This is Reckless (Checkmate Duet 3)

“Exactly. Move on, Mia. It’s over.” I take a step toward her, grabbing a bag off the counter and pushing it against her chest. “Go home.”

“How can you say that to me? After everything we’ve been through over the last three years? After everything I’ve done for you?”

Her words hit me like a brick, and I have no idea how I ever put up with her shit before. “Everything you’ve done for me? Are you insane? You’ve been toying with my emotions and dragging me along in your little web of lies since the start, and it’s ending now.”

“You can’t mean that, Drew.” She puts the bag back on the counter and steps in front of me. “I love you, baby. I know you love me, too. Sure, we’ve had our problems, but they aren’t anything we can’t work through. Look how far we’ve come. How could you just walk away from us and everything we have together?”

It’s the most genuine thing I’ve ever heard Mia say, but that doesn’t mean I’m falling for it.

“Because it’s time, Mia.” Sounding sincere, I don’t know how else to break it to her.

“I don’t believe that,” she says firmly.

“Well, you should. I’m sorry.”

She lowers her eyes, and I worry she’s going to start crying. After a moment, she surprises me and plasters a smile on her face. “Well, that doesn’t mean I can’t cook for you still. You’ve been living off shakes and bars all week, I’m sure. Let me make you a decent meal.”

Mia is a lot of things, not all good and not all bad, but she’s always been skilled in the kitchen. I don’t want to send her away considering she already brought all the food here, but I don’t want Courtney walking in on Mia being here either.

What the fuck am I going to do?

COURTNEY

I have never been so nervous to come home after work in my life.

It’s Thursday, and Drew will be home for the next three days. And I know we need to talk. After going through every possible scenario in my head, I’ve decided two things: I’ll humiliate myself by telling him we had sex—the very sex he doesn’t remember. I’ll tell him I’m moving out because there’s no way to come back from something like that or he’ll say since he doesn’t remember, perhaps I should remind him and we get naked in his bed. Since that’s the most unlikely version of what’s to happen, I’m preparing for the worst, but I know either way, I can’t hold this in anymore.

The sinking feeling in my gut returns the moment I pull into the driveway and see Mia Fucking Montgomery’s car. I don’t know what to make of it, especially since I haven’t spoken to Drew and the last time he mentioned her was at the wedding about how he missed her. I know they have a history and now I feel like a fool for thinking anything would ever change.

Parking my Jeep behind Drew’s, I stay in and sit, willing myself to keep the tears away. I knew this was always an option—that he’d take her back, and I’d be wondering how.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Kayla answers the phone. “Are you getting cold feet?” We’ve talked about this all week, and she knows tonight was the night.

“She’s back,” I say, my voice low.

“Who?”

“Who do you think? Mia.”

“She’s back? They’re back together?” Her voice is high-pitched.

“Her car is here, that’s all I know, but I can piece two and two together.” I frown.

“You have to tell him, Court.” She lowers her voice.

“What? No way!” I shout.

“He deserves to know,” she tells me. “It might change his mind whether or not to take her back.”

“Or he’ll think I’m a jealous, crazy person.” I inhale deeply. “I don’t want to be that girl who begs a guy to pick her. Mia’s a snake, but she always wins. She says jump and Drew says how high.”

“You don’t know that. She could be over to get her things, for all you know.”

I sigh, wondering if that could actually be the case. Somehow, I doubt it because she doesn’t really have any personal belongings at the house. I know better.

“Fine, I’ll go in, but if they’re in there doing it, I’m moving out,” I say seriously.

“For your sake, I hope not; and if they are, key her car.”

I chuckle. “Got it.”

We hang up, and after several deep breaths, I get out of the Jeep and head inside. I pretend as if it’s any other day and that whatever I see won’t bother me.

Oh, how wrong I am.

Drew is sitting on the couch, shirtless and facing away from me, and Mia is straddling his lap, looking at me as soon as I walk in. The smile that spreads over her face is a devilish one, letting me know she’s won, and that there’s nothing I can do about it. Drew turns his head to look over his shoulder, but he can’t see me from that angle. The moment he exposes his neck, she keeps her eyes locked on mine as she sucks on it like she needs his skin for air. Nice play, bitch.