Yeah... she hardly looks out of place.
His burning gaze moves to me, one eyebrow raised like he’s calling my bluff. “Out with it, Cody.”
I heave an exasperated breath, knowing damn well I’ve already lost the fight before it began. Nico won’t stop. He’s a bloodhound when it comes to family matters. He’ll push for details until I tell him exactly what’s happening.
“The reason Colt, Conor, and I had a drink last night without you four was that my girlfriend dumped me... and this morning she turned up to apologize.”
Nico leans in with a look of genuine concern as he rests one arm on the table, turning his body my way. “What happened, man? You didn’t tell us you had a girl.”
“I had a few good reasons not to. The main one is that the girl I won’t leave, no matter what you all say is—” I pause, quietly chuckling under my breath. “I’m starting to sound like Logan, aren’t I? He had a point, though. I love you all, but I’m not letting Blair go.”
The muscles in Nico’s shoulders tense on cue and his jaw clamps tight. I can almost hear his brain working overtime. It takes a long, tense minute of him processing, rationalizing, or using whatever information he already has to answer his own questions before he looks at me again.
“Blair Fitzpatrick,” he states for the record, then falls silent again, probably recalling everything Mia told him about the abuse she suffered at my girlfriend’s hand.
“There’s more to this story than you know, Nico, I—”
He raises his hand, shutting me up with that and a pointed, furious glare, then takes another long moment to think.
I like that about him. He usually thinks before he speaks.
Although right now, I’d rather have him lash out. The tension’s growing so fucking taut I’m uncomfortable in my own skin.
“Nico—”
“Shut. Up,” he grinds out, clenching his fists on the table.
So I do. I wait, the clock inside my head ticking as if counting down my last seconds on earth.
“I was nine when you were born,” Nico finally says, his tone level, though far from light. “I remember when you took your first steps, when you said your first word... I watched you grow up, Cody. You lived under my roof after you graduated high school. I saw you with countless girls and friends... I saw the kind of people you let close and I know the kind of person you are.” He inhales deeply, raking a hand through his hair before he looks me in the eye. “You wouldn’t be with a girl who was vile just for the sake of being fucking vile. Give me some credit. The fact you love her tells me—”
“I never said I love her. I just said I won’t leave her.”
A truly amused chuckle rips from his chest. Still a rare sound even now that Mia lightened his life. “That’s the same thing. You’re forgetting I watched Shawn, Theo, and Logan fall in love before it was my turn.” He drops his heavy hand on my shoulder, squeezing tightly. “You’re in love. Don’t fucking deny it. Out of all of us, you have the biggest heart, Cody. Ifyoulove this girl, you don’t have to prove to me that she’s worth it. I know it. And Mia will too, so instead of hiding Blair upstairs, bring her down here to meet the family.”
I didn’t realize how scared I really was of his reaction until now. He’s once again proved there’s nothing in this world that can tear our family apart. I pinch my lips, swallowing the wave of intense emotions burning my throat.
“Thanks, Nico. I meant it. I love her, but it means a lot that you’re not throwing punches right now.”
The corner of his lips twitches. “You thought I’d hit you?”
“At the very least. I knew you’d support me after you’d calmed down, but I thought the calming down would take longer.”
“It would probably be different if Blair hadn’t apologized to Mia a few weeks ago.”
“I didn’t know about that until last night. We weren’t a thing when she did that, so don’t think it was because of me.” I lift my glass, draining half the whiskey. “I wasn’t ashamed to bring her out yesterday like I planned, but tonight’s about Logan and Cassidy. B can meet everyone tomorrow.”
“Well, at least you’re smarter than Logan,” he says with a smirk. “I’m still annoyed he thought we’d abandon him.”
I laugh at that. “So am I. Conor said last night that the three of us turned out better than the four of you. We learned from your mistakes.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be. It rarely happens, so I’m glad you paid attention.” He pats my back, exhaling a deep breath when Mia approaches, the adorable sweet and stern act she’s got going on aimed directly at her man.
“It’s been half an hour since you promised to dance with me,” she says, holding her hand out to Nico.
He grabs it, kissing her knuckles, then passes her hand to me. “We have the whole night, baby. Now grab Cody and distract him. He’s been on edge all day.”
Dancing is the last thing on my mind, but Mia’s cute smile convinces me otherwise. I take her delicate hand, leading her into the middle of the couple-filled dance floor.
