Page 20 (1/1)

"Suz," Claire said, giggling, "that’s co to loosen everyone up Although it’s hard to picture Gray doing that, because he’s always so suave"

Ava, feeling an inexplicable need to defend the man she barely knew, spoke up "Everyone handles stress in different ways It sounds like he tries to inject some humor into uncomfortable situations The jokes probably pop out before he even realizes what he’s doing"

S at Suzy with so aze that Ava was envious, Suzy said softly, "I know He’s a little unpredictable, but he’s , "Well, I bet if anything his jokes show that he would be a really good parent He should get extra points for that God knows you need a sense of humor when you have a child"

Ella pointed to the Skylanders cake sitting on the table behind theet started with the e slab of that cake within the next five minutes, I’m not responsible forI can have that will make my eyes roll back in e the plates on the table "Honey, you just grab that thing again tonight and don’t let go There’s no way that any man can have a woman’s hand on his dick forhis reed "And call your doctor to all the way"

They had all been so involved in their conversation that they hadn’t noticed theall the hat?" Declan asked as he moved up behind Ella

"With Dominic," Ella sputtered, "Ava and Dominic"

Ava’s mouth fell open in shock as Declan’s smile turned to a scowl Her eyes jerked to Mac, who appeared to have heard the whole thing if his snarl was any indication Even the usually unflappable Do contrite Great, now it appeared that Ava was going to have to be the sacrificial la out that his as horny

Her brothers were both looking at her as if she were the nen tramp, while Jason, Nick, and Gray seeured they were just desperately trying to pretend that they hadn’t heard anything When Evan bounced up with Chrissy and Henry in tow begging for cake, Ava vowed to herself that he was getting the biggest gift next week that she could carry out of the damn store He had just saved her froroup

Mac stood across the table during the birthday song and the gift presentation glaring daggers at her After a while, it started to piss her off What right did he have to judge her? If she wanted to plan a fake sex date with her fake boyfriend, as he to object? After all, he was probably having plenty of real sex with his real girlfriend She hadn’t even set out to oal But dary over her love life? If not for the fact that Mac and Doht now and kiss Dominic so hard he’d never recover Okay, maybe she wouldn’t quite have the nerve to do that, but she’d do so her from her heated eye-lock with Mac "I think Ella rolled you under the bus there If the big vein throbbing in Mac’s cheek is any indication, though, she onna colanced back over at Mac, who refused to look away "Well, anye’re gonna take off now Brant is just itching to get over here and scold you, so I’ him out of here so he can have his tantrum in the privacy of the car We also promised my parents we’d be back for an early dinner"

Ava turned to hug E with Brant "Please tell your parents I said hello I’d love to see therabbed her purse and pulled a stiff Brant out the door

That left one brother, who took the opportunity toon with you, sis?"

Trying for her best innocent expression, she said, "Just enjoying the party like everyone else"

See exasperated, he said, "You know that’s not what I’ about What’s all this with Mac and Dominic? Plus, I saw you on the back of Dom’s bike Mac’s coh Did everyone give Mac a hard ti Gwen? Were they worried about her feelings then? A little voice in her head said that she hadn’t professed her love for him the whole time they were such close friends, so it was different, but she was tired of listening to that rational, reasonable voice She felt that her own family cared rabbing her purse before turning to Declan "You knohat--how about me? Aren’t you my brother? Maybe I could use a little of that support that you see to your friend" Declan flinched at the accusation, and she felt like a complete bitch as she stalked out of McDonald’s only to realize when she stood on the sidewalk that she didn’t have a car There was no way, though, that she was going to go back inside after what she kneas her childish exit She stomped off toward the street, determined to walk home if necessary

She had only traveled a few yards when she heard the roar of a bike and Dominic pulled up next to her "Get on, Blondie" Not in anyno better offers, she aardly cli in behind hietting rather used to it Regardless, it’d never be her first choice of transportation, but she didn’t have ht now "A little heads-up about the fact that we’re gonna be fucking soon would have been helpful," he threw over his shoulder before pulling away She tried to yell a denial at him, but the bike was too noisy for a conversation, so she held it in until he pulled to a stop in her driveway

After a particularly ugly dismount from the damn bike, she threw her hands on her hips, roaned at the corin pulled at his lips as he held his co to do anything of the sort with you"