Page 76 of Sour Notes

How did I not see it?

I spent the last twenty-something years half in love with her—watching her, pining for her.

But somehow, I still managed to miss every sign that she spent almost a decade suffering in a relationship with a toxic bastard.

We all did.

Do the girls even know how bad he was?

Punching the sofa again in frustration, I exhale a heavy breath.

She shrunk into herself tonight. Her elegant shoulders curled inward, like she was trying to disappear. I doubt she even knew she was doing it, but we’re trained to notice these things in my line of work.

The signs were all there.

I don’t know if he ever laid a hand on her, but he sure as hell verbally abused her. A blind man could’ve seen that tonight. But if I ever find out he did more—if he hit her—I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from spilling blood.

No man should ever lay a hand on a woman, and I’ll make damn sure he learns that.

I jerk on this godforsaken sofa, knocking myself off balance, tumbling to the floor with a thump.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

Maybe I should just sleep here. It’s as hard as the damn sofa, but at least I can stretch out.

“Swayze?” Mia’s sleepy voice calls out in the dark.

Shit, now I’ve gone and woken her.

“Yeah, sorry. I’m okay. Go back to sleep.”

“Why don’t you stop huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf and come to bed already? It’s more than big enough and we’re both adults. Trying to sleep on that tiny thing's just stupid.”

Did she just say… come to bed?

I didn’t hit my head and imagine that, right?

“Swayze?” Her voice is sharper now, laced with exasperation.

Well, fuck.

Sharing a bed for two weeks with the person I’m burning with need for?

The one I can’t have?

Is that smart?

Maybe I should take my chances with the pool bed outside.

A little cold might not be a bad thing if the alternative is throwing myself into the fiery gates of Hell with temptation inches away from me.

Before I can decide, Mia appears in front of me, glowing in the moonlight reflecting off the pool like some ethereal angel.

Wait, is she⁠—

“Is that my shirt?” My voice comes out gruff, and I bite my tongue to stop the groan threatening to rip out of me. She glances down and flashes me a sheepish smile.

“Umm, yeah, sorry. I usually sleep naked so I totally forgot to pack PJs. I was just in my panties, but I figured you wouldn’t appreciate that, so I grabbed the first thing I could find.”