“I’m not going anywhere,” I vow, my words low and husky. “This thing between us won’t just disappear. Believe me, I already fucking tried to make it go away.”
She swallows hard and a tear races down her cheek. Leaning in, I kiss the wet streak and then pull her to me for a hug. I’m happy as fuck when she hugs me back.
“You’re making this hard on me,” she whines, making me smile.
I stroke my fingers through her hair and kiss the top of her head. “It’s one of the things you love about me. I’m a hot mess. One you signed up for when you looped your arm with mine and told everyone I was your boyfriend.”
“Totally regretting that now,” she mutters.
I chuckle. “Nah, you love me. Want to know why?”
“Oh God. Don’t tell me you made a list.”
“I couldn’t find enough paper. I guess I’ll just have to tell you.”
“Why do I love you, Ashton?”
Pulling away, I smile down at her, admiring her pretty features. “I honestly don’t know why, MiMi, but I’m glad you do.”
Yesterday, Mia and I made progress. Not in a romantic sense, but in the way we got back to our normal friendly ways. Last night, we laughed together at stupid shit, ate junk food, and played video games until late. This evening, I plan for more of the same.
I manage to avoid Drew again today, which makes me feel like shit, but I can’t have him distracting me. It’d be smart to confess to Mia about what happened between Drew and me, but I can’t bear what that would do to our fragile relationship. Knowing her, she’ll see it as more uncertainty on my end.
That’s anything but the truth.
I’m completely certain where she’s concerned.
I want to kiss her and hold her and one day go to bed with her. It’s the natural progression of us. I won’t rest until we’ve tried. If we fail, so be it, but I need to try first.
After grabbing a big bag of Skittles, I head over to Mia’s once I know she’ll be home from class. I’m just letting myself in when I hear her giggles. I’d smile if it weren’t for the fact I’m not giving her the giggles. Someone else is.
My irritation is further ratcheted up the moment I see Brayden. He has her pinned against the back of the couch, planting teasing kisses on her. Jealousy coils around my heart, making the world turn green around me. I want to rip her out of his massive arms and pull her to me. But I know Mia. That’ll just piss her off when I really can’t afford to do that right now.
“Hey,” I grunt out, trying to keep my voice level.
Mia flashes me a guilty look before forcing a smile my way. “Hey. I invited Brayden too. Thought we could all hang out.”
His smug, stupidly hot smile gets on my last nerve. He lifts his head at me in greeting but doesn’t say a word. The satisfaction gleaming in his chocolate brown eyes has my hand tightening around the bag of Skittles as anger threatens to drown me.
“Cool,” I grumble. “We watching a movie or what?”
“Yeah, Brayden thought we could watch that new Chris Hemsworth movie. We went ahead and ordered food.”
I walk past them into the kitchen and start opening cabinets on a hunt for booze. Mia shows up, hugging me from behind. All my fury bleeds away, forcing me to relax.
“I missed you today,” she tells me, her hand patting my abs over my T-shirt.
“Missed you too, MiMi. What are we drinking?”
“Water?” she offers, making me snort. “Fine. There’s vodka in the freezer.”
She pulls away to go back into the living room. I play bartender, dumping Skittles into three tumblers and then filling them partway with vodka and then the rest of the way with Sprite.
“Come and get it, kids,” I call out.
Mia, ever the adventurous one, grins when she sees her drink. “What do you call this one?”
“Rainbow Barf.”
Brayden snorts. “It looks sick.”
“The longer it sits there, the sicker it’ll look. Better drink it while you can still see the colors,” I warn. “Don’t worry. I didn’t roofie you, bro.”
The corner of his lips kicks up in a maddening smirk. “Good to know.”
Mia darts her gaze back and forth, seemingly tense about our exchange. I refuse to piss her off because I’m jealous as fuck over Brayden. I’m smarter than that. If I really want to win Mia over, then I need to do it the right way.
Be the Ashton she knows and loves.
I’m about to open my mouth to say something dreadfully charming, but then Brayden wraps an arm around her waist. I’d think he was taunting me, just to piss me off, but he seems desperate to touch her. I can’t fault him, because I get it.
Mia is special.
I fucked up.
Frowning, I suck down my Rainbow Barf and then chomp angrily on the Skittles. The vodka concoction burns down my esophagus and starts an inferno in my stomach. I make myself another drink before walking into the living room, needing space. Just to be a prick, I park my ass down in the middle of the sofa. When they walk up to the sofa, I pat the cushion beside me for Mia to sit. Brayden’s dark eyes flash with challenge and then he takes their drinks, sets them on the table, and then sits beside me with her in his lap.
“I have an away game this weekend, but maybe Thursday night I could take you out,” he says, patting her thigh.
“That sounds nice,” she agrees. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone.”
Gag.
Fucking gag.
I level Brayden with a glare that says, “I kissed
