“Well, he did,” Sofia told Mom.

“That’s no reason to share,” Mom went on.

“I knew the minute it happened,” Marilyn stated, so into the Barlow Super Bitch Fest she ignored Mom, Luke’s scary anger filling the room, Mrs. Stark’s horrified, furious gaze and me. “He always followed her around like a little puppy, after he nailed her it got worse.”

“She probably popped his cherry too,” Sofia told Marilyn and they were now holding a conversation like no one else was in the room.

“Can you imagine?” Marilyn bugged her eyes out at Sofia at the very thought of Dough Boy George and Fatty, Fatty Four-Eyes fumbling around popping each other’s cherries.

I was back to wanting to run screaming from the house except I couldn’t seem to get my limbs to move.

“Quiet,” Luke said softly but lethally and all eyes turned to him.

“Lucas –” Mrs. Stark began but Luke kept talking.

“Your sister is standin’ in front of you with a busted lip and a black eye, her man at her side, and you bitches are talkin’ about… whatever the f**k it is you’re talkin’ about,” Luke said, his voice vibrating with anger.

“Did you just call us bitches?” Marilyn asked, her eyes wide and her voice filled with offended surprise.

“You act like a bitch, I’ll call you a bitch and you’re actin’ like a f**kin’ bitch,” Luke answered.

“Oh my God,” Sofia breathed.

“He’s kind of a straight-talker,” I put in quietly.

“You were men, I would teach you some manners. Though growin’ up you never had any so I don’t imagine you’ll start now,” Luke carried on. “Difference is, back then I wasn’t in the position to say what I’m gonna say now. Back, the f**k, down. Ava tells me any more of that shit you just treated us to goes down, you’re both out on your asses and you aren’t comin’ back. Your sister is a memory for you and you two cease to exist for her. Is that understood?”

Marilyn and Sofia stared at him.

“Is that understood?” Luke barked.

They jumped at his tone then nodded, as anyone would.

Ho-ly shit.

Luke looked at my Mom. “It’s up to Ava what she wants to tell you about her troubles. She doesn’t feel like sharin’, that’s her choice. You’ll deal with it. I hear you don’t, it’s not gonna make me happy.”

“But –” Mom cut in, she looked confused, shell-shocked and as if she didn’t know how to feel.

Luke leaned forward a bit at the waist and thankfully Mom went quiet.

“Take your daughter to breakfast,” Luke said in a low warning tone that said he was, quite simply, done. Then he looked at me. “Breakfast doesn’t go your way, beautiful, you call me, I’ll send someone to get you.”

“Okay,” I whispered but I had a feeling breakfast was going to go my way.

His arm got tight and his voice got quiet as he ordered, “Walk me to my car.”

Without looking back, we walked to the Porsche. He turned and leaned against it, pulling me between his legs and into his arms.

“Your f**kin’ sisters,” he swore, his eyes on my house and I could tell he was still angry.

I leaned into him, putting my hands on chest. He took in a breath and looked down at me.

“You’re like a flower that grew through a crack in the sidewalk,” he told me.

I didn’t say a word, couldn’t. I’d forgotten how to speak.

“I want you checkin’ in,” he demanded.

“Okay,” I said, finding my voice.

“We would stay at the loft tonight but –”

“I know,” I cut him off.

“After this shit is over, I’ll have blinds put in.”

“Okay,” I repeated.

“You gonna be able to get through breakfast?”

I nodded and told him. “I think I owe you again.”

“Yeah. You’re rackin’ up quite a debt,” he bent his head and touched my lips then his body relaxed and his face went soft. “I like it,” he muttered.

For some crazy reason, tears started to fill my eyes and Luke saw them.

“Babe.”

I put my hands to either side of his neck. “Thank you.”

His arms went tight and his forehead came to mine. “You just paid off this particular debt.”

At that announcement, I melted into him.

“You still owe me,” he went on.

I smiled because I didn’t mind, not one bit. “I think I like it that you protect me,” I confided, don’t ask me why, I just did.

It was a good thing to do.

“Ava,” he whispered, his face soft, his eyes ultra warm, his arms getting even tighter.

“No one’s done that, not like that. Not even Dad.”

“Beautiful –”

“Thank you, Luke.”

“You already said that.”

“I wanted you to know I meant it.”

One of his arms stayed wrapped around my waist, the other hand slid into my hair and his mouth came to mine. “You’re clear,” he said against my lips.

“Clear?”

“You just cleared all your debt.”

Oh… my… God.

“Really?” I asked.

He nodded.

He was The Best Guy Ever.

“You’re still makin’ yourself come while I’m inside you tonight.”

Oh yeah, I was definitely going to be doing that and I was looking forward to it.

I licked my lips which meant I licked his lips and his eyes went ink.

“Fuck, you’re somethin’ else,” he muttered and I could tell he meant this in a good way, a very good way and happy vibes shot through me.

“You don’t think I’m weak and spineless for not standing up to my sisters?”

“Been wanting to say a few things to them for years, so no. I’m f**kin’ glad you gave me the opportunity.”

I love you, I thought but did not say.

Something shifted on his face as I thought this but whatever it was I couldn’t read it. Whatever it was, it was profound, it was raw and it was beautiful. I could swear he guessed my thoughts and he liked them.

My knees gave out and he took my weight without a word said between us.