“I’m n-not letting it go. He hur-hur-hurt you.”
“He didn’t—”
“He did,” I insist, crossing my arms over my chest, not backing down.
“I didn’t touch her, T.”
“Your w-words hurt her. I won’t let anyone do that—even you.”
“You’d pick her over your own brother?” Dom asks and I don’t hesitate at all.
“Lyla will c-come first every s-s-s-single time.”
“You love her.”
That’s Mom’s voice. I tear my gaze away from Dom and find Mom, Dad, Bull, Skye, and Thea all standing there now.
I bring my gaze back to Dom.
“I love her.”
“Thomas Kane West.” I turn to look at Lyla when she uses my full name. “Don’t you think that should be something you could have told me first?”
“Babe—”
“Don’t you babe me. You pick now to tell me you love me? No, scratch that. You didn’t even tell me. You just announced it to your family. It wouldn’t have mattered if I was here or not,” she huffs, hands on her hips.
“Babe—”
“I told you not to babe me. You know what that does to me, and I refuse to let you make me melt right now. I’m mad.”
“M-m-make you melt?”
“I can’t believe you pick now to say you love me. Especially when I’m looking like death warmed over, I’m about to pee all over myself and your whole family watching us—not to mention your hot ex-girlfriend.”
“Come again? W-w-w-what ex-girlfriend?”
“Thea!” she huffs, shocking the hell out of me.
“Oh, no way. Thomas is family. I couldn’t ever think of going there,” Thea exclaims, a mixture of shock, fear and ickiness all flickering over her face. I can’t say anything, but I figure I’m wearing the same damn look.
“Babe—”
“Damn it, Thomas! I said, stop saying that—”
I do the only thing I can to stop her from talking so she’ll listen to me. I kiss her.
Chapter 32
Lyla
Thomas’s mouth slams down on mine, his tongue thrusting into my open mouth and I forget his family is standing there. I forget his brother is probably a big jerk and that his mom and dad are watching us. I forget it all.
Thomas and my daughter.
“I’m sorry I hurt you, Lyla. It wasn’t my intention. I was just—”
“An asshole,” Thea interjects, walking over to us. “I’m Thea,” she says unnecessarily.
“I see being in LA hasn’t changed you one damn bit,” Dom snaps.
“Actually, I’ve been in New York, and if you mean it hasn’t changed me into a girl who kisses your ass like all the other girls, then I’m happy to report I’m still the same.”