Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(16)

“I can hit you with the side of my head.”

“No. Don’t ever try that. It could work, but you’ll black out if you hit your temple against the wrong spot.”

Instinctively my thumb grazes hers in an odd, mechanical reflex.

I shouldn’t do that.

Where is this urge to soothe her coming from?

I’ve always been grossly overprotective, but it manifested in unhealthy jealousy, rage fits, and fist-throwing at anyone who said one wrong word to my ex. I never soothed Kaya unless she was bawling her eyes out. Even then, I didn’t do a good job because I was more annoyed than concerned.

Not now. The need to keep Mia calm fastens itself around my throat so tightly I’ll choke if she’s not at ease.

“Accept that you can’t hit me,” I continue. “You have to be more creative.”

It takes a moment, but she tilts her head, accidentally brushing those full, soft lips against my jaw. “I can bite you.”

“Good girl.” I inhale a subtle deep breath, shepherding the desire rekindling in my gut. “Bite hard enough, and the guy will let go. It’s a reflex. Hands go where it hurts. Once you can use your hands, you know what to do, right?”

She nods, and very reluctantly, I let. Her. Go.

“Fine,” she tells Cody, back on her feet. “We can practice tonight but promise you’ll take me to the arcades this week.”

“You know any more moves like that?” Colt asks me, creases lining his forehead. “Anything we can teach her?”

Unfortunately, I do. I learned how to restrain a woman when I dated Kaya. She was an alcoholic. Out of control. Whenever she got hammered, she either threw anything within reach at me or tried to hurt herself. “Yeah. I know a few things.”

We go over two more scenarios. After a couple of attempts to explain how Cody should do it, he waves me off and leaves me in charge.

Fine by me.

I have Mia pinned against the wall half a minute later, her wrists locked in my hand, legs boxed by one of mine. I tell her—calmly—what her next move should be while I scream inside my head, schooling myself not to do something stupid.

There are more things she should learn, more things I could show her, but she’d have to lie down, and if I cover her body with mine, there’ll be no rationalizing.

Instead of turning my brother against me, I call it a night.

∞

Mia

First day at kindergarten

“Cooties!” Jake yells, pointing his finger at me. “She’s got cooties! Stay away!”

All the other children squeal and stumble back, leaving me alone in the middle of the room.

“I don’t have cooties!” I say, my voice squeaky.

“You do! You’ve got cooties! Don’t touch me!”

“I don’t have cooties!” I cry again and take a step forward. Tears pool in my eyes when all the other children start running away every time I step toward them.

I don’t want to be here. I miss Daddy and my sister.

The children are mean, and Mrs. Jeffrey smells like onions.

“Don’t let her touch any toys!” Jake commands again. “She’s got cooties! If you touch her, you’ll have it too!”

He runs around, scooting toys off the floor and throwing them in one corner. All the other children follow his lead until all the toys are out of my reach.

“Now, now, Jake, that’s not nice, is it?” Mrs. Jeffrey asks, lifting her head from a stack of papers on her desk. “Play nice. All of you.” She looks back down, and Jake whispers to the other kids, pointing his finger at me and laughing while I stand there, alone, sad, and crying.

SIX
Mia

I LEAVE THE CLASSROOM, avoiding eye contact with other students like I did in elementary, middle, and high school. I no longer have a reason to hide, but it’s a habit I can’t get rid of. After years of bullying, staying out of everyone’s way is second nature. I’m a master of avoidance.

Students from all over the country study here, but a big chunk moved from the same private high school in Newport. Thankfully, Jake Grey’s influential father shipped him off to Brown. With the instigator of the bullying I endured for years gone, the harassment almost ceased in college.

His friends still find it entertaining to call me names sometimes, though it doesn’t happen often, and no one pushed me, tripped me, or slingshot a spitball at me since graduation.

Makes for a nice change.

I’ve been fairly undisturbed for six months, minding my own business. Students hardly noticed my existence... until the Spring Break party. Now, the spotlight’s back on my face. Although in a different way than I’m used to.

People pass me by, looking me over with approving smiles instead of distasteful scowls. A few even say hey, Mia, as I rush down the corridor leading to the courtyard.

Looks like manhandling and humiliating the football captain works wonders on social status...

It helps that Brandon’s a jerk. Most want him to fall from the pedestal he put himself on. I may have wobbled the foundations a bit.

Still, I expected rude comments or the occasional pushing and shoving from his friends while Brandon took time off school to heal his nose, but no. Everyone is eerily nice, which is why I’m looking over my shoulder again.

Past experience has taught me that my peers only act nice if they’re planning something I won’t like.