Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(36)
The jealousy.
The rage.
She wouldn’t want me keeping tabs on her to ensure she’s safe; deciding whom she could be friends with so she wouldn’t waste time with people who are bad influences or those who can’t be trusted. As much as I’d like to keep that part of my character in check, I know it was why Kaya cheated on me with Jared.
She couldn’t stand the control.
No sane person would, but knowing I’m overreacting and ridding myself of the compulsive habits are two different things. It’s a disease like alcoholism.
I’m an addict, but my poison isn’t lethal, no matter the dose. My poison affects those around me more than me, but it’s as hard to quit as heroin or vodka.
“You’re forgiven,” she says, her voice a loaded whisper.
“Come with us, Mia. One drink. I’ll take you home if you don’t enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, but no.” She leans her back against the cabinets. “You’ve got the other girl to take care of. Why do you want me to come?”
I grip the marble countertop on both sides of her waist, the gesture uncontrollable. The moment I see her resting against something, I want to box her in, act on the intense need to keep her close, sheltered, safe.
“I don’t want her. One drink,” I repeat quieter.
“One drink,” she agrees with a shy smile. “You make me self-conscious when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m a warm triple chocolate brownie with a side of vanilla ice cream, and you’re on a strict no-sugar diet.”
The electric stress between us rears its full power, and I snap. So fucking fast I don’t see it coming. I grip her waist, hauling her onto the kitchen island, and immediately move my hands to her thighs.
She’s soft and warm and smells so sweet. “I’ve been on a no-sugar diet for a while.”
I slide my hands up, up, up her thighs, the tips of my fingers disappearing under her skirt. She trembles. Softly, but it sends heat surging across my nerve endings.
God... I need her lips more than my next breath. We’re both softly panting with need. Sparks fly between us, and I almost fucking lose it when she parts those plump lips, her eyes darting to meet mine as she pulls down a shaky breath.
“Is... um, is the other girl a brownie, too?”
“She’s a peanut M&M at best.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Two short vibrations mean it’s a text message. Instantly, without checking, I know it’s Cody.
My insides freeze. Lust morphs to shame, but I can’t unglue my hands from Mia’s warm skin. “Push me away,” I tell her, the words like razorblades slicing my tongue. “Now. You need to push me away.”
Her eyes lose their glow, and her smile slips. Disappointment clouds her pretty face, but like a good girl, she braces both hands against my chest, barely putting any pressure.
“I’m sorry, Mia, but this... we... we won’t fucking happen.”
THIRTEEN
Mia
“I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE FLYING, but maybe you could come watch?” Conor asks, shielding his eyes from the spring sun.
It’s almost the end of April. The temperature outside finally holds in the low seventies, and coats and cardigans are no longer required.
“If you promise you won’t try and convince me to jump, I’ll watch.”
The Hayes clan is skydiving on Friday, raising money for Monica’s Charity. This time, she chose to help a women’s shelter in Newport. Nico immediately pledged ten thousand for every Hayes and plus one who jumps.
Cody hands me a small tube of cookie dough ice cream he bought at the cafeteria. “It’d end with you puking all over the plane. Don’t worry. We won’t push. Just come and watch. I’m pretty sure Shawn will cry. You don’t want to miss that.”
“Why is he jumping if he’s scared?”
“Ego,” Conor says, stuffing his mouth with a spoonful of my ice cream. “We’ve got bets going on who’ll bail. You want in?”
“I bet you’ll be the first one out of that plane, and you...” I point at Cody, “...will land somewhere you’re not supposed to.”
“Nico will be the first one out of the plane,” Colt predicts, then scowls at something behind my back.
I turn to see Justin Montgomery making his way across the field, eyes on me.
“Not again,” Cody mutters, ripping the label off his coke bottle. “I don’t fucking like this, Mia. Don’t you think it’s odd they all suddenly want to take you out?”
“I don’t like it, either,” Colt huffs. “I could understand Finn, but you’ve been hit on by three different guys today alone. Something’s off, Bug.”
“You’re overreacting,” Conor drawls, laying back on the bleachers. “I overheard Finn talking to Ryan this morning. He sounded pretty bummed you shot him down.”
“And suddenly, every guy wants to date her?” Cody hisses quietly, glaring at Justin, who’s making his way up the bleachers like he’s climbing the stairs. “They didn’t know she existed before our Spring Break party.”
“Exactly.” Conor throws his arm over his eyes. Unaware that Justin is now within earshot. “Now they do. She’s polite, smart, and really pretty, don’t you agree? Why wouldn’t they want to date her?”