A knot of dread forms in my gut. “She showed up at the Cove that night, got drunk, and tried to drive herself home. She was so drunk, I let her sleep in my bed, yeah, but I crashed on the floor.” I dip lower, hoping she can sense my honesty, and explain how Remi threw up that night, how I gave her my tee afterward because I didn’t want her to sleep in my bed in dirty clothes. “That’s all, I swear.”
I move in close and press my lips to hers gently. This kiss is nothing like the one we shared at the club. This one is tender and slow.
She parts her lips, giving me access, and I push my tongue inside, curling it around hers. She tastes like coffee and sugar. I breathe her in without pulling back, relishing her scent. It’s floral with vanilla notes, and it’s deliciously intoxicating. My head spins.
Only when my jeans are so tight, I risk cutting off circulation do I stop. It’s a good thing too. Anyone could walk in on us, and I’m not sure I want them to find out about us just yet, and definitely not like this.
I press my forehead to hers and cup her face, brushing my thumbs over her cheeks.
“I have to drive Clay’s car to him tomorrow,” I tell her quietly. “Come with me? It’ll give us time to talk.”
“I have classes.”
“Please? For me, just this once.” My mouth is an inch from hers. All I want to do is kiss her again. “Come with me to SantaClara. Let’s take the time to get to know each other. I don’t want to delay this any longer. I promise you lots of talking.” I steal a quick kiss. “And lots of kissing, if that’s what you’re into.”
She pulls away, eyebrows pinched together, and yet she fists my tee, keeping me close. “And you’re not? Into kissing me?”
“I’m into you, Little Mayhem. I’m into everything about you.”
A door shuts upstairs, and we both look up.
Fuck. Our time is up. “Please, Mia.”
She studies me, then nods. “Okay. What time?”
“Meet me out front at 6:20.” I press one more kiss to her lips then chug the rest of my coffee and head out.
“So,what’s the story with your ex?” I ask once we’re on the highway. “How come you stayed friends?”
She shifts in her seat, arching a brow. “That’s the first thing you want to know?”
“I’ve been curious since the night he came over for dinner.” I wink at her.
Facing forward again, she rakes her fingers through her hair and separates it into three parts. I wait patiently, focusing my attention on the road while she braids. She’s too distracting, and her safety is too important to me. I can ogle her later. Hopefully. But first, we need to talk.
I stop at a red light and study her from the corner of my eye. A spaghetti-strap black dress with tiny red flowers paired with white sneakers. She brought a leather jacket, but instead of wearing it, she set it on her lap. It’s a good thing too. It means I can’t check out her legs.
“I met Jeff not long after I moved to Phoenix. We went to school together. He was popular, a basketball player, and hisfamily is pretty wealthy. Plus, he’s handsome.” She breaks into a soft smile. “I noticed him, obviously, but I didn’t really pay attention to him until I walked into the drama club and he was there. We hit it off right away. We had so many things in common, and we became inseparable. Then, on my fifteenth birthday, he kissed me.”
She ties off her braid and settles back in her seat, half turned to face me. She’s wearing mascara, but that’s it as far as makeup goes. Her thick lashes make the darker shades of blue in her eyes pop. Like a beacon, she pulls me in every time I look.
Clearing my throat, I focus on the road again to keep from losing control.
“We dated for three months, and when we broke up, our friendship picked right back up where we left it.” She shrugs. “Jeff and I love each other, but only as friends.”
Jealousy rears its head, but I choke it back and remind myself Jeff isn’t a threat. “Good to know. It’s impressive you two are so chill. Seems like for most people, it’s easier to cut all ties than it is to try and maintain a healthy relationship.”
“What’s your story with Remi then?”
A pit opens in my stomach, but I brought this on myself.
“And please, don’t say it’s complicated. That excuse was old last month. Now, it’s ancient history.”
Head thrown back, I laugh. It’s so fucking easy being in her presence. It blows my mind how comfortable this is, and it makes me want to tell her more than I should. I need to be very careful with my words.
“Itiscomplicated.” I chuckle, though my mood sinks pretty quickly, because what Remi and I have been through isn’t funny. “We dated on and off, starting our senior year of high school. After the accident junior year of college, I was in a very dark place. I pushed everyone away, but Remi kept coming back. She was there for every step of my recovery. She never wavered. Idon’t love her. I don’t think I ever did. But…she was there for me when no one else knew how to get through. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”
“I’m sorry about the accident.” Mia rests a hand on my shoulder, her fingers trailing down my tattoo. “I know how much you loved football.”
