A small laugh escapes Ava to the point she almost chokes on the hot coffee. I watch on, waiting to see what happens.
“Oh God,” she rasps, clearing her throat. “Look, Dad is as alpha as you can get. The problem with him is if he was to lose his wife or sister, he wouldn’t be able to survive. So, he has no choice. It sucks to be Lex Edwards, huh?”
“Oh, sure,” I drag. “Totally sucks to be a controlling father too.”
“C’mon, give him a break. You’re high maintenance.”
“Um, hello?” I almost yell, my eyes widening in disbelief from the irony. “You’re high maintenance. Everyone knows that.”
“I’m not high maintenance, perhaps dramatic at times.”
“Dramatic would be an understatement.” I snort.
“My point is, cut Dad some slack, okay? You are going against everything he says. It doesn’t make life easier on any of us.”
“Ava, I disagree with his rules. I’m an adult now, have been for a while.”
Ava remains quiet, her piercing green eyes watching and making me uncomfortable. She’s rarely quiet, so when she is, you can expect verbal diarrhea of thoughts at any moment.
“No matter how old we grow, we always need our dad. There’s no shame in it. We will always be Daddy’s little girls. Be grateful we are blessed to be given life with a man who will do anything to protect us.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re his favorite.”
Ava shakes her head in disagreement. “Trust me. It’s Millie.”
“Millie? No way, she’s too stubborn like Mom. Plus, the whole sneaking around with Will drama? Maybe, Addy, she’s the goody-two-shoes.”
We both laugh in unison, then let out a sigh seconds apart.
“I think you’re right,” Ava continues, trying to catch her breath. “But listen, and I’m serious here, be careful, okay?”
“I know,” I tell her. “Come back in one piece.”
“And you know my home is open, and my wallet. If you don’t want to call Mom or Dad, whatever. Austin and I are here if you need us.”
Despite my years of clashing with Ava, of all my sisters, she has never not come through for me. There’s comfort in her words, and for the first time in months, I feel more confident to continue with my travels without the fear of failing at life.
“You just want a built-in babysitter,” I joke.
“Yes!” She giggles, throwing her head back. “But I think Millie will fight for you. Just remember, if it’s down to us, Austin is a heart surgeon, so that always comes in handy.”
“Sure, I guess, if I need heart surgery,” I joke, grinning. “But Will is a billionaire. They can pay me good money.”
“Are you forgetting Will is Lex Edwards junior? Do you really want to be around that? And they’re always having sex everywhere. It’ll be like living with Mom and Dad again.”
My stomach churns at the thought. “Gross, why would you say that? Anyways, it’s not like you’re celibate. Everyone knows you fucked Austin in the pool house last year at the fourth of July party.”
“That was Will and Millie!”
“Really? Addy and Luna swore it was you.”
Ava’s eyes light up. “Oh, so speaking of Luna, guess who I saw hot and heavy against the wall last night.”
“Who?”
“Luna and Cruz.”
The news surprises me. I didn’t see that coming at all. Luna never mentioned Cruz, but I’m going to assume they both got drunk and needy.