Page 32 of All for Love

MERCEDES

One of the great things about the executive wing at Wagner Industries was that the bathrooms were more than just a row of stalls in one big, common space. They were separate rooms each containing a toilet, sink, and even an armchair.

Some had showers, but the one I’d chosen didn’t. I’d simply run to the one at the far end of the corridor. As far away from my stepbrothers as I could get.

Staring at my reflection in the gilded mirror mounted on the wall, I wiped away my tears and the mascara stains. I dragged in a deep breath in an attempt to stem the tide. I can’t believe Kaden knows! How humiliating!

I wanted to curl up in a ball and die. It would be easier than having to walk out there and face him. What must he think of me right now?

That I have loose morals. Among other things.

Kody and Kaden had also been arguing when I’d walked in, which meant I’d come between them. I’d caused that argument, and the last thing I needed was for Kody to blame me for a rift between him and his twin.

He hated me enough as it was. Besides, the two of them fighting was as good as a guarantee that our parents would eventually find out. The twins were very different, but if they really got into it and kept arguing while looking at each other like they were going to start throwing punches, their dad was sure to intervene.

And when he did, the truth would come out.

Fresh tears pressed at the backs of my eyes and I inhaled a shaky breath. I’d known this would all blow up in my face sooner or later, but I hadn’t been expecting it to happen today. Just hours after I’d told Ellora that Kody and I were done before it could get out.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and my entire body jerked. “Occupied!”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m here,” Kody said from the other side.

I frowned, scowling at myself in the mirror. What the hell does he want now? “Go away, Kody.”

A few seconds later, the door opened anyway and he poked his head in. “Can we talk?”

I shook my head. “Not right now. Go away. I just want to be alone.”

Kody’s blue eyes met mine in the mirror, and they were softer than they’d ever been when looking at me. In contrast, his features were hard, but for once, it wasn’t anger I was looking at. It was worry. His brow was puckered, there was a slight crease between his eyes, and that was definitely worry brewing in those pretty blue depths.

His hair fell over his forehead and he hung his head. Then he stepped into the room with me and shut the door behind him. “I’m not leaving.”

“Evidently so. Why not?”

Those eyes rose back to mine. He pushed off the door and strode in to grab a tissue from the box on the back of the toilet. Holding it up like he was showing me what he was about to do, he crossed over to me, standing so close that our chests brushed on every inhale.

Moving slowly, he brought his hand up and gently wiped my tears away. Shock radiated through me. He held my gaze, so tender as he lifted my chin to see better in the light.

“I can’t leave you alone when you’re crying,” he murmured, eyes searching my cheeks as he kept dabbing at them. “It’s not right. No one should cry alone.”

“Some people want to.”

He shrugged, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips. “Well, those people don’t know me. Plus, that’s a lie. Some people say they want to be alone when they’re crying, but it’s not because they actually want to be. It’s because they’re embarrassed by their tears or because they think they look ugly and they don’t want anyone to see them that way.”

“What are you, a shrink now?”

He chuckled softly. “Sales involved a certain amount of psychology, so yes. Let’s say I’m a shrink now. Are you okay?”

Releasing my chin, he scrunched the tissue in his hand and let it fly straight into the waste basket. I let out a long breath as I kept looking up into those surprisingly gentle eyes, aware of the fact that he hadn’t put any space between us when he let go of me.

For that moment, just this once, he was right. I didn’t really want to be alone. I also didn’t want him to see me crying about this, but it was too late for that now.

As he kept staring at me, he brought his hand back to my face and stroked my cheek. “Your eyes look even greener when you’re crying. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t like that you’re crying, but it’s a beautiful color.”

“Thank you.” I sniffled as he ran his thumb along my jaw. “Is he really mad at us?”

Kody smiled, but even that was gentle. In fact, right now, there was nothing mocking, cocky, or hostile about him. It was like he’d checked that guy at the door, and behind it, alone with me, he was letting me see who he really was without all the bullshit bravado he was usually wrapped in.