“I like hanging out with my friends here. Hey, Nico.”
“Hey, Peachy. Nice dress.”
There was a twinkle in her eye. “Thank you. It’s new.”
“Are you going out later?”
“No.” Peachy James stood before the barrier and shifted on her feet. She fidgeted. Then she cleared her throat. “Is Michael around?”
His lips quirked, seeing the question coming from a mile away. He knew her enough to know that, along with the fact that something was up—and he also had a suspicion about why. “I don’t know where my brother is now. Why don’t you come in and look for him?”
“I thought you wouldn’t ask,” she shot back, grinning. Giddiness encompassed her when he guided her to a corner where the barrier was thinner, then tapped it a few times before gesturing at her to squeeze herself in. She patted her hair and clothes, and for the first time, he glimpsed nerves thrumming.
“Would you like to hang out here a bit and enjoy the view?” he asked, patting the space beside him. “Wind down a bit, if you must.”
She shook her head, shoulders straightening in determination. “No. I have to talk to Michael about something. Thanks for letting me in.”
“No problem,” he said, watching her walk away and make her way inside. While not a part of their clan, enough people knew her and trusted her to leave her alone until she reached his brother, so he let her be and stayed where he was. It wasn’t long until he heard voices and greetings somewhere behind him—then, Peachy’s melodic voice in a murmur and another familiar voice replying in low tones.
Nico bit back a grin, sensing something in the air. Curiosity heightened as he adjusted his position until he could take a peek, already playing the scenario in his head: Peachy confessing her feelings, Michael responding, and things moving forward instead of the constant tiptoeing between the two. There was heavy affection in Peachy’s eyes when Nico spotted her, her cheeks flushed and her mouth parted in hope. Michael was frozen in place, perhaps absorbing the confession already and gathering his bearings before—
“Cut it out, Peachy. What are you doing?”
Peachy blinked. So did Nico.
“I’m telling you how I feel. I thought you felt the same way.”
Michael stepped closer and leaned in. Whatever he whispered had Peachy’s expression crumpling before she stumbled back in stunned mortification, and she began to excuse herself and stride away. When she passed by Nico, he blocked her path, taking in the tears streaking from her face before she lowered her head. On instinct, he wrapped a hand around her wrist, urging her closer as she trembled.
“Let her go, Nico.”
Peachy’s cheeks turned even redder as she snatched her hand away and ducked, refusing to look at Michael. Before she could sneak out of the barrier, Nico took her hand back.
“No. It’s not safe to walk these woods without a clear head. Let me accompany you—”
“I said let her go, Nico.”
“My head’s clear,” Peachy said quickly, pulling back a second time. When she looked up, her face was calm, and she smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I have to go.”
She streaked out of the barrier before he could catch up and was gone in the blink of an eye. When he made a move to follow, it was Michael who blocked his path with a warning look. Nico glared, studied him when Michael didn’t return it, and sighed.
“Let me guess. You rejected her.” Michael didn’t reply, but the wince had Nico continuing. “Not only that, you told her not to come here anymore.”
Silence. Shorter but broader, Michael exuded an aura of menace, one that often intimidated other people. Except for Peachy, who had followed Michael around like a starry-eyed little sister until she no longer looked at him like a sister. Of course, this didn’t mean that Nico didn’t think of her as a sister, and he looked out for her like one and wanted to get to the bottom of this.
“Michael, what’s going on?”
His older brother glanced at him, then glanced away. “It’s none of your business.”
“It is if you were rude to her since she’s my friend—”
“We got drunk. Peachy and I. It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Nico froze.
“You slept with her?” he asked incredulously. “Then dumped her when she confessed to you? What is this, man? Are you treating her like one of your regular hookups?”
Guilt flashed, but Michael shook it off. “It’s not that.”