This is going to be a rough night. I was planning to seduce Dane, but now... shit. Kode will be heartbroken if he sees that.
"There you are," Raya squeals while running toward me and throwing her arms around my neck.
So wasn't expecting that. Raya is usually only affectionate with Kade.
"I still can't believe it, and it's been weeks since he proposed," she says while pulling back, her eyes going down to her ring.
I smile while running my finger over the large stone.
"Have you set a date?"
Most everyone is already here, and Dane and Maverick are arguing over who is the better griller as both of them neglect the grill. Dale steps in, grinning as he starts flipping the steaks, and Corbin talks up a pretty brunette by the bar.
"Not yet," Raya says through a wistful sigh.
"But soon," Kade adds as he comes to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her back to his front.
Another stab of envy hits when she melts against him, and my eyes once again travel over to the beautiful man dressed casually in a button-up, long-sleeved shirt and a pair of khaki shorts that hang just right on his waist. Raya and Kade get lost in each other, so they don't even notice when I step away, making my way over to Dane.
But my feet stumble over each other when a familiar set of sandy-blonde locks and a strong face are suddenly in view. Kode stares down at me before forcing a smile.
"Rain," he says softly, and I don't think before launching myself into his arms.
My tears fall as he pulls me to him, and I hold him tightly. I may not love him the way he wants me to, but I still love him in a different way.
"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.