Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(19)

“You’re in no state to go shopping. You need a shower, Mia. I’ll take you home.”

“Oh...” I glance at the brown stains on my dress, pressing the damp fabric. “I forgot about that. At least I smell nice.”

The triplets chuckle, shaking their heads, but Nico’s not amused. I thought we were past the glaring. Still, even the icy stare of his dark, almost black irises fuels my burning ache.

As a little girl, I watched too many fairy tales, dreaming up my perfect man early into my teenage years.

A true gentleman.

Tall.

Handsome with a great sense of humor.

Smart.

Polite.

Nico’s a long way off that. Half the time, I don’t think I’m even comfortable around him. He rarely smiles, and there’s always that irritated spike to his voice.

I crushed on a few boys before. I’ve been on a dozen dates this past year, but I’ve never been attracted to anyone like this. Not one man who crossed my path thus far awoke the will to surrender my mind and body... until him.

Just my luck he doesn’t like college girls or blondes.

“Why did Blair spill coffee on you?” he asks. His clipped tone knots my stomach.

I don’t understand him. He’s a kaleidoscope of ruthless, crude, and arrogant ninety-nine percent of the time, but when we sat in his living room, he seemed at ease. I thought I broke through his tough exterior. I mean, he smiled. It’s probably sad that making him smile was the highlight of my day, but it was.

“She’s in love with Brandon,” I explain, pinching the hem of my dress. Maybe I should wring the coffee out... “He got too close to me.”

“So Brandon’s in love with you?”

Colt scoffs, scratching his chin. “Brandon’s only in love with himself. He wants Mia in his bed, and he’s frustrated she doesn’t want to be there.”

“He can’t stomach that she keeps shooting him down so he tries all sorts of stupid things to fuck her,” Cody adds, making me cringe.

If my age and hair color wasn’t a good enough reason for Nico to steer clear, the undeniable drama sure is.

SEVEN
Nico

FREQUENCY ILLUSION.

It’s a thing. I googled the phenomenon because it bothered me that suddenly Mia appears wherever I go.

Even though Newport Beach isn’t big, I hadn’t seen her once before the Spring Break party, but since then, I’ve already seen her a dozen times.

She’s everywhere. Rushing down the street with a cup of coffee in hand; collecting takeout from a restaurant I’m getting food from; in the café by Toby’s studio; on the back seat of a cab when I stop at the lights.

Turns out, I’m not going mad, and it’s not a freak coincidence. It’s just how our brain works. Once we’ve noticed something the first time, we see it more often, leading us to believe it’s a high-frequency occurrence.

It’s not. I notice Mia because I met her. I probably saw her a hundred times before but never noticed because my brain wasn’t looking.

Now it’s on the lookout non-stop. I see her... and whenever I do, I drive myself crazier because I don’t fucking want to see her. I don’t want to think about her.

She’s a college chick. A teen.

Blonde.

Shy.

Dainty.

Granted: pretty with great taste in music, clever, and unreasonably adorable, which isn’t something I ever found attractive, but here we are.

Despite seeing her almost every day, I don’t engage unless I bump into her somewhere where there’s no choice, like Rave. Although that’s not the best example considering I shot out of my seat the second I spotted her in the crowd, leaving my friends with deep lines creasing their foreheads.

But... I don’t stop the car when I see her out in the street, even though I really, really want to.

That’s got to count for something.

Her playlist plays in my car, office, and ear non-stop, fueling my intense craving for the pretty little blonde.

My brothers don’t help, unknowingly reminding me I’m an asshole. Whenever Colt or Conor ask Cody how he’s doing with Mia, I hate myself more. The fact he made zero progress doesn’t help. I hope the obsessive thoughts will cease once she’s officially his, but he’s not moving forward.

“She’s like a doe, Nico. I’ll scare her off if I make one false move. I need to tread lightly.”

She’ll never be his with that attitude. Mia’s shy, awkward, and gullible, which is why she needs a man who’ll take control. Cody tiptoes too much. He’s overly careful like he’s dealing with a mythical creature that’ll disappear in a puff of smoke. He needs a few lessons, but I can’t find the words when I try giving him pointers.

That’s a lie.

I can find the words just fine, but I don’t want to because I’m a selfish bastard, and I don’t want to help him.

It’s finally Friday today. Last day of the week. I deserve a prize considering I’ve successfully talked myself out of finishing work early to drive to college under some idiotic pretext to get a glimpse of Mia.

Fucking ridiculous.

I’m only hooked because I can’t have her.

Yeah, that’s it. She’s out of my reach. Unavailable. Claimed by my brother, and I don’t do well when I’m not allowed.