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26
Trick Question
“I’m sorry,” Roni said to him when they were driving back to her place.
“For what?” he asked.
“How can you ask me that?” she said. “You just sat through the same dinner as I did.”
“I did,” he said. “And it wasn’t that bad.”
“Of course you wouldn’t think that,” she said. “I’m the one that didn’t come out smelling like a rose.”
He laughed at her. “You smell pretty good to me. I’m not sure what is going through your mind though.”
“My brother tried to test you,” she said. “That’s embarrassing and a poor reflection on him. I said you two would get along great and yet I don’t know that you’d do that to someone.”
“Are you kidding me?” he said. “I might not have done that, but we gave Cody a hard time with Raina. I wasn’t as bad as Jonah who threatened to punch Cody in the face a few times.”
“What?” she asked. “That’s horrible. I thought Cody was a nice guy. I mean I’ve never met him before, but I haven’t heard anything horrible either.”
Trent started to laugh. “Cody is a great guy. He loves Raina and I’m not sure I could have or would have picked anyone else out for Raina.”
His sister had gone through a trying period when she was in college. She’d been drugged and would have been raped at a party if her friend Tori hadn’t found her in time.
For years Raina was skittish to date or be around men or at parties. She didn’t go out or do much at all.
When Jonah and he found out she was dating Cody they both went into their overprotective modes.
It wasn’t necessary though because Cody had been wonderful for his sister.
“Then why would Jonah say those things?” she asked.
“Because Raina is our baby sister and we are protective of her. Like Jax is of you.”
“He doesn’t need to be,” she argued.
“I believe he feels otherwise.”
She sighed. “I always went to him for everything before my parents when it came to Jeff. I mean after I left Jeff and the legal documents started to come in. I’d ask him for his opinion.”
“Not help?” he asked.
“No. Not financially or anything. Though my parents and he always wanted to help I wouldn’t take it. I lived at home and I worked. I had money and could support Eli just fine. I just couldn’t afford to be on my own and do all those things. Or not have any breathing room. But years of living there and putting money away gave me a nice cushion.”
“But you valued Jax’s opinion and advice?” he asked.
“I did and I do. And maybe because I always went to him before for things, he almost feels as if he has to step in when I don’t need him to now.”
“Could be. But as an older brother myself, I’m not sure I’ll ever feel as if I shouldn’t step in and be there for Raina even though I know Cody has it covered.”
“Why can’t Raina have it covered on her own?” she asked, lifting her chin. “Why does some man have to be there to do it for her?”
“This is a trick question,” he said. “But I’m good in situations like this. First, I never said Raina couldn’t do anything on her own. Because she can. She’s tough as can be and Jonah and I made sure of it. Second, I said ‘be there’ for Raina. Not do something for her. Being there means a shoulder to put her head on. A sounding board if she needs advice or to just vent.”
She lifted her eyebrows at him. “You saved yourself.”
“Gee,” he said. “Thanks. I didn’t know I had to do any saving.”
