly along and drop a baby on Nathaniel as an evil gift. He knew what he was doing when he had sex with her and didn’t care about using protection.”

“Whatever, he’s still a ball and chain no matter what you call him.”

“I call him nephew. Have you even bothered to spend time with Cutter?”

“No, why would I want to do something like that? I have nothing in common with a four-year-old.”

“You’re impossible. He’s a cute kid, super smart, really funny, and your nephew. I’m going to visit him tomorrow. Do you want to come?”

“I’d rather push thumbtacks in my cock.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

I shook my head then laid my head back and stared up at the ceiling. There were some nights I just couldn’t handle dealing with Ronan, and tonight was definitely one of those nights.

FAWN

“Are you sure you don’t want to come out tonight? Bradly really likes you. I mean, you don’t get any more interested than a guy who gets thrown in a pool by your scary guardian and still wants you. Huh? Huh?” Steph teased in a sing-song voice.

“No, I’m good. I may be done with classes, but I have work tomorrow. I need a good night’s sleep. I have no idea how you do it.”

Steph laughed, and I could picture her smiling face. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Titus’s Lamborghini was parked in the driveway when I pulled up, and for just a second, I considered changing my mind. He took the car to work today, so there was a good chance he was inside. Despite my hesitation, I couldn’t ignore him forever, and the truth was, I needed to face him.

“I promise there is no other reason. You made me go out every night for like four days, and I’m exhausted.”

“True. Okay, how about tomorrow?”

“How about we see how I feel? I’m working at Small Paws so that I can be ahead for next year. My eighty-seven average is not going to cut it if I’m serious about being a veterinarian.”

“Oh, speaking of school, that reminds me. Why don’t you apply for a scholarship? Your grades are good enough, and technically, you don’t have a guardian on paper, so you can say you’re on your own. I know you’re worried about Titus paying for everything, and this will give you an out, at least on that front.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll look into it. Alright, I’m home,” I said and waved to Naji, who’d stepped outside.

“Not to be a bitch, but can you really call that place your home now that he’s getting married? Are you going to stay there and become their live-in housekeeper or something? I mean…that’s…just…no, absolutely not. You need to move out before the wedding, Fawn. I told you my pool house is always available.”