The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties, #3)

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

“Thank you, Fourth Aunt. I’ll go change now.” I stride around to the other side of the van for some modicum of privacy without looking back at Nathan. I can’t bear the thought of looking at him and seeing disapproval, or worse still, disappointment. I’m not a good person. I’m not as kind as him, as giving, as pure, as— “Mind if I join you?” I startle, my shirt already halfway unbuttoned. Nathan stands before me with a crooked half smile. “So, this is kind of . . . out there, huh?” He starts unbuttoning his own shirt. “Yeah.” I focus on taking off my shirt, unable to meet his eye. I feel so ashamed for dragging him into yet another of my family’s messes. “You okay?” He takes off his shirt, and now he’s standing before me with his stupidly perfect abs on full display. I take a deep breath and avoid looking at his abs because they’re so distracting. This is the time to do it. I have to say this. I have to give him an out. “You can sit this one out. I won’t hold it against you.” “What? Meddy, look at me.” His eyes are somber, his jaw clenched, but—I realize with a start—not with anger. With worry. A lump forms in my throat. “Hey, we’re a family now. And you and your aunts—you’re exactly the kind of family I have always wanted to have. The kind of family that would burn down the world to protect one another. Do you realize what a privilege it is to be included in your family?” It’s as though he’s just given my lungs permission to breathe. Air sparkles through my body, bringing ...