Page 57 of Novice Girlfriend

Fucker. So clearly he knew I was attracted to Bevin, but like… Who wasn’t? Gay men?

Right, some of them would still look at her and wonder what it would be like to be with her. Even women said she was gorgeous and could tempt them. It honestly wasn’t just her looks, but the person she was. She was so good inside and it was like… It was hard to put into words.

So yeah, there was too much always going on. Getting Maddie Dotson to our side was a huge win. She was much smarter than I’d thought and completely tapped in. The way she’d played the head of her family and collected a ton of information she’d turned over was amazing. She even set up the path for Taylor to record and trace people in that family.

But we all hurt for the woman when she kept begging Bevin not to leave her as roadkill or to just let her die now. Seriously, how horrible were the people in our world that this was what the women in the top-tier families suffered?

I saw a few of the councilmen look truly upset as Taylor and Bevin gave a quick, informal report even if they didn’t name Maddie. They didn’t trust everyone on the council after what had happened.

Shocking, right?

Uncle and Councilman Reid told people to shut up when they demanded to know who it was. I wasn’t the only one who agreed it was ridiculous.

When it was over, there were some more things to handle, and I went to the new land Bevin had bought since there was some housing being put in. Taylor had asked for some help on the magical side since his people were behind there. No idea why the plan suddenly changed, and now there were six duplexes going in and a bunch of townhouses being discussed.

And like where the fuck had the money come from for that?

Then again, with the way Bevin made money from everything… And didn’t charge? I had no idea.

But then it wasn’t Bevin’s land, but Taylor’s, where he had a few houses built for his people and were putting in more. Yeah, I shot him a few looks that he ignored.

“I was surprised you guys reported about Maddie,” I told him as I looked over the list of what they wanted and the map.

“I told Dad, and your uncle was involved in all of it, but I think it’s stupid for the rest to know. Bevin wants to keep her word and be transparent even if less so. She wants to keep showing the progress and that she was the right one to bet on.” He gave me a look that he knew it would probably backfire.

It probably would, but I sighed. “They’d use not getting information as proof that you were abusing her or something else. I’m just done.”

“I never thought to hear that from you.”

I swallowed down something nasty on the tip of my tongue. “I was never a lackey, Taylor. You saw more directly being their son. I was a nephew and not always read in.”

“Fair.” He sighed when he knew that wasn’t enough. “It wasn’t a judgment. It was—I saw you more fighting to change it from the inside and saw the flaws. Not just…”

I nodded. I got him more. “I don’t know what I am, just pushing on.” I let it go when he snorted and took it as dropped.

What I couldn’t let go was Bevin because she was obviously up to something. She wasn’t one to eavesdrop even though I’d asked her to, but she was moving closer to us, like the worst spy. Taylor clocked it too and raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her a few times.

He finally sighed and just focused on her. “What did I do wrong now? Are we about to have another uncomfortable conversation? I’m going to start needing blood pressure medication like humans, aren’t I?”

She blinked at him and then flushed, absolutely thinking back to when Taylor and Tracey’s familiars had snitched that Taylor was too rough with Tracey during their sex. “I cannot believe you just brought that up in passing. You’re stupid and I’m telling on you.”

“I cannot believe you just said that and it actually works,” I mumbled, losing the battle not to laugh. I actually brought the file up to my forehead and tried not to and keep it together.

“Please do, because I enjoy Tracey’s punishments and I’m totally stressed out,” Taylor drawled.

That was it. I lost it. I doubled over laughing it was so good, and Bevin’s face was so red. Tracey wouldn’t like that, and even Taylor realized it and apologized, but Bevin kept moving closer to me… While glancing at someone.

I followed her line of sight while still laughing, but immediately lost my amusement when I did. I stood up straight and caught her gaze, mine not amused. “Whatever is going on here, leave me out of it.”

She did a double take but then froze, her eyes wide. Taylor and I watched as Bevin did a great impression of a fish and then just frowned like she was trying to work out something and coming up short.

I felt bad because she was so smart but socially inept because of her abuse. “Whatever boundary you’re testing with Winter—I’m glad he groveled or whatever, but don’t involve others. I didn’t do anything wrong and I don’t want issues, Bev. I’m not looking for drama from your relationship.”

She winced, the pieces fitting now for her. She opened her mouth, probably to apologize, but then frowned. “Wait, he was supposed to grovel?” She blinked at me and slowly looked over at Winter. “You were? I’m pretty sure I did!”

“I didn’t need to know that or be included in this conversation,” Taylor bitched.

And I didn’t want to have the visual I now did in my head because she was already starring in my dreams and I needed that to stop… Not get worse.