Page 24 of Too Sweet
“Yes. Same old, same old.” I force out a pathetic chuckle, wincing at the vile taste of vomit greasing my tongue.
With the mouthwash still in hand, I gather myself off the ground and leave the stall to rinse my mouth.
“You gonna tell me what Brandon really said?”
“Nothing new.” I spit green liquid in the sink. “He wants me in his bed, same as always.”
“I wish he’d back off,” he sighs, massaging his temples.
“He’s unhappy about missing the parties.”
I pull a toothbrush from my bag and brush my teeth twice before we leave the building. The courtyard cleared during the last ten minutes. It’s just me, the triplets, and Nico left.
He’s still casually leaning against the hood of his car, Wayfarers now resting on the top of his head. He slowly takes me in, bit by bit, the intensity of his gaze heating my cheeks.
I’ve been around him a few times, but I can’t get over his masculine energy: all testosterone, threat, and sex.
“I’ll drop Mia home and meet you at the dealership in an hour,” Cody says, but Nico’s silent, incisive attention remains on me.
“You go,” I say, picking my nails. “I’m going shopping.”
Cody frowns, wrapping an arm around my middle.
I shouldn’t have agreed to be his plus one for the Charity Ball. The triplets and I are like family. We’re physical. We hug. Colt spends most lunch breaks sleeping with his head in my lap, and Conor has me sitting in his when we share a box of ice cream. It’s purely platonic, but Cody... something’s changed lately. He kisses my head, holds my hand, and touches me more than his brothers.
“You’re in no state to go shopping. You need a shower, Mia. I’ll take you home.”
“Oh...” I glance at the brown stains on my dress, pressing the damp fabric. “I forgot about that. At least I smell nice.”
The triplets chuckle, shaking their heads, but Nico’s not amused. I thought we were past the glaring. Still, even the icy stare of his dark, almost black irises fuels my burning ache.
As a little girl, I watched too many fairy tales, dreaming up my perfect man early into my teenage years.
A true gentleman.
Tall.
Handsome with a great sense of humor.
Smart.
Polite.
Nico’s a long way off that. Half the time, I don’t think I’m even comfortable around him. He rarely smiles, and there’s always that irritated spike to his voice.
I crushed on a few boys before. I’ve been on a dozen dates this past year, but I’ve never been attracted to anyone like this. Not one man who crossed my path thus far awoke the will to surrender my mindandbody... until him.
Just my luck he doesn’t like college girls or blondes.
“Why did Blair spill coffee on you?” he asks. His clipped tone knots my stomach.
I don’t understand him. He’s a kaleidoscope of ruthless, crude, and arrogant ninety-nine percent of the time, but when we sat in his living room, he seemed at ease. I thought I broke through his tough exterior. I mean, hesmiled. It’s probably sad that making him smile was the highlight of my day, but it was.
“She’s in love with Brandon,” I explain, pinching the hem of my dress. Maybe I should wring the coffee out... “He got too close to me.”
“So Brandon’s in love with you?”
Colt scoffs, scratching his chin. “Brandon’s only in love with himself. He wants Mia in his bed, and he’s frustrated she doesn’t want to be there.”
