Page 102 of Too Sweet
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” Conor chips in. “He let her come out with us, right?”
“Lether?” Cody seethes. “Do you hear yourself? He doesn’t get tolether do anything. She’s not a fucking child.”
It’s like Aisha versus Nico all over again. Only this time, it’s his brothers arguing on my behalf.
“Dance with me,” I blurt out before this escalates.
The truth is, I don’t mind Nico calling security. I wouldn’t even mind if he said I should stay home. I’ve never been a party girl. Much as I enjoy spending time with the triplets, I’d happily do it elsewhere. The arcades, the beach, at home watching movies, or playing piano while Cody plays guitar.
If Nico feels better knowing there’s a bouncer looking out for me, then so be it. It’s not like I plan to do anything he wouldn’t approve of.
“Yeah, alright. Come on.” Cody grabs my hand, taking me downstairs. Johnny follows suit, not blending in. “He’ll dictate everything you do if you let him, Mia,” Cody says, pulling me into his side. “And I meaneverything.From where you can go and who you can be friends with to what you can wear. He’s a good guy, but he gets carried away easily. You need to stand up to him.”
We step onto the dancefloor, giving me the perfect opportunity to nip the topic in the bud. I doubt Cody would understand if I told him I find Nico’s controlling personality ridiculously appealing. It draws me in because letting him take the lead makes me feel safe.
I’mhis. And he’smine.
I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere before. Not at home with my absent parents, or my sister, not at school where no one would utter a word in my direction, scared to end up on the wrong side of Jake Grey. The first glimpse ofbelongingcame with the triplets.
And now?
Now I really feel I belong. That being with Nico is where I was supposed to land. That all the years of loneliness finally paid off because they brought me to him.
“My turn,” Colt shouts twenty minutes later, snatching me from Cody’s arms.
There are at least a dozen people in the booth when we go back upstairs after another five songs. The triplets are popular, so whenever we’re out, it’s never just the four of us for long. People flock to them, expecting good times and great friends.
“There, drink that,” Johnny says, placing a lemonade on the table.
“He told you to keep her hydrated, too?” Cody huffs. “Is she allowed to pee unattended, or will you hold the door?”
“Your fight’s with your brother, man. I just work here.” He walks away, taking a stance nearby in case he’s needed.
“Just ignore him,” I tell Cody, running my fingers down his arm. “I don’t mind.”
“You should. I bet you’re not allowed to dance with anyone other than us, Mia. He doesn’t fucking trust you.”
“When have you ever seen me dance with anyone but you?”
“That’s beside the point.”
I slam my glass on the table. “Your annoyance is beside the point. I get you think it’s wrong, butIdon’t. That should be enough for you to drop this. I’m not naïve, Cody. I know this isn’t how most boyfriends act, but I also know Nico’s working hard to tone it down.”
He really is. I see the small adjustments he makes, how he checks in when he thinks he’s going overboard.
“And he does trust me,” I continue. “He’s just worried. Whatever your problem with him is, it’syourproblem.” I stand up, pointing at the guy sitting beside Colt. I think his name’s Grayson. “Dance with me.”
He cocks an eyebrow, glancing between the triplets like he’s checking it’s okay.
Oh, look at that. I’m not allowed to dance with anyone else without their permission, either.
Seeing no disapproval, Grayson gets to his feet, adjusting his t-shirt in one tug. “Yeah, sure.”
Johnny moves from his post to stand beside me, but doesn’t intervene.
“See? I’m allowed,” I tell Cody, and before he can say anything else I follow Grayson downstairs.
The one thing I overlooked while proving my point is that I now have to dance with a guy I barely know. We squeeze through the crowd on the dancefloor, finding space by the stage where Six is setting up to play his set. For now, “Jungle” by Fred Again blasts through the speakers, and Grayson starts jumping, carried away by the beat.
