Page 135 of Cactus Heart
“Thisis why we didn’t tell you,” I said.
“Avery is an adult,” Levi said. “And if you don’t let go of Mateo right now, I’m going to make you.”
“Fucking make me then?—”
Levi grabbed Austin’s wrist and twisted him away from Mateo, but he was ready for it. Mateo stepped toward me and looped his arm around my waist, pulling me back as Austin threw a punch.
I screamed as it landed. A crunching noise followed from Levi’s nose, but he was hardly fazed by it. Even though I knew he was a hockey player and could take a punch, my heart dropped. Mateo cursed, pulling me back further.
“I have to separate them,” he said quickly. “Will you be okay?”
No, I wouldn’t be. Nothing was okay. Nothing. “Please,” I rasped as Austin took Levi to the floor.
Mateo released me and put his arm around Austin, putting him in a headlock and hauling him off Levi with ease. Austin grunted, clawing at Mateo’s arms and kicking out.
He released him and Austin stumbled forward—and straight into my canvas.
“No!” I gasped, covering my mouth as he and the easel tumbled to the floor.
“What in the fuck is going on—oh shit.” Dallas, Evie, and June all filled the doorway, but Evie grabbed Dallas’ sleeve before he came in.
Levi sat up, blood dripping down his nose. Mateo helped him up, horror painting their faces as we all looked at Austin.
The canvas had snapped.
My knees felt weak. I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face as I stared at it. Austin rolled to the side, gettingup, paint sticking to his back. He looked down, his expression softening.
“Fuck,” he whispered. “Avery . . .”
“Get out.”
“Avery—”
“Get the fuck out. Now.”
Austin glowered at Levi and Mateo as he staggered to the doorway. “I’m not done with either of you.”
“Austin,stop!” I yelled, a sob breaking free. “I’ve been dating both of them behind your back because of how you act. This is your fault. Not theirs. You never listen to me. You don’t listen?—”
“Avery, I listen all the time. I?—”
“No, you fucking don’t! You broke my number one rule which is that this ismyspace. No one is allowed in here.”
“Mateo was in here.”
“Because I let him,” I cried. “I let him in here. I wanted him in here. But that doesn’t give you an excuse. This is my space. Mine. It’s all I fucking have in this place. I’ve spent weeks on that painting?—”
“On a painting ofmybest friends kissing?”
“Fuck,” Levi sighed, wiping his nose. “Austin, Mateo and I have been together too.”
He blanched, looking around the room until he finally noticed our other brother. “Did you know this?” he asked Dallas.
Dallas shook his head. “No, but you’re over-reacting and you need to come out of Avery’s studio.”
“I’mover reacting? You’re not even fucking reacting, Dallas. You’re not doing anything. Per fucking usual, it’s on me to handle everything.”
Dallas leaned forward without crossing the threshold and grabbed Austin by the shirt, dragging him out.
