by A. M. Kusi
“Wow. You wouldn’t think these moves would be so challenging, but I have a feeling I’m gonna be sore in places I didn’t know existed tomorrow,” Remy joked.
“Thanks, Mia. I really enjoyed this.” Jasmine smiled.
“I was just glad to have the company.” She rolled her mat alongside the other two women before she walked over to their picnic table. Bently held baby Zoey, laughing as he pointed out their surroundings. Lyra was running from Mikel, giggling as he tried to catch her. Mia couldn’t help the smile that came to her own face as she took the atmosphere in. These were her people—there was no doubt. For the first time since she’d lost her mother and left the only friends she had in the world back in California, she felt like a piece of home had been restored.
But then her eyes met his. Andre had shown up after all. He held Phoenix, his gaze targeted on her. She lifted her chin in defiance. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how he affected her. She placed her mat in a pile, Remy and Jasmine following her lead.
“I’ve worked up an appetite. Is the food ready?” Remy asked Mikel as Lyra ran into her legs, clutching her mother for safety.
Flashes assaulted Mia’s vision. The scent of her mother coated with fear as Mia clung to her. Only in Mia’s memory, it wasn’t a father chasing her in a child’s game—it was a real monster.
“Ahhh! Mommy, save me,” Lyra yelled, bringing her back to the present. Mia dug her feet farther in the sand as she focused on five things. Something she could see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. She grounded herself against the flashback.
“We’ve been kind of busy,” Bently answered as Mikel caught his breath, motioning towards the baby in his arms.
“You could have worn her and started lunch. I’m starving,” Remy complained.
“Here. Zoey probably needs to have some milk and take a nap anyway,” Jasmine said, reaching her arms out to her daughter.
“I had Mikel set up those two umbrellas when we got here. It might be more comfortable for you to nurse there if you want,” Remy said.
Andre stared at Mia in silence, anger radiating from him as he seemed totally oblivious to what was going on around him. The baby in his arms started to cry. Even the child could sense his fury.
“I’m gonna go for a quick swim,” Mia said, turning around and heading to the beach. She needed some air. Whenever Andre was in the vicinity, her chest grew tighter, making it harder to draw in a full breath.
Mia stepped into the cold water, wading out to her waist before she dove the rest of the way under. The water instantly cooled her and jolted her back into the present, erasing the tension that clung to her muscles. She didn’t dare go farther in the water. She had a very real fear of sharks and not being able to see through to the sea floor. She turned and headed back to the shore. Her stomach sank. Andre was waiting at the edge, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. His scowl promised that this wouldn’t be a friendly conversation at all. But when was it with this man?
She put her mask in place, walking to face him with her chin held high.
“Why are you everywhere I fucking turn?” he growled.
“Perdóname? I don’t want to see you any more than you so seem to want to see me.”
“These are my friends, not yours. You need to find someone else to hang out with,” he snapped, taking a step closer.
She wouldn’t be intimated by him. “Who do you think you are to dictate who I am friends with—or, for that matter, who your friends want to spend time with? Last I checked, you don’t control me. No one does.” She put her hands on her hips, defiantly.
His jaw clenched as her own anger rose. How dare he think he can just come over here and say these things to her. She had no one here, and he wanted to take the few good people in her life away.
“You know Bently probably won’t want to see you again. You’re embarrassing yourself if you think he wants more. He’s a one-and-done type of guy.”
Her expression morphed into confusion. Andre thought she’d slept with Bently. Was he . . . jealous?
“Fuck you!” She was at her breaking point.
“No, thanks. You’re not my type.”
“You’re a bully. And if you keep on treating people in your life like this, you’re going to end up a sad and lonely man with nothing but regrets.” She jabbed her finger at his rock-hard chest. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through her arm.
“I wasn’t very lonely last night.” He smirked.
Ugh! This man was infuriating! Everything inside her became untethered as she quaked with rage. Two could play this game.
“That makes two of us, then.” She smirked.
His breathing became jagged as his eyes blazed with the intensity. “I don’t care if you want to spread your legs for the whole goddamn town—just stay away from my friends.”
“It’s a shame someone as good-looking as you is so horrible on the inside.” Mia twisted her face in disgust, the fire in her eyes blazing as she met him blow for blow.
“I could say the same about you,” he growled.
“Oh, you like what you see? Take a good, long look, because that’s all you’ll ever get from me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, knowing she was giving him a nice view of her ample cleavage. So, this is the way to drive him mad.
His eyes moved lower, caught in her trap. Andre’s lips flattened as his eyes shot back to hers with a renewed disdain. He leaned closer to her face as he said, “I don’t do sloppy seconds or desperate and, honey, you’re both.”
Her hand met his face with a loud slap. Mia’s mouth gaped open. Her face heated as her body trembled with an overpowering need to flee. Andre seemed just as stunned for a second before his gaze turned victorious. What the hell had she done? Since when had she become so physically violent?
Since Andre Stone.
Mia didn’t like the version of herself that she became whenever he was around. Ashamed she had slapped him and angry that she let him get to her, Mia steadied herself with a shaky breath. She couldn’t keep doing this. She had to get him out of her life.
“I want to terminate my contract with your company—effective immediately,” she said.
His smile quickly faded, but her emotional turmoil over her actions and how she’d let him affect her muted any satisfaction. She turned quickly, fleeing from him.
***
Mia focused on the sand, searching for sea glass to keep her mind occupied. Find the joy in all things. Look for the bright colors amidst the gray. Mija, there’s always a rainbow after the storm. When the world is heavy on your shoulders, create your own happiness. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind as she fought back tears. How was she going to face Remy? She cared about the woman too much to put her in the middle of her hatred for her brother.
Lyra joined her a few moments later. “Mia! What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for sea glass.” Mia held out her hand to show the little girl a few small pieces she’d found.
“Why? It’s just broken bottles. That means it’s garbage.” Lyra scrunched her nose curiously.
Mia bent and picked up a piece of green glass that was still sharp around the edges. “You see this one?”
“Yeah,” Lyra answered.
“This one isn’t ready yet. Sometimes you can take something broken and shattered, something someone else would just throw away and treat like garbage, and turn it into something beautiful. It takes a lot of pressure. Waves must beat it against the sand and rocks, but eventually the jagged edges are smoothed and it becomes sea glass—something more beautiful than it started, and a whole lot stronger.”
The little girl’s eyes grew wide. “Can I have one?”
“Absolutely.” Mia handed her the few pieces that she’d collected that were smooth before tossing the unfinished one back into the surf.
“How d
id you learn all this stuff?” Lyra asked, mesmerized by the rainbow of colors in her hand.
“My mamá used to collect sea glass. I still have a jar full of the colors she found.”
“That’s so cool! Isn’t it, Uncle Andre?”
Mia tensed at his name. She glanced at him over her shoulder. His expression was one she hadn’t seen on his face before—one of softness and possibly remorse. Could she never escape this man?
“Lyra, your mamá wants you to go eat. Lunch is ready,” Andre said.
“Okay,” Lyra said before she ran off.
“Mia—”
She held up her hand. “Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to hear it. Leave me alone, Andre. You won, okay? I’ll keep to myself.” She walked away before he could respond. Before he could see her tears.
Chapter 8
Andre
Andre followed from a distance as Mia headed up a trail on the side of the cliff. A few other people passed them on their way down. He had taken things too far with Mia. He couldn’t explain his visceral reaction to her. Seeing her in downward dog in those tiny white shorts, her red bikini bottoms showing through, he’d lost it. Why he’d thrown Summer Richards in her face, he had no idea. He hadn’t even made it inside the woman’s house. So why did I lie to Mia about it? Images flashed in his mind of Bently’s hands on her as they’d danced—as they’d left together. Jealousy. Now he’d really fucked up. Mikel is going to kill me. When did he become so selfish?
After following her and Lyra for a couple minutes, he couldn’t help but overhear what she’d said about the sea glass. He got the feeling that maybe all that he sensed under the surface wasn’t malicious lies or pretense, but a woman who’d seen her fair share of darkness.
When he reached the top, he found a small group of college-aged guys standing near the edge. Mia walked towards them and peered over the drop-off. This was a popular jumping spot for the locals and University of New Hampshire students. Mia took a step back, holding her head as if she was dizzy.
“Hey, beautiful,” one of the guys with a fraternity Greek insignia cap said.
“Hey.” She nodded.
“You up here to jump?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No.”
“It’s quite the rush. Watch. My buddy will show you how it’s done,” he said, putting his arm across her shoulder. His white skin contrasted with her dark tan. Andre was downwind from the guy, and he could still smell the beer on him, like he’d bathed in it.
One of the other guys ran and jumped off the ledge as she clutched her chest. The guy flipped and disappeared into the dark water below.
“It’s a lot of fun,” the drunk guy said.
“It doesn’t look safe,” she said, rubbing her arms.
“The water’s like, mad deep, even with the tide out. Do I look like someone who would steer you wrong?” He smiled, showing off his perfectly straight white teeth. Men like him were used to getting what they wanted and never hearing the word no. Guys of that kind were the most dangerous.
“It’s just not my thing.” She shook her head and started to back away out of his grasp.
“Come on. I’ll jump with you. The first time is always the hardest.” He grabbed her wrist in a tight grip, not letting go when she tried to pull away.
“You’re hurting me!”
“The lady said no,” Andre barked. She turned, her expression seemingly relieved at the sight of him for the first time since they’d met.
“This isn’t any of your business, thug,” the guy said, looking down his nose at Andre before handing off his hat to another one of the guys.
Andre’s skin burned at the insult. Of course, there was only one reason the asshole would use that word. Andre’s rage boiled over. He stepped closer. For once, his anger was directed at someone other than her. But they were outnumbered by four drunk white college boys and she stood perilously close to the edge of the cliff.
She tried to pull her arm free and shove the guy away, but Andre could tell she was being careful because they were so close to the edge.
“Fine. I’ll let her go.” The guy’s face split into a cocky grin before he jumped off the cliff, pulling Mia with him.
Andre darted to the edge as Mia’s scream intermingled with the jackass’s shout before she plunged into cold darkness and the sea swallowed her up. His stomach hardened with nerves as he panicked.
He didn’t wait for her to surface before he was free-falling himself, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. His only concern was her safety.
Mia erupted from the dark green waters a few yards away before he was plunged into the total darkness of the cold brine. He swam upwards, gasping for breath. He was closer to the frat boy who’d dragged Mia into the water, and as much as he wanted to punch the guy’s face, Mia was his target. He swam as quickly as he could towards a panicking Mia. Tears streamed down her face. He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her back towards the shore. Once he could reach the bottom, he pulled her against his body. The hard points of her nipples rubbed against his chest and sent a shiver along his spine. She’d lost her bathing suit top.
Shit.
He held her as she cried in his arms. Guilt ate him up from the inside out. The last thing this woman needed was him being an asshole to her.
“It’s okay. You’re safe.” Andre led her away from the water onto the dry shore. He let her go long enough to peel the wet shirt from his body. “Here, take this.”
He wrung it out as best as he could before slipping it over her head, looking away as she threaded her hands through it. She was trembling.
“See? Wasn’t that worth it?” came the voice of the son of a bitch who’d dragged her off the cliff. Andre tensed, turning to face the cocky bastard, his fist clenched as he stalked back into the water towards him, ready for a fight.
A small hand gripped his bicep, halting him. “No, Andre,” Mia said flatly. “He isn’t worth it.”
You’re worth it.
Where the hell had that thought come from?
“Whoa, man. Listen to your girl. It was just a little fun,” the guy taunted.
Andre jerked towards him, but Mia’s hand only tugged him more firmly. “Let’s go, Dre. He’s not worth the assault charges.”
Andre turned to Mia, her brown hair stuck to her skin, her nipples poking against the fabric of his shirt. He couldn’t remember a more beautiful sight. She had him under her spell. It gave him the time to calm down. He’d probably get punished more harshly in front of a judge for punching this guy’s lights out than the frat boy would for assaulting Mia. What a fucked-up world we live in.
Andre pulled Mia back into his chest as they walked away towards the beach with their friends.
“Th-thank you,” Mia said, still shivering.
***
Bently seemed to know something was wrong the moment Andre locked eyes with him.
His friend came running over. “What happened?”
“There’s a jackass frat boy over there who assaulted Mia. Threw her off the jumping ledge.”
“I’ll handle it,” Bently said.
“Please don’t get into a fight on my account. Really, I don’t want you all to end up in jail because of me,” Mia pleaded.
Bently laughed. “Honey, I’m the sheriff.”
Mia’s face paled. “I-I don’t want to press charges. I just want to go home.”
“I’ll take you home. Bent, can you get my car back?” Andre asked.
“Yeah. You sure, Mia? It would really be my pleasure,” Bentley pressed.
“I’m positive.” Mia wrapped her towel around her body and gathered her yoga mats.
Andre ushered her to her car, helping her into the passenger seat. “You okay?” he asked.
She nodded.
He’d never seen her look so small and timid.
In the short time he’d known her, she’d been feisty and full of energy. Pain laced through his chest. He was partly to blame. She’d have never gone up there if he hadn’t acted like he did. His sister had been right—he was bitter.
“I’m sorry about before,” he said.
No response.
He drove her home in silence. He put the car in park and jumped out to open her door. As he reached his hand to steady her, she pulled away.
“I can do it myself,” she said. Some of the fire was back in her eyes.
“I know you can, but I want to help,” he said as calmly as possible.
She unlocked her door and walked in, and he followed close behind her. Her house was a similar style to his. But her decor was colorful, warm and inviting, whereas his was more bachelor-pad chic with mismatched furniture and a few pictures and art pieces his mother had hung for him.
She stood there, staring at him, seeming so vulnerable. The mask she usually wore was gone. He stepped closer, unable to ignore the tether that cinched tighter between them, connecting him to her in a way he’d never felt before. Seeing her in danger had scared him more than he wanted to admit. The hurt in her eyes when he’d taken his tactics too far gutted him. Guilt clawed at his insides, along with an intense need to make it better, restore the light he’d snuffed out.
The pull between them was pure magnetism. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. Placing his hand under her chin, he gently turned her face up to his. Need and lust tangled together with some unknown feeling. She was shaken up by the day’s events, and he wanted nothing more than to wipe them from her memory, to make her feel good.
His lips hovered over hers, her sweet, hot breath tempting him, intoxicating him. If either of them moved, his lips would be on hers, devouring, tasting.
“I’m sorry for what I said and how I’ve acted towards you. You do something to me and it makes me feel . . . out of control. I’m the one who lied to push your buttons. I never went home with anyone the other night.”
She blinked before her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why tell me this now?”
Because you make me want things I shouldn’t want. Because you should know you’re nothing less than perfection.
