“I’m being summoned to another bullshit ball.”
“Good.” I level her with a hard stare. “This time, you won’t have your knight in shining armor. This time, you’ll have a fucked-up prince who would love nothing more than to slay the fucking she-devil dragon for his princess who has the prettiest dick sucking lips he’s ever seen.”
“I think that was romantic,” she says slowly, narrowing her eyes at me, “in some bizarre, so Ashton kind of way.”
I guess I can be romantic then.
Who knew?I walk through the kitchen and go straight to the cabinet where I know Ashton keeps his liquor.
Fucking Ashton.
Fucking Mia.
I scrub my hands over my face. I want to be happy for them. I do. All I want is for her to be happy. Every day this week as I held her and comforted her while she cried in my arms, all I wanted was to take the pain away and for her to smile again. But when I walked in and saw that very smile, while she was lying in Ashton’s bed—the room smelling like sex—something in me broke.
Because I wanted to be the one to make her smile.
Ashton hurt her.
Brayden hurt her.
I wanted to heal her.
But Ashton, like the goddamn tornado he is, swooped in and scooped her up.
I’m happy that they’re happy, I am. But I have to wonder how long this happiness will last. How long until Ashton fucks it all up and Mia is sad and crying again.
After the meet, I tried to keep busy at my office going over plays, but I was too pissed to focus and eventually came home. Maybe I can drown the noise in my head with rum instead.
There’s a knock on the door, so I set the bottle down and go answer it. I swing it open and standing on the other side is Brayden. I was shocked as shit to see him at Ashton’s meet. This entire week I’ve been avoiding the apartment. When I’m not at practice, I’ve been bouncing between the office and Mia’s place, so I had no clue how close Brayden and Ashton have gotten.
Fucking Ashton.
Fucking Brayden.
How is it that Ashton fucks everything up and still gets the girl and the guy?
“Ashton’s not here.”
Brayden glares. “I’m not here for Ashton.”
“Oh, sorry, I just assumed since you’ve apparently been hanging out with him all week that you were.”
“What the fuck is your problem?” Brayden hisses. “I know you’re not really pissed that, while you’ve been avoiding me all week, I’ve been hanging out with Ashton.”
“The guy you kissed,” I correct.
“The guy who’s now with Mia,” he volleys.
I scoff. “It’ll never work out.”
Brayden’s brows hit his forehead. “Is that what this is about? Mia? What happened this week between you two?”
“I comforted her… You know because the guy she was supposed to be dating kissed her best friend.”
“And now they’re together.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
“Until he hurts her again. Kisses another guy… fucks another guy.”
Brayden eyes me for several seconds, like he’s trying to figure me out. Good luck with that, buddy. Not even I know what the hell is going on with me. “You’re not worried about Mia getting hurt again…” he finally says, shaking his head. “You fell for her.”
“What?” I splutter, thrown off guard by his statement.
“You. Fell. For. Mia. The same way I did. The same way Ashton did. And now you’re pissed they’re together and you’re alone.”
“I guess you failing your classes makes sense,” I spit, trying to deflect. “Since you apparently don’t pay attention.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Brayden asks, stepping over the threshold and into my face.
“It means, I don’t want Mia—”
“Bullshit.”
“I want you!”
My words echo around in my heart for the longest second known to man and then Brayden pounces. His mouth crashes against mine, forcing me to stumble back. He slams the door shut and pushes me up against it. “You want me?” he taunts. “Then show me.”
His mouth is back on mine, his tongue slipping past my lips. He kisses me hard and deep, and I kiss him right back, giving myself completely over to him. It’s been too damn long since the last time I touched him, tasted him, and I’m jonesing for a hit.
As he reaches for my pants, I remember where we are. “Wait,” I murmur against his lips, grabbing his wrist. “I don’t want to rush this.” The last time we were together, in the hotel room, it was rushed. We were both angry and desperate. This time, I want to take our time. He demanded I show him that I want him, and I plan to do just that.
Brayden pulls back, misunderstanding me, confusion and hurt swimming in his eyes. “Let’s go to my room,” I clarify. His eyes light up at my words, and I vow to make sure Brayden is always happy, so he never looks sad again.