Brooke should be concentrating on her studies, not warming some guy’s bed after a night of drinking. He wanted to go over and give her the talking-to of her life. She shouldn’t be giving herself to every random guy she met at a party.
Wait.
He went still.
All of a sudden reason returned. He was being ridiculous.
That wasn’t Brooke.
That wasn’t the girl he knew.
But the girl he watched grow up wasn’t the woman standing across the room. He had to accept she’d changed. How much, he didn’t know.
Still, he had no idea if she was seeing anyone, let alone sleeping around. She wasn’t that kind of girl. At least, he hoped she wasn’t, because then…
What?
What are you going to do?
You love sex. Why shouldn’t she?
I want it to be me.
Oh God. What was he thinking?
“Thank God your party days are over.” Kristi interrupted his consuming thoughts. “I much prefer the upstanding lawyer you are now to the rowdy frat boy you used to be back on campus.”
Kristi put her hand on his forearm. “You can’t seriously think Brooke spends her weekends studying in the library. She’s a pretty girl. I’m sure more than one college guy has noticed.”
Anger flashed hot and swift through his system.
Kristi recognized it. “Oh, come on, Cody. Playing big brother now is a little like closing the barn door after the horse is already out. Wouldn’t you say? I mean, she’s all grown up. I have to say I prefer this mature version of her to the little girl who chased after you, unmercifully embarrassing you in front of friends and colleagues.”
“We’re friends,” he said to explain the way Brooke behaved. She thought she loved him. It had been cute most of the time, and annoying some of the time. She had a way of looking at him and knowing just how he felt, and what he was thinking. She knew when he needed to bend her ear, and when he needed her to bulldoze her way past his temper and make him laugh.
He was an asshole for taking all her adoration and pretending he didn’t see how he hurt her when he didn’t reciprocate. He simply didn’t know a better way to handle it.
So he let it go and took the easy way out to preserve their friendship.
So she wouldn’t turn away from you. Like she is now.
His chest ached with that too-true thought.
Kristi’s face turned red and her anger boiled over. She actually snapped at him. “Friends don’t flirt.” She took a deep sip of her wine and seemed to calm herself. “She’s finally realized you love me. I like the way things have been the last few days that Brooke has been home. She’s stopped being your shadow. She’s backed off, and I appreciate it. You should, too.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Kristi. Brooke is part of my life. She always will be.”
Too busy watching Brooke say hello to some young guy, Cody ignored Kristi’s scowl.
I’m jealous and I shouldn’t be.I chose Kristi. I’m with her. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop looking out for Brooke.
Kristi stepped into his line of sight and held his gaze, hers frosty. “Take a step back, Cody, like she has. Put the relationship on the level it should be now. Stop acting like you can’t stand seeing her with those guys. They’re her friends, too. She’s known them for years, and here you are acting like they’re going to take her away from you.”
That would never happen. They were family. Sorta.
“I know you two are close, honey,” Kristi said, echoing his thoughts. “But, please, let her loose. She has her own life. You have yourswith me. I know you like being the only man in her life, but you can’t expect that to always be the case.”
“I don’t.” Something shook in his chest when the words left his lips.
