~
I keep my head down and make sure my hair covers my face as I walk into the building, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I guess that’s a moot point seeing as I’m dragging two bags behind me and carrying one on each shoulder.
On the way over, my emotions were all over the place, going from distraught to disoriented to angry on a constant loop.
Placing the bags next to the door, I knock quickly before wrapping my arms around my middle. I glance down the hallway, not really taking in any of my surroundings.
When the door starts to open, I push my way in as the little control I have over my turbulent emotions break. I bury myself against him, needing to feel safe. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him with all my strength while hiding my face in his chest.
I breathe him in, filling my lungs and battered soul with the stillness and strength that makes him the man I love with every ounce of me.
Chapter 8
Logan
I open the door, thinking it’s one of the guys. A flash of black hair pushes past the door, and my surprise quickly morphs to worry as Mia wraps her arms around me.
Her whole body trembles as she presses her face to my chest.
I see the bags from over her head, and keeping one arms around her, I bring them in before shutting the door.
Holding her, I press my lips to the top of her head. Questions race through my mind, each one adding to my worry.
It’s clear she needs me to hold her right now, and that thought makes my heart want to fill until it feels like it’s going to burst.
She came to me. I was the person she thought of first when she needed someone most.
I close my eyes, letting the moment soak in. Only when her trembling lessens, do I bring my hand to her hair. I brush it away from the side of her face and neck, pressing my lips to the side of her face.
I keep my mouth against her soft skin, and whisper, “Talk to me.”
She turns her head until her cheek is resting against my chest and it brings my lips to her forehead. I keep caressing her hair, while my other arm remains tightly wrapped around her.
“I tried to talk to Josie. She wouldn’t listen and lost her temper,” she whispers. I hate hearing how upset she is.
I know there’s more to it than those two sentences. I bring my hands to her face so she’ll look at me, but when my eyes drop to the red mark on her face, anger makes me see red.
“Did she hit you?” I take her hand and pull her to the kitchen. I stay busy, taking a frozen steak from the freezer and wrapping it in the first towel I see, trying to get control over the rage I feel.
I put it aside, then taking hold of Mia’s hips, I lift her onto the counter. I pick up the poor excuse for an ice pack, and lightly brush my fingers over the bruise before gently pressing the towel to it.
With my free hand, I take hold of her hip, and push my way between her legs. I lean into her, needing to be as close to her as possible right now. Knowing someone hit the women I love is killing me.
She brings her hand to her face and places it over mine, while her other takes hold of my side. I take another step forward until our bodies touch, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck.
I know I’m supposed to keep my distance from her until I’ve had a chance to talk to Rhett, but fuck it’s next to impossible.
When Mom decided she no longer wanted to be a mother and shoved us off on Mr. Hayes, Mia’s was the first smile I saw.
This is the girl who trusted me with her secrets, who let me be the first to kiss her, let me take her to the prom. She was the one who sat next to me studying until late at night just to let me know I wasn’t alone.
Jaxson might be my twin, and we’re very close, but we dealt with Mom taking off differently. Mia was the one who understood that I just needed someone to be there, quietly sitting with me while I tried to make sense of it all.
“What happened, Sweetheart,” I ask, needing to hear it all.
“I tried to tell her that I’m moving, but she just lost it. She started ranting, but it escalated so quickly. I was shocked when she slapped me. I pushed her so hard she fell to the floor. You know I’m not violent. I hate that I lost control. She kept on ranting and coming at me until, and I realized that’s what she wanted. She wanted me to fight and I won’t sink to that level. I took my bags and left. I only realized I was coming here when I reached your building. I’m sorry for just barging in on you, but …” she lets out a breath, then whispers, “I needed to see you.”
I pull back a little so I can see her eyes. I want to kiss her until she forgets about Josie and the fight. Fuck, I want to strip her down and make sure she’s not hurt anywhere else.