Page 37 of Too Sweet
And I’ve never felt so raw.
Kaya bawled her eyes out a hundred times, but her tears never hit me like Mia’s. A kick to the balls is a walk in the park in comparison.
Instead of a text, an incoming call flashes up, my brother too impatient to shoot messages back and forth.
I inhale a deep breath before answering.
“What did you do?” Cody clips. “Why were you even with her? She’s with her sister!”
“Not anymore. Aisha prefers Toby. She ditched Mia and I... I jumped to conclusions. Why didn’t you tell me she’s the girl Asher almost raped last year?”
“Because it’s none of your business and not my story to tell.Whatdid you do?!”
I push my flaring temper back down. Cody has the right to be pissed off. “Justin Montgomery was all over her inTortugo. She didn’t push him away but shot me that look Kaya always did when she let assholes touch her—”
“And you thought she’s just like your ex. Fuck! She’s not. She’s a little awkward and barely holds her own, Nico.”
She can hold her own just fucking fine if you ask me.
“She timid and useless at confrontation,” he continues, his tone bordering on a scream. “She’snothinglike Kaya.”
“Yeah, I gathered that much when she explained why she didn’t push Justin away. Then she told me about Asher.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Listen, just check up on her, okay? I brought her home.”
“Did you apologize?”
“I tried. She didn’t let me.”
“You’re unbelievable! I knew you’d find a way to hurt her. I just assumed you’d fuck her when you said she’s gorgeous.”
He’s hundreds of miles away, but his words fly all the way here, hitting me right in the gut. Cody’s changed a lot over the past few years. From a careless, stupid kid to a man who not only has principles but acts on them, too.
He’s more like me than any other Hayes in that department. Less of a short-tempered prick, though. That’s Colt.
“She’s yours, Cody. You’re my brother. I wouldn’t go after her, regardless of how pretty she is. I’m sorry I upset her, okay? I didn’t want you to find out from her first.”
Cody scoffs. “She won’t tell me shit. She’ll be too scared we’ll argue.”
“Too late for that.”
“Damn right. Just stay away from her. She doesn’t need your bullshit. She’s got enough to deal with.”
He cuts the call, not letting me get another word in. And once again, I’m uncomfortable in my own head. I never argue with my brothers. We disagree, sure, but I’ve never pissed any of them off the way I did Cody tonight.
It only goes to show how much he cares about Mia. He might be taking his sweet time, but he’s serious about her. And I need to let that thought finally sink.
“We’re here,” the driver says, pulling me out of my head. “That your house, man?”
“Yeah.”
He bobs his head, glancing out at the three-story villa I call home. “I don’t feel bad about taking your cash anymore.” He turns in his seat, handing me his card. “Call me if you ever need a ride.”
I grab the card, ready to leave, but something on the seat catches my eye. The peacock feather lies there crumpled, the stem broken in two places.
A moment later, I’m in my house, the feather in my hand and a questionable idea in my head.
ELEVEN
Mia
