Page 254 of Things Left Unsaid

When Mia slips onto Cole’s lap, she hooks an arm around his neck. “Don’t mind this one, Zee. He’s all bark and no bite.”

“Hey!”

My lips form a quick smile. “I don’t mind. He’s sticking up for his brother.”

“You’re a better person than me for taking his BS.” When Cole pulls a face, she taps his nose in a silent warning. “Be nice.”

Cole huffs. “Is it true that you play games with Callan?”

I pause at the about-face. “Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I enjoy it.”

“He’s a little shit but he’s lonely.” Cole locks his eyes on me. “I appreciate you keeping him company.”

“Honestly, he’s fun.”

Cody clears his throat. “We just need a woman his age to think that.”

Cole argues, “I’m telling you he has to start reading smut.”

Mia groans. “You still harping on about that? Not everyone’s into it.”

“Only a sadist isn’t into happily-ever-afters.”

“He likes first-person-shooter games,” I point out. “I don’t think romance fits in.”

“But that’s where you’re wrong. There’s romance for everyone. It’s the genre that keeps on giving.”

Cody sighs. “I thought once I left home, I wouldn’t need to hear soliloquies on how awesome romance books are.”

“That’s because you don’t understand their awesomeness. Romance makes the world go round.”

Laughter echoes around the BBQ. Not from one of us, but Tee who’s talking to Lindsay.

Is it my imagination or does Cody cut her a glance?

“Wouldn’t have taken you for a gamer, Zee,” Mia comments, her tone kind.

“I grew up with boys. One of whom became a soldier. Them’s the cards that fall.”

Cody’s brow puckers. “I forgot Walker enlisted. Fuck.”

“It was a long time ago,” I say simply.

It’s my cue to leave though.

As I go, Cole grates out, “What did you say that for, dipshit?”

I let my gaze drift to the sky.

Cole Korhonen being kind to me?

There have to be pigs flying over the Seven Cs…

But nope.

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