His words make me think of Ashton’s and my kiss, both times, and how it ruined everything, changed everything. And now I’m not sure anything between us will ever be the same.
“Mia,” Brayden says.
“Huh?”
“I asked you a question.” Shit, I was lost in thought and zoned out. Brayden deserves better than that.
“I’m sorry. I got distracted.” I put the phone on speaker so I can get dressed into my pajamas.
“Everything okay?”
“No,” I blurt out, taking the phone with me to the en suite bathroom so I can remove my contacts and clean off my face. “My mom is a monster, and my dad is too busy kissing her ass to see how horrible she is. I’m stuck here, like Cinderella pre-fairy godmother, while my best friend is acting weird, and I think our friendship might be over because we kissed… twice… and now everything is all messed up and I miss him and I don’t know what to do. And honestly, I’m not even sure there’s anything I could do even if I were there. I don’t think he wants to be friends anymore, and it makes me so damn sad.” My voice cracks on the last word, as tears well up and fall down my face.
We’re both quiet for a long moment, and I cringe, realizing I just word vomited all over Brayden and he’s probably ready to bolt. And I wouldn’t blame him.
“I’m sorry.” I sigh. “You were probably looking for an easy lay, and instead you jumped on the crazy train. I won’t blame you if you jump off,” I tell him, as I laugh through my tears. God, can I get any crazier?
“One, I’m not looking for an easy lay. If I were, you would be the last person I would go to. I told you on our date I want all of you, and I meant it.” Butterflies swarm my belly. “I’m completely okay taking a ride on the crazy train,” he jokes.
“And two?” I prompt.
“I thought Ashton was gay.”
Oh, yeah, I admitted to kissing him… twice.
“He is. He regretted it the second it happened… both times. And now things are all weird between us. He’s barely spoken ten words to me all week.”
“Maybe it’s not you,” Brayden says. “I ran into him at the pool on Monday and that guy who was giving you shit at my game was there. Seemed to piss Ashton off.”
“Travis?” I set my phone down and remove my contacts, placing them back in their holder.
“Yeah, he was looking shady as fuck, and when I confronted him, he got pissed. Words were said. Maybe Ashton is dealing with that.”
“Maybe,” I say, upset that Ashton never once mentioned Travis giving him shit. “Wait, you got in the middle of it?” I wet a washcloth and start cleaning my face.
“He’s your best friend,” Brayden says as if him being my best friend is all the reason he needs to have Ashton’s back. My heart does a weird flip-flop and I find myself smiling.
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” I take the phone off speaker as I walk back into my room and then climb into bed.
“No problem. Wish I could do something to make you feel better.”
“That’s sweet.” I cuddle up into my blanket. “I wish you were here.” I sigh into my pillow, more than ready for this day, hell, this weekend, to be over.
“Me too,” he says, his voice low.
A yawn escapes my lips and my eyes grow heavy. “Can you maybe talk to me until I fall asleep?”
Brayden chuckles. “Sure, what do you want to talk about?”
“Anything. Tell me a story.”
“Hmm, okay. Once upon a time there lived a princess…”
I try to keep my eyes open, but before he even finishes the first sentence, I’m already falling asleep to the sound of his soothing voice.A real laugh bubbles out of me.
Loud and obnoxious.
Mom’s green eyes glitter with delight. At least she’s a fun drunk. When we’ve both been sucking down the wine, I turn into her dancing monkey that makes her laugh, and Dad glares at us both with that look of disappointment he’s long since perfected.
Mom dabs away the tears of laughter with her linen napkin. We’re at Roadman’s Steaks, an upscale restaurant in Hawk’s Landing, tucked away in a corner. Family dinners for us always turn weird.
“How’s swim practice?” Dad grinds out, trying desperately to keep us on normal topics.
“If you’re asking if I’ve been smuggling in weed in between swimming circles around Brady, then the answer is no. Been too busy,” I deadpan.
Dad sets his steak knife down with a clank on his plate and frowns at me. “Enough with the pity party. We know it wasn’t you. Your drug test was negative.”
“Just like I told you,” I remind him.
“But you did have the drugs on you.” He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m the dean, Ashton. I couldn’t let that go.”