“Thanks.” I let out a long breath. “The fucked-up part is, my dreams died because of me, because I was reckless. I shouldn’t have been racing. I should’ve listened to Remi when she begged me not to do it, should’ve listened to Miles, who had doubts. Instead, I got in the car, and five minutes later…everything was over. I lost my chance to go pro, and because Miles wouldn’t let me go alone, since he got into that car with me, he was kicked out of college.”
“The important thing is, you and Miles are alive.”
Heat pricks the backs of my eyes, but I shake off the sensation.
“Hey.” She touches my arm, and I sneak a glance at her. “As long as your heart is beating, there’s still hope. Our dreams change; our plans evolve. Sure, life is unfair, but that doesn’t mean good doesn’t exist. Pivot. Look for new opportunities, be open to meeting new people, to new experiences. You’ll never know how much you can have if you continue living in the past. And you, Dominic Watson, have a very bright future ahead of you.”
The pit in my stomach shrinks with every word, until all that’s left is a comforting sensation. Trying to ignore it, I use her own words against her. “Yeah, of course, because you knowso muchabout me, right?”
With a laugh, she covers her eyes with one hand. The melodic sound hits me in the solar plexus, flooding me with heat and something way too close to happiness. It’s the Mia Ashton effect.
She angles my way and runs her fingers over the back of my neck, scraping at the short hairs there. The sensation relaxes my muscles and sends a comforting warmth curling through me.
“I think I was five the first time I heard you tell Matt that one day, you’d play in the NFL. For years, I watched you run drills in the backyard before school. You’d practice and practice until every move was perfect. Your dedication taught me if I work hard enough, I can achieve anything.” She smiles. “For as long as I can remember, you’ve been the most capable person I know. When I was seven, maybe, you and your dad were over, working on our car, and when you rolled out from under it on that red creeper, I think I screamed. You came out of nowhere and scared me, but even then, I was sure you knew how to fix anything.”
How does she remember all that? I grip the steering wheel tighter, my stomach hardening. The memories hit hard, rushing over me like an avalanche. I’m not that kid anymore. Something in me died when the doctor said I’d never play again. Bitterness took over, and it’s only grown, because the life I’m living now is not the one I dreamed of. It’s the one I was forced to settle for.
I plaster a smirk and shrug. “Wow. You really kept tabs on me, didn’t you?”
She isn’t fazed by my flippant comment. “How could I not? You looked out for me when we were kids, even if you did tease me out of my mind. Even when I drove you crazy, you never hesitated to step in when I needed you. Sometimes, you even reacted faster than Matt. It’s like I was always on your radar.”
Her voice is soft, gentle. I don’t dare to look at her, because I don’t want her to see the way her words affect me. It’s a damn thunderstorm, growing louder and more insistent with each second.
“I knew you then, and I see the man you are now. Sure, not everything turned out the way you hoped. That couldn’t have been easy for you, but you’re not the kind of person who givesup. You’ve always pushed yourself to achieve the things you want, and that side of you is still there. It’s a strength within you, Dom, and I’m sure when you choose a new dream, you’re damn well going to achieve it.”
Gingerly, she slips her hand into mine, rubbing her thumb over my callused skin. It grounds me in a way I’ve never experienced.
I let out a shaky exhale, still trying to process the implications of her impassioned speech.Holy fuck. Voice gruff, I say, “Maybe you’re right, but saying goodbye to the dream I spent my entire life wanting was like a sucker punch to the gut.”
“I know. That’s how I felt when I moved away.” She squeezes my hand. “But you have your whole life ahead of you, which means you have lots of time to figure out new dreams and get everything you want.”
A confession dances on the tip of my tongue. I’m tempted to tell her about my dream to open a custom motorcycle shop, about the call I got from my high school coach. I want to share all that with her, but for now, I’ll settle for digesting all the things she just said. I’ll soak in the comfort she offered. So, I opt for a comfortable silence, and Mia lets me.
CHAPTER 19
if there is an us
MIA
Age 18
September
When the firstnotes of “Back to You” play, I squeal and turn up the volume.
“What?” Dom peers over at me. “Another one of your favorites?”
Rather than answer, I sing along, tapping my foot.
He sneaks glances at me as he drives, grinning and shaking his head. When he told me I could control the music, I bet he didn’t think he’d have to sit through a Mia Ashton concert, but here I am, singing all my favorite songs at the top of my lungs.
Honestly, after he opened up about his crushed dreams, I was desperate to make him smile, to distract him from the painful memories. So far, my plan is working—even if he thinks I have questionable taste in music.
“Wanna grab breakfast?” he asks once the song ends. “I told Clay we’d be there at nine thirty.” He nods at the car’s display, where the GPS indicates at this rate, we’ll be there an hour early.
“Breakfast sounds good.”
He takes the next exit and pulls into the parking lot of a small diner. The morning air is cold, and I consider putting on my jacket. Knowing I’ll take it right back off inside, I leave it on the passenger seat.
