Page 22 of All for Love

KODY

When I pulled up in front of my dad’s house for dinner, Mercedes and Kaden’s cars were already there, which meant I was the last to arrive. I was also empty-handed, my plan to stop on the way for a bottle of wine or something forgotten once I’d gotten the Maserati on the open road.

That thing drove like a dream—a wet one. I’d had it for a few months, but I swore, driving it was the most fun a guy could have with his clothes on.

Grinning from ear to ear, I shut the driver’s door behind me and ascended the stairs. Before I could knock, the front door opened and Brooke waved me in. “Everyone else is out back.”

“Thanks.” I strode past her, feeling her resentment.

She shut the door behind us and fell into step beside me. Things had been tense between us for a long time now even though I’d apologized for things before, and she stared straight ahead as she walked through the house with me. Our footsteps echoed through the mansion and Brooke stoically ignored me, but her lips were pressed into a firm line and her nostrils were flaring like she was struggling to bite her tongue.

It was starting to look like she and Kaden were serious, which probably meant that I had to talk to her about it at some point, again. I’d been meaning to do it anyway, and since there was no time like the present, I supposed I might as well take this opportunity to just do it.

“Are we good?” I asked. “I know it’s a random question, but I thought I’d just check in with you.”

“Good?” she asked, not looking at me as her chest rose and fell on a deep breath. “Sure, Kody. We’re good.”

Reaching out, I put my hand on her shoulder to slow her down and then looked into her eyes. The hostility there was all the confirmation I needed that we were not, in fact, good. Not at all.

“I really do regret standing you up back in high school,” I said sincerely. “I also regret not having the nerve to tell you I wasn’t taking you to the prom.”

It was ancient history, but since it seemed to be affecting the present, I figured it needed to be said. Way back then, I’d let Kaden step in and tell her on my behalf that I wouldn’t be taking her anymore.

Brooke’s eyes were cool on mine as she shrugged. “That was a long time ago, Kody.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s just that I’m still getting this feeling that you’re bitter about it, and you’re with Kaden now. We should clear the air, don’t you think?”

Her brow puckered and she gave me a strange look before her lips curved into a half smile. “Has it ever occurred to you that it has to do with your character now and not when you were seventeen?”

Shaking her head, she brushed past me and headed for the patio, but I hung back for a minute, trying to process what she’d said. She’s not bitter about high school? This is about the way I am now? What the hell?

It gave me pause. I didn’t think I was that bad. Sure, I had my quirks, but everyone did. Why she felt this way about me when Kaden had been all the same things until recently, I didn’t know. She definitely didn’t seem to be holding it against him, but on the other hand, he’d always been the nicer one.

My brother suffered from the affliction of giving a shit. In general, I successfully managed not to. Life was too short to sweat every little thing. Okay, and I also get around more than he ever has, but I like sex.

So did he. Kaden just preferred to have it with only one person for an extended period of time nowadays whereas I was of the opinion that variety was the spice of life. Pressing in the corners of my lips, I released a deep breath through my nostrils and let it go.

Brooke didn’t have to love me. I’d tried to clear the air, but if she had some kind of problem with me, it would work itself out eventually. Maybe once she decided to talk it through with me instead of walking away.

Once I’d come to this conclusion, I followed her out to the patio, a heated solarium for the cooler weather, but what she’d said had still knocked me off my game. It was a double whammy when I got knocked even further off my game when I saw Mercedes.

My stepsister was looking gorgeous in a wine-colored turtleneck that was skintight, showing off all of her generous curves. Her thick brown hair was pulled back into some kind of elegant updo, elongating her neck and making her eyes look bigger.

Eyes that flashed when they met mine, her smile sharp. “Kody. How nice of you to join us.”

She glanced at Brooke, Kaden, and our parents sitting at the table and came over under the guise of saying hi. “Buckle up and keep your eyes off my ass, would you?”

The words came out on a harsh murmur, and I blinked hard, realizing that I hadn’t even looked at her ass yet. “How about your rack? You didn’t say anything about that.”

She sighed, disappointment in her eyes. She shook her head and made her way to the dining table. What is it with these women and shaking their heads at me? First Brooke and now Mercedes.

Idly wondering if they’d had some kind of meeting about it, I strode up to the table and greeted my brother, father, and his wife. Margaux stood up and smiled, embracing me warmly. “It’s so good to see you, Kody. Welcome and thank you so much for being here.”

Internally, I bristled. The chick was welcoming me to my own family home, but that being said, at least she didn’t seem to have attended the meeting. “Thanks, Margaux. It’s good to see you too.”

She was beaming when she released me and took her place next to my father, waving me into a seat across the table with Kaden and Brooke. “Can we get you something to drink?”

My dad chuckled, and one of the housekeepers came rushing out with a sparkling water and a tumbler of whiskey. She set it down in front of me, and Margaux flushed just like Mercedes had when I’d reminded her of the staff who would be taking care of everything.