Page 160 of Monstrous Serpent

“Gotcha there.” I lean down and press a soft kiss to his lips. “Seriously, I forgive you, okay?”

“Okay.”

Dropping back down, I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. Tonight was everything I’ve imagined. Except now, I keep picturing Cody here with us.

But he isn’t.

And I’m not sure he wants to be.

Chapter 40

Cody

I scroll through the group chat for the third time in an hour. A week of Atlas and Hunter checking in. A week of me sending back one-word answers. Like, somehow, keeping them at a distance is going to make me figure out what the fuck to do.

It hasn’t.

The sane move is obvious. Walk away. Find someone who doesn't come with a literal body count. Except I don't want to. And that's the part that's fucking with me the most.

I can’t even talk to anyone about it. Like how the fuck do you explain that you love two psycho dipshits who kill people? And those fucking assholes dropped all that murder bullshit on me now when I should be concentrating on recovery instead.

After tossing my phone onto the cushion, I close my eyes. “Really want to slap the shit out of both of them.”

“Can I punch Hunter?”

“No.” I glare at my little brother as he walks into the room and hands me a juice box. “Thanks.”

He sits next to me, grabs the remote, then turns on that stupid volleyball anime Atlas got him hooked on. Swear my little brother thinks everything that guy does is the greatest thing ever. Makes me want to vomit more than the pain meds.

But how pissed Davis still is at Hunter . . . I don’t get it.

Not really.

Doyle showed me a video of the fight. It wasn’t the worst either of us ever had. Except Atlas didn’t defend himself, just stood there and cried as Hunter punched him. And the look on Hunter’s face . . . my stomach twists, throat tightening.

Never seen him look scared before.

Didn’t Davis notice?

My little brother smiles as he taps the play button.

Clenching my teeth, I adjust on the couch and settle in as best I can because this fucking TLSO brace makes getting comfortable damn near impossible. “This entire show is nothing but one volleyball tournament after another. Do they do anything else?”

Davis whips around, mouth agape. “It's about the people. And the rivalries. And whether Hinata's gonna pull off something insane. Ugh, you don’t get it.”

“He’s like five foot two.”

“And amazing. You’re just a hater.”

I huff. “Thought Nishinoya was your favorite.”

He laughs. “So, you have been paying attention. And yeah, he’s super cool. He’s best friends with Asahi, who is really tall like Atlas. Maybe next year Atlas and I can dress up as them for Halloween.”

Oh, fuck my life right now.

“Davis, not sure if . . . I don’t know—”

The doorbell rings, and my little brother jumps off the couch to answer it. Better be one of his friends. Could use a moment to myself. Or maybe not, because I’ll just drive myself insane trying to figure out what to do about my two murderous boyfriends.