Page 63 of Too Sweet
“I get it. She’s short.”
“Short? She’d need a stool to kiss you.” He slams his hand on my back. “I hate to break it to you, but you fucked up. You deserve whatever Cody throws your way when he finds out. Liking her is one thing but kissing her was way out of line. Even if she’s not Cody’s yet, you had no right to go after her.”
“I know,” I grind out. “Don’t forget thatnever touch your brother’s girlwas my addition to our rules.”
“Okay, just for a moment, imagine Cody’s not interested in Mia,” Colt says, twirling an empty shot glass on the table. “What do you do?”
“Don’t make me think about it.”
“Entertain me,” he insists, and Conor elbows his ribs, hissing something I can’t hear. “What do you do? You fuck her and leave her hanging like the rest of them?”
“No.” The word shoots from my lips. “This isn’t about sex, Colt. I don’t know if I want her because I can’t have her or because I’m—”
“Falling in love?” Theo cuts in, horror greasing his voice. “Shit, this is fucked up. You can’t do this to Cody!”
“I think you’ve had enough for tonight.” I snatch the bottle from his hand and take his shot glass. “You’re drunk. I’m not falling in love with her.”
“I think you are,” Conor hums, wagging his eyebrows. “It doesn’t matter, though. You wouldn’t last. She’s not adventurous or forward enough for you. She’s a good girl. Mellow. As innocent as they come. Ineverysense of the word.”
“She’s a virgin?!” Theo exclaims, his drunken theatrics in high gear. His face will get stuck in a permanent state of deep shock if he’s not careful. “How old is she?”
“Nineteen.” Colt hands the bottle of vodka back to Theo, gesturing for him to pour a round. “You’re our brother, Nico, but Mia’s our lil’ sis, and wewillbreak you if you hurt her.”
I narrow my eyes, wondering which of us is drunker because he’s talking nonsense, and I’m thinking nonsense, rehearsing my next sentence.
I won’t ever hurt her.
I throw the disgusting liquid at the back of my throat, enjoying the burning sensation as it warms my insides.
“Mia and Cody?” he scoffs, irritation evident by a shake of his head as he stares Conor down when he elbows him again. “They won’t happen. We all love her. We all keep her safe, but Cody’s the most big-brotherly.” He leans over the table like he wants to make sure I’m listening. “He’s not into her. He just didn’t want her to be your toy.”
“Why did you tell him?!” Conor whines, throwing his hands in the air. The drunken bliss on his face morphs into a confused mess. “Cody will kick your ass!”
“A toy?” I repeat, my voice barely a whisper. My mind races at the speed of light, connecting the dots, and suddenly, everything comes to a grinding halt. “You made methinkCody’s in love with her, so I’d stay away? Why did you even think I’d be interested? She’s—”
“Not what you usually go for? That’s what I told Cody, but then I saw you with her when you taught her self-defense, and I understood why Cody did what he did.”
“He fuckinglied.”
“Yeah, he did. To you and to us.” He points between him and Conor. “He made us think he’s in love with her, too. Took us two weeks to get the truth out of him. He panicked when he saw you eyeing her up at the party and did the first thing that came to mind.”
Jesus... I’m not an asshole, after all.
I wasn’t fantasizing about my brother’s girl.
“You’re absolute jerks,” Theo booms, sporting a supersized grin. “But I got to say, I’m glad you care about someone so much you took drastic measures to keep her from getting hurt. I sure as shit wasn’t as considerate at your age.”
Cody enters the room, two shirt buttons undone, empty bottle of wine in hand, and a satisfied gleam in his brown eyes. I know that look on him... it means he got lucky.
“Where the fuck were you?”
“Probably fucking the waitress,” Colt supplies. “Someone’s got a confession to make,” he adds, pointing his chin at me, and Cody meets my gaze.
“I want her,” I say, cutting right to the chase. “And she wants me, so I’m taking her.”
“I know,” he sighs, plopping down on the seat across from me. “I knew I couldn’t keep this up much longer. I know you like her, Nico, but—”
“They kissed,” Colt cuts in, beaming. I’ve no idea what’s so amusing. “Miastarted it.”
