and Parker. “Maybe they asked me to fix you because they know how much I despise your existence, maybe they were hoping I’d let you die.”
“Jesus, Camryn,” Codi yells. “Rocco, we do not think that. Why are you being so horrible?”
“Not paranoid,” Rocco murmurs, ignoring my sister’s assurance. “Cautious.”
I move my gaze to Codi, watching her blankly. Her perfect blonde hair falls in a curtain around her face, her purple eyes shining at me in anger. She’s beautiful. Most would say unfairly so, but not me. Beauty is nothing but a curse. One that paints a target on your person. It encourages women to judge you. It entices men to see you as nothing more than an object; one they’re free to use and play with as they will. My sister is also too kind. It welcomes undesirable attention from others. Kindness is too often mistaken as weakness. It’s nothing but an invitation for people to take advantage of you.
“I’m being real, Codi. Not horrible,” I tell her calmly. “Rocco has decided I’m aiming for his pain when in truth I don’t think of him at all. You’re paranoid.” I turn back to the bristling asshole sitting at my dinner table. “Not to mention psychotic. You wouldn’t know kindness if it slapped you in the face. You probably kiss with your eyes open afraid to actually enjoy life.”
Silence cups my words uncomfortably and I shift in my seat.
“Beauty, trust me, I’ve never had any complaints about the way I kiss.” He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth and as much as I want to, I can’t pull my eyes away from the way he slowly releases it.
Leaning closer, he drops his voice. “Now,” he drawls. “Let’s talk about the fact that you just admitted you’d thought about kissin’ me."
“Uh.” I scowl. “No, I didn’t.” My eyes dart between his teasing gaze and the wet line of his lips.
I glance at Codi for support but she looks away before I can catch her eye.
“I would never kiss you.”
Rocco shrugs. “Besides the point, you’ve thought about it. You want me. You just don’t want to admit it to yourself.”
I bark out a laugh. “Add delusional.”
The tip of his tongue skates along the top line of his teeth, a salacious smirk tipping along the side of his mouth.
“I’d rock your world, Rein, and you know it.”
I stand abruptly. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Sit.” My dad walks into the room, oblivious to the lead in conversation. “You know the rules, Camryn. Family dinner includes everyone."
“We’re hardly family,” I bite out.
“Contrary to your thoughts, we are. Codi and Parker are engaged, which means he and Rocco are family.”
I swallow the acid in my throat. “Shouldn’t Sarah be here then."
The room turns cold, Rocco’s teasing dissipating into ice and thunder. It makes me feel powerful and I straighten my shoulders, lifting them higher in victory.
“If you know where she is,” my dad offers coolly. “Please, do invite her. Until then, sit down and eat.”
I glance around the table, looking at my family. “Like I said.” I step back. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
Retrieving my keys from the bowl in the entryway, I storm through the door. Both embarrassed by my outburst and irritated at my family for putting me in a situation I want no part in.
“You okay?”
I whirl on Parker.
“What do you care?” I shoot back.
“I care a lot. You’re important to Codi, which means you’re important to me. I get that the situation is fucked up. I don’t expect you to play happy families with my brother, you know that, right?”
I drop onto the bench seat outside the front door on a huff.
“If it’s any consolation.” He drops down beside me. “Rocco is as out of sorts by the whole scenario as you are.”
“You’re kidding, right? Mr. Antagonist in there.”
Parker laughs, pushing his shoulder against mine playfully. “Rocco’s never been dependent on anyone. Confrontation is most of what he knows, where he feels comfortable.”
“Why me though?”
His eyes focus on the ground at his feet, the muscles in his arms bulging as he rests his elbows on his knees. “I have my ideas, but tellin’ you would be breakin’ the code.”
“Fair enough.”
“Rocco’s not the easiest person to love,” he admits shamefully. “Hell, he’s hard to like most of the time. But there’s reason behind everything he puts into motion.”
I consider Parker’s right, but I don’t want to know, more specifically I don’t want to care.
“As angry as you are at him for what went down, he’s