Theo’s past is just that, apast. I’d never confront him about it, especially since I have a closet full of skeletons he’s yet to learn about, but if he slept with her after we met, that’s a different story.
“When?” I ask, feeling sick. “I... I thought it was Logan!”
“Yeah,” Kaya giggles, arms crossed, a bitch face laced with disdain on display. “She fucked them both.”
Holy mother of baby Jesus...
“Both?” I repeat, testing the word. I know the definition, but... shit, my head’s pulsing, and my hands turn clammy, and I can’t shake thehow’s that possibleout of my system. “Both?”
Cass’s chin quivers, but she gets a hold of herself before any tears spill. “It was last year. Theo and I... God, it wasnothing, Thalia. I swear.” She grabs my hand as if she’s afraid I’ll get up and leave. Or maybe she’s casually restraining me, thinking I’ll smack her face. I’ve not ruled it out. “One night,” she continues. “Two strangers. It was just for fun. We met like an hour earlier at the bar, Thalia. Please don’t hate me. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it was so long ago, and it meant nothing to either of us, I promise.”
“You sure don’t act like Logan meant nothing!” I yank my hand away. “Why should I believe you?”
Her eyes stop sparkling, filling with tears, her cheeks rosy. “Logan’s a different story. We were close, we went out for drinks a few times and had dinner, and I didn’t know Logan when I hooked up with Theo, and I had no idea they were brothers when I met Logan a few days later. It all happened so fast.” She swallows hard, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “It’s just different, okay? I cared about Logan. Theo was a mistake, I swear.”
The kicked-puppy demeanor doesn’t suit Cassidy, but it rings genuine. She’s upset and scared of my reaction, which tells me she caresabout me and my feelings.
I take a deep breath, rationalizing. Theo’s lived here all his life. The city is full of women who were under or over him at some point, but not one was kept for longer than one night.
Knowing my friend slept with the guy I’m falling in love with is not an image I want in my head, but tossing the friendship aside over what she called a mistake that happened long before I knew either of them is irrational at best. Theo’s mine. He’s with me, and Cassidy gave me no reason for jealousy the few times I’ve seen her around him.
“Are we okay?” she asks, pumping her frail fingers around my wrist. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No... we’re okay, just don’t mention it again.” I lower my voice. “And you’ve got to tell me what the deal is with you and Logan now. I know you’re not over him, Cass.”
“I won’t mention it again, I promise. Thank you.” She pulls me in for a hug. “One day, I’ll tell you all about Logan.” She moves away, mindlessly picking her nails, but her cheeks burn brighter as she glares at Kaya. “You’re a bitch, you know that? If you want to hit rock bottom, be my guest. Just stop trying to drag everyone down with you.”
I’m not sure why she bothers with the speech. Kaya’s too busy sucking on the straw, trying to drink from an empty glass, to pay attention.
I fidget in the seat, growing impatient, and check my phone every few seconds, but Cody isn’t calling. It takes five more minutes before a familiar face stops by the booth, visibly annoyed. It’s a Hayes, sure. Just not the one I expected.
Nico grabs Kaya, yanking her out of the seat and into his arms. She glares at him for a second before her stunning features twist with recognition. As if a switch has been flipped in her head, she bursts into tears, fisting his shirt and pressing herself to his chest like a lost, little girl. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Nico shoves her back into the booth and crouches beside me.
“What did that fucker do to her?”
“He was very touchy, but—”
“You remember what he looked like?”
“Yes, but—”
He grabs me by my upper arm, hard enough that it will leave marks, and hauls me to my feet, pulling me behind him like a misbehaving dog on a leash. We stop at the railing surrounding the VIP section overlooking the dance floor. “Show me.”
Neither the tone of his voice nor the way he manhandled me just now agree with me, but I’ve heard enough stories about Nico’s uncontainable rage that I wouldn’t dare argue with him while every one of his gestures screams bloody murder.
I scan the mass of bodies, searching for the man who fingered Kaya. He’s by the bar with another girl, equally drunk and leaning into him, swaying on her feet.
“There. Baby-blue shirt, glasses, light jeans.”
“The one with the blonde falling asleep on his chest?”
I nod, and prompted by the madness in his eyes, and afraid of what he might do, I go against all my instincts and try to tell Nico he can’t blame the guy for trying his luck. Especially that Kaya was willing, but he turns on his heel before I can voice my thoughts.
Maybe it’s for the best.
The silver fox sure deserves a punch to the nose for trying to take advantage of Kaya’s drunk ass. I just hope Nico won’t go overboard. Theo said there’s no stopping him once he gets going. He grabs Kaya and takes her downstairs, crossing the room toward the oblivious man.
In a protective move, Nico pulls Kaya behind him. Without a warning or a single word, he rams his fist into the man’s face, knocking him off balance. MJ and Amy stand beside me when Nico grabs a handful of the guy’s collar, says something in his face, and hits him again.