Tropesville

Chapter Ten

Syverson POV

My blood ran like ice through my veins. I felt nothing but a cold calm slide over me as I looked at my cousin and my girlfriend, hands clasped together, backed up against the wall. I met her eyes, and I felt a pain deep in my heart.

"Noah," Mika said. "This is not what you think it is."

I looked at Matt, he had dropped Mika's hands and stepped back. He looked scared, and he damn well should. Who the fuck does he think he is coming onto my girl when he's getting married? No wonder, he's a God damn cheat. But Mika...

I walked into the hall letting the door close behind me. Matt started pacing, his agitated steps stomping towards me before he abruptly turned his back on me. I almost laughed, what a God damn idiot, turning his back on a threat. But as he walked towards me again, I realised it wasn't me he feared.

Mika approached me slowly. She was cautious, hesitant, like she was scared of me too, and I hated myself. I never wanted her to be afraid of me, and the fear in her eyes made me soften. Matt meanwhile started muttering to himself.

"Noah," Mika said. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I said, my voice had a little edge to it, but I tried to supress my anger. "What the hell's wrong with him?" I watched Matt and thought maybe I knew. "Is he having some sort of anxiety attack?"

Mika nodded, "I think so." She bit her lip and looked at him, the concern clear on her face. I took a few breaths calming myself down. Ok, maybe it looked worse than it was, maybe she had just been trying to calm him down. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions.

"Did somethin' set him off or did it just happen?" I asked.

"Bit of both," Mika replied. Her brows were furrowed, "I think this is more than just wedding day jitters."

"What happened?" My voice still sounded sharper than I'd like as I asked, "What were you two doing out here."

"I dragged her out here, Noah," Matt said. "I needed to know some things about what happened when we broke up."

I shook my head. "That's sounds like bullshit to me," I said to Matt. "What could you possibly need to know from your ex-girlfriend on your God damn wedding day." I saw Mika flinch. I wasn't mad at her; I was mad at my piece of shit cousin bringing her into his stupid relationship drama when she had clearly distanced herself from both of them. The minute my back was turned he had approached her. "You need to grow up, son. You're either man enough to get married today or you're just a fucking boy who can't get their life sorted."

"Sy that's not fair," Mika interjected.

"What the hell are you defending him for Mika? He just tried to come onto you." Was she that innocent or did she think I was a fool?

"I don't think he did," Mika took a small step towards me. "I think he's just realised that Olivia lied to him their whole relationship." Mika quickly and quietly relayed what Matt said to her. I looked at Matt. He sure did look like his world was falling apart and he sunk to the floor with his head in his hands.

I took a deep breath. Ok, maybe I overreacted again. "Come 'ere," I said and put my arms out to Mika. She took the final steps into my arms, and I enveloped her in them. I kissed her forehead and let myself hold her a minute while I thought about what I was going to do. Matt was a little shit, but fuck he was a mess right now and less than an hour until he was supposed to get married. I knew he couldn't talk to his dad about this, Paneet hated Olivia's guts and Matt knew it.

Cupping Mika's cheeks, I lifted her head so she could look at me. "Go on back to the party. If anyone is looking for Matt, just tell them he and I are having a chat, ok?"