Page 49 of All for Love

MERCEDES

It didn’t take his twin to figure out that Kody was pissed after the interaction with his father. The mood had been ruined, and try as I might, I struggled to get back into it.

My body was yearning to be next to his too much, my arms longing to wrap around him and hold him while assuring him that we all knew his dad was an ass who had simply been trying to prove that he was still in control. At least, that was the conclusion I’d come to.

For some reason, the older man was suddenly wrestling with himself about having been out of action at the office for so long and he was grasping for something to make him feel like he was still needed there. Still important when the truth was that his sons had it all well in hand.

I didn’t doubt that my stepfather was an excellent businessman and that he’d done an incredible job with the company, but realistically, it didn’t need him anymore. Thanks to the fact that he’d also done an excellent job grooming them for the roles they were in now, he wasn’t important there anymore.

Or not as important as I was sure he’d have liked to be.

Whatever his reason for starting an altercation during what had been a perfectly pleasant first Thanksgiving dinner as a family, I didn’t appreciate it. Possibly because he’d taken on the man it was getting harder and harder to convince myself I didn’t have feelings for.

Sitting at that table, I’d felt like a lioness who’d wanted to tear her prey to shreds and present it to the male I considered the king of the pride as a gift. The only reason I’d held back was because it was no secret Kody and I had a rough start.

Suddenly leaping to his defense would’ve raised too many questions, and I hadn’t wanted to ruin Thanksgiving even more effectively by bringing the truth to light. I sighed as I walked into the kitchen after dinner, knowing the staff had probably already cleaned up but driven by habit and nostalgia to check.

As I’d thought, the space was spotless. Dishwashers were running and there was nothing left of our meal except for the sweet scent of the baked dessert we’d had still hanging in the air. With nothing left to do except wash my hands, I crossed over to the sink and tried to let go of my sudden hostility toward my stepfather.

I shouldn’t be reacting so very protectively. Kody was nothing to me and he was completely capable of handling his father by himself. He didn’t need my help, and even if he did, I couldn’t offer it without rousing suspicion.

Another heavy sigh fell from my lungs just as I heard the soft padding of footsteps entering the kitchen. When I glanced over my shoulder and saw Brooke standing next to the large center island, I smiled. “Oh, it’s you. Hi. Sorry. I thought you were—”

“Kody?” She shook her head. “No. Sorry.”

“I was going to say I thought you were my mother.” I hadn’t thought anything of it when I’d seen it was Brooke, but it didn’t take long before I realized I was cornered.

“Either way, I wanted to talk to you about Kody.” She’d lowered her voice, and she glanced at the door to make sure we were still alone before turning back to me. “He’s not a good man, Mercedes. You’re taking a massive risk with him, and he’s just not worth it.”

“Excuse me?” I blinked hard, shutting off the water and grabbing a dish towel to dry my hands as I spun to face her and crossed my arms. “Where is this coming from?”

Brooke didn’t flinch and she didn’t skip a beat. Clearly, she’d come in here prepared and she wasn’t going to be deterred. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t warn you. I realize we haven’t known each other that long and that we don’t know each other that well, but I like you. I feel like we’re becoming friends, and even if that wasn’t the case, I’d warn any woman against that dick.”

My eyebrows jumped as I stared at her. “That dick you’re talking about is my stepbrother.”

“Fair enough, but I’ve known said stepbrother a lot longer than you have. Did you know Kody asked me to prom when I went to high school with them?”

My heart was suddenly thudding against my ribs, a painful throb settling at the center of it as I stared back at the beautiful woman in front of me and realized he’d had real feelings for her once. He’d have had to if he’d taken her to prom.

Oh, God. Did they sleep together? That’s what prom is for right, fucking?

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and then reminded myself that she was with Kaden now. If he could get over whatever had happened between them, then I supposed I could do the same.

“I, uh. No. I suspected you guys all had a history, but I didn’t know you went to prom with him.”

She snorted. “That’s just it. I didn’t go to prom with him because he bailed. Stood me up and then left Kaden to clean up his mess. That’s just what Kody’s like, Mercedes. He was a selfish, entitled jerk then and he hasn’t changed.”

I played dumb, not ready to admit to her that I didn’t see him that way at all—or that I was relieved they hadn’t gone to prom together. “Thanks for telling me all this, but you didn’t have to. Why should I care about Kody or the fact that he’s a jerk?”

Brooke sighed, her eyes gentle as she gave me an understanding smile. “Kaden told me you guys had a fling, which is why I felt that I should warn you. Look, you’ll get no judgment from me. I don’t care that your parents are married or anything like that, and I even understand the appeal. Once upon a very long time ago, I was attracted to him as well, but don’t let him fool you. He may be hot, charming, and loaded, but he’s not good enough for you.”

I pulled back my shoulders. “Again, thanks for the warning, but it’s really not necessary. For the record, though, I don’t think you’re right about him. Not anymore, anyway.”

“You’re entitled to your opinion and I don’t mean to step on your toes, but this is inappropriate. I may not care that your parents are married, but they certainly will. You need to call it off.”

“There’s nothing to call off.” Technically, that was true.

We had slept together again, but we hadn’t talked about whether that meant we were on or whether it’d been one last hurrah. I didn’t want to talk about it and I was pretty sure he didn’t want to either. Which was our business.