Why did Kode bring this? I’m not ready to read it yet. Then again, I did break up with him, so maybe he doesn’t feel comfortable holding it.
With a sigh, I shove it into the kitchen drawer—one I never use—and shake my head while staring at nothing. I don’t have the strength to be broken again right now, especially at the hands of my dead father.
***
TRIA
“I can’t believe you really came,” Rain says, beaming as she makes her way toward me.
The bomb she dropped on me earlier shocked me, but I’m so damn happy for her and Dane.
“I’m here. How’s Dane doing with Carrie?”
She grins bigger. “He and Elizabeth are a force. We’ll have Carrie living with us by next weekend. Elizabeth knows everyone who is anyone, and Dane has the money to get this rushed. He wants to be the savior for Carrie that Elizabeth was for him. It’s really so amazing.”
“I think so, too,” Britt—Dane’s sister—says as she joins us.
Her long red locks are a little wild tonight. I smile down at her Wonder Woman shirt and tilt my head.
“You look… different.”
She smiles and nods. “I found Comic Con. Dane took me. It’s so awesome, and he bought me a ton of comic books that have female superheroes.”
The delight in her voice is so new. Normally she’s so robotic. Now she’s standing here looking like the cutest, happiest girl she can be.
“And he bought her every article of clothing that had her favorite heroines on it,” a familiar voice says from close behind me, seconds before a hard body is flush against my back.
I go stiff immediately, and Rain bites back a grin. I came here because of Kode, but now that he’s so close, I’m freaking the hell out.
“Hey, Britt, Rain.” They both greet him as he leans down to my ear, and in an entirely different, deeper, and sexier tone, he gets against my ear and says, “Tria. You look incredible.”
Breathing… How do I breathe? The air goes where?
I don’t move—mostly because I can’t—and Kode continues talking to Britt who is animatedly recapping the Comic Con experience. His body stays pressed closely to mine until I don’t have the strength to endure it anymore.
“I need a drink,” I say while quickly walking away.
Rain jogs to catch up with me, and she loops her arm through mine. Her cheeky grin doesn’t go with the angry snarl she had a week ago.
“Kode is completely sober and all over you. I love it,” she sighs.
I love it and hate it. I suppose that statement is a testament to our entire relationship.
I don’t bother commenting, and I fight hard to not look in Kode’s direction. The last time we were at a party, he spent the night trying to make me jealous. If he resorts to those tactics, I’ll have to leave. I’m not ready to see something like that.
I should have stayed home.
After tossing back a few drinks, my eyes finally do the unthinkable and shift toward the man I love. To my surprise, his eyes are burning against mine, and he winks at me, causing my stupid heart to do painful things.
“Tria,” Raya says, drawing my attention.
Rain and I both turn to face her, and I look around to see if Kade is anywhere around.
“No Kade?” Rain asks, frowning.
Raya shrugs, trying not to express anything. “He’s still at the vineyard.”
“Is he okay?” I ask.