Page 16 of Never and Always
“You’re throwing me out?” Mia cried in disbelief. “I don’t have anywhere to go, and I needyou.”
“Findsomewhere—”
“That’s enough, Glenn. Stop it,” Nick said, standing up. Glenn stood, too, and squared off with him. “You aren’t thinking straight, and that’s understandable given the situation, but this is her house, too. You can’t throw herout.”
Glenn narrowed his eyes at Nick,seething.
Nick ignored Glenn and turned to Mia. “Mia, just leave this to us. I’ll come and see you in a little while and we cantalk.”
She nodded, looking grateful, and thankfullyleft.
When Nick looked back to Glenn he saw that his face was so red he looked like he was going toexplode.
“You need to stay out of this,Nick.”
“No, you’re acting crazy. Were you seriously going to throw her out?” He couldn’t believethat.
“Yes. The reason why she keeps doing these stupid things is because there are no consequences. She’s never had to really work hard for anything. She’s the damn pampered princess. She needs to be out on the street to learn some sense, and learn that I can’t keep saving her.” His nostrilsflared.
“Glenn, nothing has been this big.” Nick shook his head at him. He tried to recall the past events and couldn’t summon anything this bad tomemory.
“It doesn’t have to be this big. The fact is she’s always doing something and I have to fix it. Me, I’m tired ofit.”
“You can’t throw her out. She’s your sister,” Nick remindedhim.
“Yes,my sister,and you’d do good to remember that.” Glenn eyed himfiercely.
Nick rocked back on his heels and gazed back. He didn’t have to wonder what Glenn meant by saying that. He knew, but he’d stillask.
“What are you trying to say? Why would Ido good to rememberthat Mia’s your sister when I was the one that just reminded you?” Nick smirked athim.
They didn’t play games so he went straight in for blatant. If Glenn was going to tell him again to leave Mia alone, then Nick wanted to hear it. He was surprised yesterday when Mia told him she didn’t know Nick was home from the Marines and living here. It seemed something the general person would have mentioned considering this was their family home, and something you would share with family members who were likely to comeby.
It was odd that she didn’t know, but thinking about it, Nick thought it implied that Glenn didn’t want her toknow.
“Drop it, it’s fine. I don’t want to argue with you,” Glenn replied with a frustratedsigh.
Nick gave him one last look and then he left, deciding he would go and talk to Mia. He went up to her room to find her crying on the bed, the sight of which saddened himfurther.
He stood in the doorway wondering if he should go inside. She did a lot of crying yesterday, too much. She’d only resembled the girl he once knew last night when she’d gone to seehim.
Nick looked about the room as he stood by the door. It had been closed off this whole time, but seeing it now brought back memories of their childhood. Memories of her, of them all, and how they used to be. This room had evolved from a princess’ chamber covered in pink everywhere. She’d had curtains with lace and bows on them, a wall for her dolls and stuffed toys, and a walk-in wardrobe that was filled with what she called her princessdresses.
Now it looked like something from one of those post-romantic paintings she loved from the Victorian era. Instead of pink, the colors splashed about the room were cream and burgundy. The wrought-iron-framed bed had replaced the child’s bed with tassels, and the medieval-looking chandelier hanging over it carried off the look. The princess was all grown up, had been for many years, but she was still the samegirl.
And Nick knew the girl would have needed him again now. So he wentinside.
The sweet fragrance of her filled him as he got close and sat on the bed next to her. The smell would be vanilla. He knew she liked that. She loved anything with that smell in it, so everything—her shampoo, perfume, hairspray, everything she could get her hands on—smelled likethat.
As she sobbed, her shoulders shook and all that silky hair sprawled out behind her. He couldn’t help but stare at her tiny frame, perfect in all the right places. He could see just a little more cleavage and the swells of her breasts from the angle at which she lay, and the deep curve of her waist only enhanced those shapely hips andthighs.
She hadn’t been in the house and back in his life for two full days yet, but already she had him consumed with thought, thinking about her nonstop. He couldn’t even acknowledge the scary thought that no other woman had ever managed to do this tohim.
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to focus. When he rested his hand on her shoulder, she responded by reaching across and lightly placing her hand on his. It was a small gesture, but the touch spread heat throughhim.
“What am I going to do, Nick?” she asked on the edge of a labored breath. “Glenn wants me gone. I don’t have anywhere to go, I have no money, and I can’t fix this,” she cried, rolling over onto herback.
“This is your house,Mia.”
