Chapter 10 Dillan #2
“I was fucked over one too many times.” He runs a hand softly over my hair and cups my cheek, and I wish I’d paid better attention in self-defense class and knew how the hell to flip him over one-handed. “Now, are you in or are you out?”
The bells above the door chime, and my brother Asher walks in, sucking on a straw in a giant iced coffee cup. His eyes bug out as he looks between Rome and me, who hasn’t dropped his hold on my face. To Asher, it has to look like he just interrupted something.
I want to tell him he didn’t.
That there is nothing between Rome and me.
I want to tell Asher to kick Rome Beneventi’s ass, but while Ash will probably be a pro quarterback one day, Rome is a professional fighter. There’s no chance he can kick Rome’s ass.
If I do this, it has to start now.
Do I let Asher believe this bullshit?
Or do I pull away and scream like I want to?
And give up my secret?
Out myself before Rome can do it for me?
Deal with the press?
My family?
My friends?
With everyone’s opinions. Everyone’s commentary.
All the hate. All the doubt.
“Umm . . . Dillan. What the hell?” Asher’s eyes dart between the two of us, a look of shock morphing slowly into a dopey kind of smirk because my little brother thinks he just got the scoop of the century. “Why is Rome Beneventi holding your face like he’s going to kiss you?”
Fuck.
I bite my lip, blood blooming in my mouth.
Deal with the devil I know or the one I’ve avoided for a decade?
It’s an impossible decision, but Rome’s the lesser of the two devils.
I turn my face into his hand and press my lips to his calloused palm and watch as Rome smiles. His thumb caresses my cheek, and I want to vomit. I try to force myself to answer Asher, but then Rome does it for me.
“Because your sister just agreed to move in with me.”
Lilah
Umm . . . Got something you want to share with the class, Dillan?
Dillan
Other than the fact Asher has a big mouth?
Asher
Sorry D. You didn’t think I was keeping this shit quiet, did you?
Noah
What shit? What’d I miss?
Dillan
Nothing.
Noah
I’m on the other side of the country. Not the world. Try again and this time tell the truth.
Lilah
Dillan is shacking up with a Beneventi!
Dillan
Tink!!!
Lilah
Don’t Tink me . . .
Dillan
Fine. Lilah!!!
Lilah
Am I wrong?
Dillan
. . .
Asher
Rome said she just agreed to move in with him. So technically, I don’t think the shacking up has happened yet.
Noah
Rome? Seriously? If I had to guess a Beneventi, I’d have guessed Ryker.
Asher
Really?
Noah
Hell yeah. Rome’s a dick. Ryker’s not.
Lilah
Watch it. He must not be all bad if Dillan’s moving in with him.
Dillan
. . .
Asher
Maybe Dillan likes his dick.
Dillan
OMG.
Noah
Fuck. Stop. I don’t want to think about my little sister and Rome Beneventi’s dick.
Lilah
Big dick.
Noah
WTF?
Lilah
Come on. He’s a six-foot-five heavyweight fighter. That man has big dick energy oozing off him in giant waves, no way his dick isn’t big enough to back it up.
Asher
What the actual fuck is wrong with you, Tink?
Lilah
Other than I think I’m the only one excited for Dillan?
Noah
You’re excited for Dillan to be getting railed by Rome Beneventi?
Lilah
Yup. If he makes her happy, I’m happy.
Asher
You’re like fifteen months pregnant. I blame the hormones.
Lilah
Watch it, shithead. Pregnancy hormones suck. I could snap and cut a bitch. And right now, you’re being very bitchy.
Dillan
Love you, Tink.
Lilah
Love you too, Dillan. Do you need help moving stuff?
Dillan
No. We’re going to grab the rest of my stuff tomorrow. We’ve been basically crashing at each other’s places for a few months. Most of my stuff is already in his house.
Noah
Seriously? A few months? Why keep it quiet?
Lilah
Maybe because you’re all judgy little dicks when you want to be. No BDE to be found.
Noah
Ouch.
Asher
I have BDE.
Lilah
If you did, you wouldn’t have to announce it.
Dillan
OMG, focus you freaks, we just wanted to see if there was anything really there before we announced it to the world.
Asher
And it’s there? Like world-announcement-worthy there?
Dillan
I guess it is.
Noah
So you’re Facebook official?
Dillan
Yes, twelve-year-old version of my brother. We’re Facebook official.
Asher
Dork.
Dillan
Me or Noah?
Asher
Always Noah.
Noah
I’m a fucking rock star.
Lilah
A dorky rock star.
Dillan
One without BDE.
Noah
I’ve got the BD. The E isn’t as important. And I swear, Dillan, if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.
Asher
I’ll bury the body.
Lilah
I’ll pop popcorn and watch you two try to take on Rome.
Noah
You don’t think we can?
Lilah
Nope. But our sister is badass enough that if he fucks up, she’ll kill him herself. Then I’ll help her bury the body.
Dillan
No bodies are being buried. But Lilah wins the best sibling award.
Lilah
Suck it, boys.
Mom
Dillan Laine Ryan. Would you care to tell me why I just got a call from your aunt telling me you’re moving in with Rome Beneventi?
Asher
At least it wasn’t me spilling the beans this time.
Mom
Asher . . . Why are you on this text thread?
Dad
Because you’re texting the family thread, sweetheart.
Mom
Shit.
Noah
We already gave her hell, Mom.
Mom
Why would you do that? Your sister is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions.
Asher
How many jobs has she had since she graduated?
Dillan
Hey, asshole. Try graduating before you throw stones.
Dad
Any reason you haven’t mentioned Rome to us, honey?
Dillan
I don’t know. Maybe to avoid the conversations I’ve had since you guys all found out?
Mom
Maybe if you told us, we wouldn’t all be so shocked.
Dillan
Lilah was shacking up with Killian for months before they admitted they were together.
Lilah
Hey! I was defending you.
Mom
Lilah would have shacked up with Killian at sixteen if we let her. That didn’t come as a surprise. This. You and Rome. Not a chance I saw that coming, and I’m a romance author. I see love stories everywhere.
Lilah
Geez. Thanks, Mom.
Mom
Oh God. You’re not pregnant, are you?
Dillan
No, Mother. I’m not pregnant.
Dad
I’m a little uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation now, Nattie.
Mom
Get over it. Our baby was dating someone in private and moved in with him without ever telling us. We’ve got bigger issues than your comfort, my love.
Asher
I thought I was your baby?
Noah
Bahahaha . . .
Dad
Stop egging your mother on, Asher.
Stop acting like a fucking child, Noah.
Lilah – I don’t know what you need to stop doing but stop whatever it is.
And Dillan, we expect you and Rome at the house for dinner. Soon. I’ve known him his whole life, and unless you’d like me to embarrass the hell out of you both, you’ll come over and sit down to dinner where you’ll tell us everything.
Mom
You might not want to know everything, Brady. I mean, she’s twenty-five. And he is gorgeous. I mean think about what we were doing at twenty-five. Some things might be better left unsaid.
Dillan
OMG. Stop. Everyone please, for the love of what little sanity I have left, I’m begging you to stop.
Asher
Seriously. I don’t want to know what you were doing at twenty-five. That’s the kind of shit that sends your kids to therapy, Mom.
Lilah
Sounds like the baby needs to grow up.
Dillan
We’ll come for dinner soon. I promise. I just have to look at our schedules. I love you all.
Mom
Practice safe sex, honey.
Dad
Or just practice abstinence, honey. That’s a great option, too.
Mom
It really isn’t.
Asher
I just threw up in my mouth.
Mom
Brush your teeth.
Lilah
Let me know when you’re doing dinner with Mom and Dad, and Killian and I will come. Safety in numbers.
Dillan
Why are you being so supportive?
Lilah
Because I’ve watched the way that man has looked at you for years, and it was hot enough to burn down the house around you. I’m pregnant and hormonal and a great big sap when it comes to happily ever afters.
Dillan
I really do love you, Lilah Belle.
Lilah
Love you too, D.