“I’m making coffee. Want one,” Mia asks.
I shake my head, turning my gaze back to the street. “Do you like the apartment?”
“It could do with some sprucing. But it’s a nice place.”
I nod as I glance around the room. It’s spacious and although there is only one bedroom. There’s plenty of space for a desk. “It’s going to be awhile before Bastion’s house is livable in. You can stay here if you want.” Her shoulders slump as she pours boiling water into the percolator and watches the water drip through the funnel to the glass carafe.
“Mia.”
The blond nods. “I could do with the space. Your cabin can be cramped.”
“Cramped. I can barely move in it.”
“You want your cabin back?”
“I just want a little space when I need to crash. Anyway. What do you think?”
Mia glances around. “Sure. If you don’t mind having me as a tenant.”
“If I minded. I wouldn’t have asked.” I watch Mia. Her gaze hidden from me as she sips her coffee. “We’ll move your stuff tomorrow.” She nods and I suck on my bottom lip. A habit I broke once I left home. “Mia.”
She looks up. Her gaze guarded and my stomach dips. “Yeah.”
“I’m not saying it’s over.”
“Aren’t you?”
I shake my head. “Why don’t we go for a ride.”
“You’re letting me out.”
I nod. “We could both do with some air.”
I ride several miles out of Noir Valley before I pull the bike to a stop and as Mia dismounts, I slip the stand down. While she ruffles her hair, I pull my rucksack out of the bike’s trunk and join her.
“What’s in the bag?”
I leer at her as I guide her to the path which will lead us further into the bayou. “Not your favorite toy.”
“Your favorite toy.” Mia giggles as her fingers clench mine and I soak up their warmth. The morning sun is warm, but it’s Mia’s heat I embrace, soaking in and remembering. We walk for some time before we come across the cabin. Ten years ago, the windows had glass in them. The door was solid, and the paintwork was fresh. In the middle of the bayou is a magnolia bush, which, against all odds, has survived.
“You brought me here to have your wicked way.”
I glance around the clearing and the old cabin and shake my head. Some places are not for Mia and me, and this is one of them. “No. I brought you here to have that talk we never had.”
“I hope you’re not blaming me.”
As she turns to the cabin, I take her hand and guide her to the magnolia bush. It’s in full bloom and as I look around me. Memories I had pushed back, surface. I smile as these are untarnished memories. Never touched by another soul, and they never will be. “Not today, Mia.” I kneel, opening the rucksack, and pulled out an old box. When I look at Mia, I find her staring down at me. Her eyebrow raised. “This is where Jo-Leigh and I first made love.”
Mia’s smile falters as she steps back. “Is that why you won’t make love to me here?”
I nod. “This is the place, I asked Jo-Leigh to marry me and after turning me down several times, she finally said yes.” I turn my gaze to the cabin. “We spent a summer here sprucing the place up.” I watch Mia appraise the cabin. Her hands slip into her jeans’ pockets and her gaze is thoughtful. I ache to reach over and hold her. But now is not the time. “We spent our honeymoon here. Locked in the cabin. Away from her family and mine.”
“Why are you telling me this, Alex?”
I lick my lips and hold out the box. The box I have had locked in my drawer for too long. “Jo-Leigh’s been dead for a while and I never said goodbye to her.” Mia takes a step towards me and I shake my head as I step back. “She was happy here. That summer we both were.” My fingers stroke the box and for the last time, I remember Jo-Leigh’s soft flesh. Her light laughter fills the air for the last time, and I close my eyes. After I inhale deeply, I look at Mia. “It’s time for me to say goodbye and I wanted you to be here with me.”
Mia steps closer. Her hand slipping into mine as she squeezes it. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I nod. “With me.”
I brush a stray hair away from her face and smile. “Yes. I need you here as I tell Jo-Leigh about my new life.” I look at Mia. My heart pounds. I haven’t felt this nervous since the day I lost my virginity, and that was a long time ago. “About my new love.”
Mia blinks, then her lips brush over mine. “You love me.”
I nod.
“Since when.”
“For too long and far too sooner than I should have.”
“I’m glad you want to tell her.”
Mia stands by my side as I open the box. As the ashes swirl in the breeze and settles over the magnolia bush, I tell Jo-Leigh I loved her. That there will always be a place for her in my heart. I tell her about Mia. How she crept into my heart and stole it. That I fought it for a long time.
“This is the last time I’ll visit, Jo-Leigh. I love you, but it’s time I let you go.” I smile as I squeeze Mia’s hand. “It’s crazy. I lost the woman I loved.” I blink. “Then I lost my best friend to a petty feud. Hopefully it’ll be over one day. And in all this mess, I gained myself a new best friend.
