Page 25 of Too Sweet
“He can’t stomach that she keeps shooting him down so he tries all sorts of stupid things to fuck her,” Cody adds, making me cringe.
If my age and hair color wasn’t a good enough reason for Nico to steer clear, the undeniable drama sure is.
SEVEN
Nico
FREQUENCY ILLUSION.
It’s a thing. I googled the phenomenon because it bothered me that suddenly Mia appears wherever I go.
Even though Newport Beach isn’t big, I hadn’t seen heroncebefore the Spring Break party, but since then, I’ve already seen her a dozen times.
She’s everywhere. Rushing down the street with a cup of coffee in hand; collecting takeout from a restaurant I’m getting food from; in the café by Toby’s studio; on the back seat of a cab when I stop at the lights.
Turns out, I’m not going mad, and it’s not a freak coincidence. It’s just how our brain works.Once we’ve noticed something the first time, we see it more often, leading us to believe it’s a high-frequency occurrence.
It’s not. I notice Mia because I met her. I probably saw her a hundred times before but never noticed because my brain wasn’t looking.
Now it’s on the lookout non-stop. I see her... and whenever I do, I drive myself crazier because I don’t fucking want to see her. I don’t want to think about her.
She’s a college chick. Ateen.
Blonde.
Shy.
Dainty.
Granted: pretty with great taste in music, clever, and unreasonably adorable, which isn’t something I ever found attractive, but here we are.
Despite seeing her almost every day, I don’t engage unless I bump into her somewhere where there’s no choice, likeRave. Although that’s not the best example considering I shot out of my seat the second I spotted her in the crowd, leaving my friends with deep lines creasing their foreheads.
But...I don’t stop the car when I see her out in the street, even though I really,reallywant to.
That’s got to count for something.
Her playlist plays in my car, office, and ear non-stop, fueling my intense craving for the pretty little blonde.
My brothers don’t help,unknowingly reminding me I’m an asshole. Whenever Colt or Conor ask Cody how he’s doing with Mia, I hate myself more. The fact he made zero progress doesn’t help. I hope the obsessive thoughts will cease once she’s officially his, but he’s not moving forward.
“She’s like a doe, Nico. I’ll scare her off if I make one false move. I need to tread lightly.”
She’ll never be his with that attitude. Mia’s shy, awkward, and gullible, which is why she needs a man who’ll take control. Cody tiptoes too much. He’s overly careful like he’s dealing with a mythical creature that’ll disappear in a puff of smoke. He needs a few lessons, but I can’t find the words when I try giving him pointers.
That’s a lie.
I can find the words just fine, but I don’twant to because I’m a selfish bastard, and I don’t want to help him.
It’s finally Friday today. Last day of the week. I deserve a prize considering I’ve successfully talked myself out of finishing work early to drive to college under some idiotic pretext to get a glimpse of Mia.
Fucking ridiculous.
I’m only hooked because I can’t have her.
Yeah, that’s it. She’s out of my reach. Unavailable. Claimed by my brother, and I don’t do well when I’m not allowed.
Never touch your brother’s girlis one of the top rules among the Hayes. Mia’s not technically Cody’s, but I’ll be damned if I’m the reason he doesn’t get the girl he wants.
