I HACK THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT with my fist when Mia disappears inside the house. Her tear-stained face lingers at the forefront of my mind. I’m so uncomfortable in my own fucking head I wish I could rip it off.
Knowing that my twisted personality: the jumping-to-conclusions way too fast, and the hot-headed temper are why she’s upset drives me insane.
I never want to see that girl cry again. I never want to see her chin quiver and those big eyes fill with tears.
“Are you gonna go after her or…?” the driver asks.
The headrest on the passenger seat has split in two under my fist, and the concerned, frightened look on the guy peeking in the rearview mirror tells me he’d be more than thrilled if I got the hell out of his car. He can’t be older than me, but he’s half my size. I doubt he’ll try his luck at forcing me out.
I pull a wad of cash from my wallet to cover the fare and damages. “Nineteen-oh-six Port Ramsey Way.”
“That’s too much, man.” He taps the meter, where the fare isn’t even twenty bucks yet. “Besides, she already paid.”
“Then you’re getting paid twice. The rest is for damages. I don’t have the energy to argue. Take it and get me home, alright?”
“Yeah, alright,” he hums, turning the radio up loud enough that I make out “Scrubs” by TLC but not loud enough to stop him talking. “You want to break a window or two? Slash a tire? You know… get your money’s worth and unwind.”
I leave it without comment, ripping the pink wrapping paper off the gift. My head hits the back of the seat when I pull out the LP Mia got me. I’ve got this album at home, but I sure don’t have it signed by the band with Dream on, Nico written across the front.
I’ve no idea how she made this happen. It must’ve cost a small fortune and a lot of favors unless she’s friends with the band.
Even trashing the whole car wouldn’t put a dent in my foul mood now. I’m sure Mia didn’t mean it that way, but this gift, the thought behind it… fuck. It feels like she purposely extracted every last ounce of humiliation from this situation, trying to put me in my place.
A job well done.
I thought I had her all figured out. Twice. But I was wrong both times. She’s nothing like Kaya, and she sure isn’t as spineless as I pegged her for since she managed to put this dent in my confidence.
I grab my phone, letting Toby know I won’t join them in Q. Then I text Cody.
Better he finds out from me than Mia.
Me: I made your girl cry.
And I’ve never felt so raw.
Kaya bawled her eyes out a hundred times, but her tears never hit me like Mia’s. A kick to the balls is a walk in the park in comparison.
Instead of a text, an incoming call flashes up, my brother too impatient to shoot messages back and forth.
I inhale a deep breath before answering.
“What did you do?” Cody clips. “Why were you even with her? She’s with her sister!”
“Not anymore. Aisha prefers Toby. She ditched Mia and I… I jumped to conclusions. Why didn’t you tell me she’s the girl Asher almost raped last year?”
“Because it’s none of your business and not my story to tell. What did you do?!”
I push my flaring temper back down. Cody has the right to be pissed off. “Justin Montgomery was all over her in Tortugo. She didn’t push him away but shot me that look Kaya always did when she let assholes touch her—”
“And you thought she’s just like your ex. Fuck! She’s not. She’s a little awkward and barely holds her own, Nico.”
She can hold her own just fucking fine if you ask me.
“She timid and useless at confrontation,” he continues, his tone bordering on a scream. “She’s nothing like Kaya.”
“Yeah, I gathered that much when she explained why she didn’t push Justin away. Then she told me about Asher.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Listen, just check up on her, okay? I brought her home.”
“Did you apologize?”
“I tried. She didn’t let me.”
“You’re unbelievable! I knew you’d find a way to hurt her. I just assumed you’d fuck her when you said she’s gorgeous.”
He’s hundreds of miles away, but his words fly all the way here, hitting me right in the gut. Cody’s changed a lot over the past few years. From a careless, stupid kid to a man who not only has principles but acts on them, too.
He’s more like me than any other Hayes in that department. Less of a short-tempered prick, though. That’s Colt.
“She’s yours, Cody. You’re my brother. I wouldn’t go after her, regardless of how pretty she is. I’m sorry I upset her, okay? I didn’t want you to find out from her first.”
Cody scoffs. “She won’t tell me shit. She’ll be too scared we’ll argue.”
“Too late for that.”
“Damn right. Just stay away from her. She doesn’t need your bullshit. She’s got enough to deal with.”
He cuts the call, not letting me get another word in. And once again, I’m uncomfortable in my own head. I never argue with my brothers. We disagree, sure, but I’ve never pissed any of them off the way I did Cody tonight.
It only goes to show how much he cares about Mia. He might be taking his sweet time, but he’s serious about her. And I need to let that thought finally sink.
“We’re here,” the driver says, pulling me out of my head. “That your house, man?”
“Yeah.”
He bobs his head, glancing out at the three-story villa I call home. “I don’t feel bad about taking your cash anymore.” He turns in his seat, handing me his card. “Call me if you ever need a ride.”
I grab the card, ready to leave, but something on the seat catches my eye. The peacock feather lies there crumpled, the stem broken in two places.
A moment later, I’m in my house, the feather in my hand and a questionable idea in my head.
