“He is,” I grunt.
“How long have you two been together?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug and mutter, “A few weeks, maybe.” My relationship with Arron is the last thing I want to discuss.
“So it’s not serious?” Beck picks up a stray lock of my hair and twirls it around his index finger.
“It’s serious enough.” I bat his hand away as my heartbeat picks up its tempo.
He steps closer, but refrains from touching me again. His voice drops and even though the music is obnoxiously loud, I hear every word, every breath that leaves his lips. The chaos surrounding us melts into nothingness.
“What if I wanted another chance?”
Air leaks from my lungs until breathing becomes a foreign concept.
Why is he doing this to me?
Because I’m with someone else?
I force my voice to stay level. I won’t give away my inner turmoil. “I’d say that you were shit out of luck.”
With his gaze pinned to mine, he moves closer, invading my personal space. The familiar scent of his cologne wraps around me and clouds my better judgment. When I find myself swaying toward him, I blink back to awareness and yank myself away from the precipice.
“I fucked up, Mia. What happened between us…it’s not how I wanted it to go.”
It doesn’t matter.
None of his excuses matter.
“I can’t do this with you,” I whisper as panic surges through me.
“I hurt you and I’m sorry.” His voice drops. “I never intended for it to happen.”
But it did.
And now it’s too late.
I don’t realize I’ve uttered the words until he says, “It doesn’t have to be.”
This time, he wraps his fingers around my biceps and drags me closer.
Our faces are inches apart. “Give me a chance to make it up to you.”
As I stare into his eyes, I’m reluctantly sucked into his orbit. How does he do it? How does he make me forget to take care with my heart?
“Mia?” A voice cuts into my thoughts and brings me crashing back to earth with a painful thud. “Here you go.”
Beck’s hands fall away as the breath rushes from my lungs. I blink, focusing my attention on Arron who holds my newly filled cup of beer.
It takes effort to shake off the web that Beck has woven around me before hoisting my smile. My fingers tremble as I take the Solo cup. “Thanks.”
Arron’s narrowed gaze slides from me to Beck and then back again where it stays pinned. His tone changes, turning gruff. “Everything all right here?”
“Yup,” I say a little too quickly. “It’s fine.”
Arron slips an arm around my waist and tugs me close so I’m no longer standing next to Beck. Thick tension blankets the air. Beck’s jaw tightens as he glares at the guy at my side. The last thing I want is a fight to break out, although I have no idea why it would.
As if reading my thoughts, Arron clears his throat. “There’s a game of beer pong going on. Any interest in taking on the winners?”
I’d be up for anything that involves getting away from Beck.
“Sure, that sounds fun.” I lean into him and the concerned expression he’d been wearing dissolves. “Let’s go.”
Arron drops a quick kiss on my lips before glancing at Beck. The friendliness in his eyes disappears. “Take care, Hollingsworth.”
“Will do,” Beck grunts.
As Arron steers me through the thick crowd, a mixture of relief and disappointment flood through me and I can’t resist stealing one last look over my shoulder. A shiver scampers down my spine when I find Beck watching me.
I glance at Arron as we weave our way through the crowd and feel…
Nothing.
Frustration blooms inside me.
I like Arron. He’s a nice guy and we have a ton in common.
Only now do I realize how hard I’ve been working to talk myself into this relationship. I had convinced myself that he was someone I could get serious with, but after my run-in with Beck and the feelings that still simmer beneath the surface, I understand there’s nothing between us but friendship.
What bothers me most is that I might never get over Beck.
I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life pining after someone I can’t have. And yet, that’s a very real possibility.
Chapter Seven
Mia
Summer before junior year of college…
I throw on a bikini before pulling a cover-up over my head. For the last few days, the temperatures have been soaring in the nineties. It’s sweltering out and I’m tired of being cooped up in the air conditioning. If I don’t get out of this house, I’ll go bat shit crazy.
Since the Hollingsworth family is away on a two-week European vacation, I’m going over to take a dip. Caroline is always telling me to feel free and stop by any time I want. Since I’m usually operating in avoidance mode, I never do. But Beck has been conspicuously absent this summer, so I assume he’s on vaca with his parents. Or maybe at football camp. I have no idea.