Page 8 of Too Sweet
All hell breaks loose.
I watch, confused, amused, and proud that they’re showing some emotion.
“What the hell changed, Cody?” Colt demands, voice thick with barely controlled annoyance.
Cody spreads his hands as if to sayshit happens, flaring Colt’s temper more, evident by the pinched whiteness of his lips. For the next five minutes, Cody’s getting schooled, threatened, and growled at.
They’d behead him if they had the swords.
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?” I cut in, feeling a little sorry for Cody. Mia’s a looker. No wonder he’s into her. “Who is this chick to get all of you so bent out of shape?”
“She’s our lil’ sis,” Conor says, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides. “Shut up. This doesn’t concern you.”
Lil’ sis? They bugged Mom for a sister since they turned three. She almost gave in.Almost.Thankfully, the thought of having an eighth boy or, God forbid, another set of triplets was too big a risk.
It’s a blessing we don’t have a sister. She’d hate our guts when we’d start scrutinizing her boyfriends and weeding out those who couldn’t meet our expectations.
Mom dreamed of a daughter for years, hence seven sons. After the triplets were born, she settled for getting daughters-in-law instead.
So far, she’s shit out of luck, though.
Shawn married a guy, and Logan’s wife-to-be spent her last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. Now that Noah’s here, Cassidy’s too busy fussing over him to get mani-pedis with Mom.
She gets along with Theo’s wife, Thalia, much better now than she used to, but I’m willing to bet a lot of money it’s not a bond she dreamed of.
“Cody... Jesus!” Conor huffs, biting into an apple, then talking around the big chunk. “Unless you’re absolutely sure you want to commit, don’t you fucking dare mess Mia about.”
“I’m sure, alright? Believe me. I’m deadserious.” He eyes the two of them, a silent declaration in his look.
I can do the same with every one of my brothers, but the triplets have their own wavelength. Whenever they trade those loaded looks, I’ve no idea what’s going on.
“Give him a break,” I say. “She’s cute. What harm will a bit of fun do?”
Wrong thing to say...
“Fun?” Colt grinds out. “Mia’s not made forfun, Nico.”
“And I’m not looking forfun,” Cody chips in, setting his cup in the sink. “Instead of wasting your breath telling me shit I already know, we should start clearing the garden.”
Two minutes later, I’m alone. Who knew my brothers would grow up to be so chivalrous?
THREE
Mia
THE BELL CHIMES WHEN I PUSH THE DOOR OPEN. I’m early. My appointment’s still fifteen minutes away, but I don’t want to loiter in the street.
A distinct smell of green soap hangs in the air, and the black-painted walls are covered in chalk drawings and mirrors. My heels click against the dark, hardwood floor as I take a few steps further inside.
A tall, blonde woman in black rims stands behind the counter, tapping the screen of her iPad with a stylus. She peers up, blue eyes sparkling with amusement as she gives me a slow once-over. “Do you have an appointment?”
I come closer, clutching my small bag in both hands. “Yes. I’m booked in at six o’clock.”
She checks me out again, tapping the screen. “Toby!” she yells over her shoulder. “Your six o’clock is here!”
A vintage room divider separates the entryway from the rest of the studio, blocking the view, but footsteps reach my ears seconds before the artist approaches. His arms and neck are covered in mismatched colorful pictures that somehow work great together.
“Hey, Mia,” he says, wearing a subtle smirk.
