“I’ll miss you,” I tell him.
“Me too,” he says back, already walking down the hall. When he gets to his front door, he turns quickly and says, “Safe travels, MiMi,” then disappears into his apartment, leaving me standing there speechless. A single tear escapes down my cheek, and I swipe it away, refusing to cry right now. I need to be strong for my trip or my mom will eat me alive.
“Mia Lynn,” Mom says for the millionth time tonight, making me roll my eyes. “Have you tried applying serum to under your eyes? Those dark circles add several years to your age and not in a good way.”
“I’ll definitely check it out,” I say stiffly, reminding myself that in less than three days I’ll be on a plane heading back to Michigan. I just need to get through this first.
This isn’t the first comment she’s made since I arrived a few hours earlier, and it won’t be the last. It’s what she does, her way of making it clear I’m not enough. Flawed. Imperfect.
“Have you put on weight? Because your hips look wider. I’ve heard about the freshman fifteen but never experienced it.”
“Are you taking care of your hair? It looks dry.”
“Maybe you should wear close-toed shoes to dinner. Your pedicure doesn’t look fresh.”
“When’s the last time you got a decent manicure? I guess it’s to be expected in a town like that one.”
“Oh, is that the dress you’re wearing to the dinner party?”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I glance at it. It’s Brayden. Funny how just his name on my screen has my heart fluttering in my chest.
“It’s rude to walk around with a phone while we have guests over,” Mom says, glaring at me.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been waiting to hear from a guy I’ve been tutoring. He took his quiz and is waiting for the professor to post the grades.”
“Maybe you should focus on your own studies,” she says. “I saw your grades the other day. A B in creative writing. How do you expect to ever be taken seriously in the writing world with grades like that?”
I open my mouth to argue that it’s a senior level class and there’s only one grade so far, but stop myself. I made straight As all through school and she never once complimented me. Of course the one time she comments is when I have one B, which is only two points away from an A.
“I’ll bring it up,” I tell her as my phone vibrates again. “I better answer this.” Before she can argue, I slip away, quickly running up the stairs to my room. I close the door behind me, taking a deep breath. Now that I’m far enough away from her I feel like I can breathe a little easier.
I click on Brayden’s name to return his call, as I kick off my heels and start stripping out of my dress. I’ve been mingling for hours down there and have fulfilled my obligation for the evening. I have no intention of returning.
“Hey,” he says, his masculine voice husky and sexy. “Guess who got a B on his quiz?”
“What? Really?”
“Yep! And I’m thinking I deserve something extra special for it.”
“Oh, really?” I laugh, already feeling lighter. “And what do you think it is you deserve?”
“Well, if getting a right answer equals a kiss, I imagine getting a B on my quiz is worth way more... At least some tongue action.”
His words make me think of Ashton’s and my kiss, both times, and how it ruined everything, changed everything. And now I’m not sure anything between us will ever be the same.
“Mia,” Brayden says.
“Huh?”
“I asked you a question.” Shit, I was lost in thought and zoned out. Brayden deserves better than that.
“I’m sorry. I got distracted.” I put the phone on speaker so I can get dressed into my pajamas.
“Everything okay?”
“No,” I blurt out, taking the phone with me to the en suite bathroom so I can remove my contacts and clean off my face. “My mom is a monster, and my dad is too busy kissing her ass to see how horrible she is. I’m stuck here, like Cinderella pre-fairy godmother, while my best friend is acting weird, and I think our friendship might be over because we kissed… twice… and now everything is all messed up and I miss him and I don’t know what to do. And honestly, I’m not even sure there’s anything I could do even if I were there. I don’t think he wants to be friends anymore, and it makes me so damn sad.” My voice cracks on the last word, as tears well up and fall down my face.
We’re both quiet for a long moment, and I cringe, realizing I just word vomited all over Brayden and he’s probably ready to bolt. And I wouldn’t blame him.
“I’m sorry.” I sigh. “You were probably looking for an easy lay, and instead you jumped on the crazy train. I won’t blame you if you jump off,” I tell him, as I laugh through my tears. God, can I get any crazier?
“One, I’m not looking for an easy lay. If I were, you would be the last person I would go to. I told you on our date I want all of you, and I meant it.” Butterflies swarm my belly. “I’m completely okay taking a ride on the crazy train,” he jokes.
“And two?” I prompt.
“I thought Ashton was gay.”
Oh, yeah, I admitted to kissing him… twice.
“He is. He regretted it the second it happened… both times. And now things are all weird between us. He’s barely spoken ten words to me all week.”
“Maybe it’s not you,” Brayden says. “I ran into him at the pool on Monday and that
