Loving War(38)

I’ve gotten used to the bathroom counter being covered in girly stuff. And I’ve grown used to seeing bras in very odd places—such as a doorknob or on the towel rack. We’ve developed a system quickly. And damn she can cook. Well, she can cook some things.

The only thing that is pissing me off is not being able to go out in public. I’ll be glad when the damn wedding is over and Tria and I can come out and announce we’re together. But next weekend we’ll be in New York, and I can finally take her out on an actual date. It sucks that I had to push the trip back, but I needed to handle a few deals here this weekend.

“Kode, you in here?” Corbin’s voice booms through the house, and I make a mental note to kick his ass for using his emergency key. If Tria had been in here naked, I would already be kicking his ass.

“What’s up?” I ask, closing the door to the bedroom behind me as I head toward the living room.

“Tria here?” He walks in holding a coffee cup, and he takes a sip before cursing it for being too hot.

“Why would Tria be here?” I ask, shrugging as though he hasn’t figured it out already.

He picks up a bra that is hanging over the back of a chair. Damn. She really does find bizarre places to leave those things. Or maybe I tossed that one there. It’s hard to keep up.

“Really?” he drawls, dropping the bra to the chair again. Depositing his cup to the small end table, he gives me a pointed look before continuing. “You gonna keep trying to play the dumb card with me?”

“That bra could belong to any girl,” I say flippantly.

He rolls his eyes while coming to drop down on the sofa. “Any word on Pete Mercer?”

My jaw ticks at the mention of his name. “Cops aren’t looking for him. Apparently all they do is issue an arrest warrant for breaking a restraining order. I’m looking into hiring a bounty hunter. Considering they usually work for bondsmen, that’s proving to be a little difficult.”

He nods while leaning back, and I take a seat next to him.

“Rain went to the condo where Tria is supposedly staying. Her car was there but she wasn’t, so she freaked out. I covered for you and told her that Tria was with me because she was blocked in. Since I conveniently live just down the road, she bought it.”

Rain is becoming a pain in the ass with her worry. I want to tell her to stop freaking out because I’m taking care of Tria.

“Where’s she at right now?” Corbin asks.

“Out. Her friend Brin came and picked her up. Tria wanted something new to wear to New York next weekend, but I wouldn’t let her leave alone. Not until Pete is found.”

His eyebrows go up in surprise. “You’re taking her to New York? Damn. I guess you really do care about her.”

“You thought I was lying?”

“Well, you never really said one way or the other, and you’ve been avoiding me like I’m the devil since Maverick’s party. Thought I’d come over and squash the awkwardness.”

Looking toward the door, I take a deep breath. Finally, I meet Corbin’s eyes again. Now that he’s here, everything I’ve wanted to get off my chest to someone is trying to bubble out. There’s only one thing driving me absolutely crazy in a bad way right now.

“I wish Dane had told the truth about the letter.”

He strangles on air as his eyes widen. “Seriously? Rain would hate you right now.”

“I know. But it would be out in the open, and Rain would eventually forgive me. Maybe. Dane and I could try to move on from it. And it wouldn’t be hanging over my head like a lit stick of dynamite right now. I’m seriously considering telling Tria after the wedding is over. I wouldn’t risk Rain finding out and it messing up her wedding.”

Corbin blows out a breath, and he leans forward to put his elbows on his knees. “You must really have it bad for Tria. I think it’s best to just let this one die with time. Dane knew she’d forgive him, but she wouldn’t forgive you, man. Not for that. And Tria… You could lose her, too. Rain and her are tight now.”

“I was eighteen when I stole the damn thing. It’s not like any of us thought rationally at that age. I was lovesick. And I swear I thought Dane was fucking anything that walked.”

He shakes his head slowly, probably wondering how things got so messed up so badly. Leave it to me to turn a stumble into a train wreck.

“You were eighteen when you stole it, but the fact that you kept it a secret for six years... A lot happened to both of them in those six years. You want Rain putting that shit on your shoulders?”

My stomach roils. It’s not like I haven’t already thought of that.