"It's okay, Rain," he says softly, kissing the top of my head as he squeezes me tighter.
"You're not still mad at me?" I ask, sounding so damn pitiful that it makes me cringe.
He laughs low and deep, and then he bends to kiss my cheek. "Never was mad at you. Just hurt, babe. I'm good. Don't worry."
"Tria," I hear a voice from behind me announce, and Kode mutters something about possibly pushing her in the pool.
He wouldn't really do that. I don't think.
I look over to see Tria making her way toward Raya and Kade, and I frown. Dane keeps inviting her to stuff, and Tria keeps coming. She never says anything cruel or even mean. She actually goes out of her way to be nice. Maybe it's time to talk... I don't know.
And I really need to know what happened between her and Pete. Oddly enough, it actually worries me for her.
"Let me know if she causes problems," Kode says while wrapping his arm around my shoulders and guiding me toward Dane and the boys.
"I don't think she will," I murmur with a shrug, looking back at the blonde girl I've never really known as a sister.
She gives me a small smile, and I barely return it. We lived in the same house for five years, yet we barely know each other.
"Did you know Pete Mercer went to prison?" I ask while turning back around.
Kode frowns as he looks down at me. "I heard. Something about the cops finding him dealing drugs. Why do you ask?"
Apparently the guys haven't filled him in about the drama that night in the club.
"Just wondering. He seems to be blaming Tria."
Kode purses his lips, glancing in Tria's direction, but she doesn't notice.
"I can't imagine how she'd be the reason he was dealing drugs. He got off easy, from what I heard. He bothering her again?"
Kode is the type who would beat Pete into a pulp and end up in prison himself if I told him about the confrontation. Dane would probably be in the same cell if he knew everything Pete said. I just told him that he was drunk and acting like an ass.
"Not yet, but I'm worried he might," I say, keeping it as brief and non-descriptive as possible.
"If he does, let me know. I'll take care of it."
I'll let Maverick and Corbin take care of it. I'll send Dale to make sure they don't get too out of hand. Kode and Dane will be a hell no.
Dane steals the grill-master position back from Dale just as we near, and he turns to look at Kode draped around me. He doesn't make a single expression, but he also doesn't make eye contact with me.
"You're late," he says to Kode.
"Tria was later than me. Get on her ass," he says casually, motioning toward Tria with his head.
"Tria was dealing with something. What's your excuse?"
"I was dealing with something, too."
The smug smile on Kode is pretty adorable, and it takes me back to all the times I've seen that same expression. I've always loved his cocky side, because it's Kode.
Dane takes a long swig off of his beer, and focuses on moving the food around on the grill. From there, the guys start talking, and for the first time in six long years, we all laugh as though things are normal.
Dane steals a glance my way every so often and gives me a wink, but Kode's arm hasn't dropped from my shoulders. All I want to do is pull Dane aside and talk to him—about us. About our freaky perfect chemistry. But what if... what if I mess us up?
Since this craziness with Kode, I keep doubting my intuition.
After a few steaks are burned, and Dane and Maverick have an epic argument over proper meat handling—yes, meat handling—we finally eat and enjoy the night.
I absolutely adore Britt, even though she is the bluntest person I've ever met.
"So penis size is the reason for most male disputes," she says suddenly, well, randomly would be more accurate, and everyone at the table sputters their drinks.
"And this is a topic of conversation because?" Kode prompts, still laughing under his breath while leaning back in his chair.
He somehow managed to sit down right beside me, and Dane took the seat across from me. Britt is on his right, sipping her soda since Dane won't let her drink—underage.
His eyes are on me, seeming predatory, but his small, half-cocked grin is what has my heart pumping too fast. If I literally pass out, I'm kicking my own ass.
Tria is having a heated discussion with a girl I've never met before, and I stifle a grin when I hear what about.
"What are you two going on about?" Rye groans, glaring at them for answers. He showed up with Wren, who is without Erica once again.
"Boy bands of the nineties," they say in unison.
"You're joking," Wren says through a snort. "Why?"
"We're annoyed by all the stupid songs we used to love. Like that song the Backstreet boys sang... Um... Bye Bye Bye."