Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(48)

Fuck. My hands grow cold, coated with sweat, and an airless mounting sense of unease settles in my lungs.

I should’ve talked to him sooner.

“You convinced Mia to jump out of the plane with you, and you glare at Cody whenever he’s not attentive enough,” Colt says, leaning back in his chair. “You fucking kissed her, Nico. You kissed her.”

“She told you?”

Or maybe something less incriminating...

Theo gasps, hiccups, and gasps again. “You kissed Cody’s girlfriend? Bro!” His eyes widen, bigger than silver dollars. “That’s... nooo, that’s just nooo. What were you thinking?!”

“Mia’s not Cody’s,” I growl, squeezing the back of my neck. “He wants her, but she’s not his. Not yet.” I lift my gaze to Colt. “I can’t believe she told you.”

“She didn’t, but I saw how she touched her lips the whole bus ride back here earlier.”

She did? I wouldn’t know because—pissed off—I took the front seat, shoved both earphones in, and blasted Guns N’ Roses on full volume.

“She kissed me,” I explain with a deep, defeated groan. “We just landed. I think she needed to let the adrenaline out somehow and used me. It was nothing, Colt. A peck at best, but...” I rest my elbows on the table, massaging my temples. “...I lost it. I pulled her back because I couldn’t not kiss her. I’ve been fighting this for weeks.”

Maybe it’s good they know. Maybe they’ll help. I need them to tell me I can get over this crush. That I can forget about Mia. That it’s not a big deal.

“Believe me, I don’t want to feel this way, but she’s on my mind the second I wake up, the last second before I fall asleep, and every fucking second in between.” I down the shot, slump my elbows back on the table, and hide my face in my hands while my brothers keep quiet. “So, yeah... I kissed her. I like her, and I hate that I do, but I can’t stop.”

“You like her?” Theo echoes on my right, his tone hovering between skepticism and surprise. “But... she’s small. Like, really, really small, and you’re not.” He nudges me, so I’d lift my head. “You look like you could fucking eat her, Nico.”

Conor bursts out laughing. “I bet that’s all he wants to do.”

“She’s young!” Theo continues. His hands flap, missing my face by an inch. “Shy, and... did I mention small?!”

“I get it. She’s short.”

“Short? She’d need a stool to kiss you.” He slams his hand on my back. “I hate to break it to you, but you fucked up. You deserve whatever Cody throws your way when he finds out. Liking her is one thing but kissing her was way out of line. Even if she’s not Cody’s yet, you had no right to go after her.”

“I know,” I grind out. “Don’t forget that never touch your brother’s girl was my addition to our rules.”

“Okay, just for a moment, imagine Cody’s not interested in Mia,” Colt says, twirling an empty shot glass on the table. “What do you do?”

“Don’t make me think about it.”

“Entertain me,” he insists, and Conor elbows his ribs, hissing something I can’t hear. “What do you do? You fuck her and leave her hanging like the rest of them?”

“No.” The word shoots from my lips. “This isn’t about sex, Colt. I don’t know if I want her because I can’t have her or because I’m—”

“Falling in love?” Theo cuts in, horror greasing his voice. “Shit, this is fucked up. You can’t do this to Cody!”

“I think you’ve had enough for tonight.” I snatch the bottle from his hand and take his shot glass. “You’re drunk. I’m not falling in love with her.”

“I think you are,” Conor hums, wagging his eyebrows. “It doesn’t matter, though. You wouldn’t last. She’s not adventurous or forward enough for you. She’s a good girl. Mellow. As innocent as they come. In every sense of the word.”

“She’s a virgin?!” Theo exclaims, his drunken theatrics in high gear. His face will get stuck in a permanent state of deep shock if he’s not careful. “How old is she?”

“Nineteen.” Colt hands the bottle of vodka back to Theo, gesturing for him to pour a round. “You’re our brother, Nico, but Mia’s our lil’ sis, and we will break you if you hurt her.”

I narrow my eyes, wondering which of us is drunker because he’s talking nonsense, and I’m thinking nonsense, rehearsing my next sentence.

I won’t ever hurt her.

I throw the disgusting liquid at the back of my throat, enjoying the burning sensation as it warms my insides.

“Mia and Cody?” he scoffs, irritation evident by a shake of his head as he stares Conor down when he elbows him again. “They won’t happen. We all love her. We all keep her safe, but Cody’s the most big-brotherly.” He leans over the table like he wants to make sure I’m listening. “He’s not into her. He just didn’t want her to be your toy.”

“Why did you tell him?!” Conor whines, throwing his hands in the air. The drunken bliss on his face morphs into a confused mess. “Cody will kick your ass!”