by J. L. Berg
My eyes widened, remembering his heated words as his fingers had grazed my core.
Maybe Brent will hear you screaming my name from down the street.
Garrett and Brent shared angry stares that were about to escalate, and I had no idea what to do.
“Well, it’s probably for the best anyway. It’s not like I could take you home—not after your parents made such spectacles of themselves, fleeing town with their tails between their legs.”
My eyes flew to his. The light flirty glow he’d greeted us with was now replaced with ice and menace.
“What are you talking about?” I asked softly.
“Oh, come on, Mia. Everyone knew. A teenage girl can’t puke her way through the last few months of high school and have it go unnoticed. When you bailed right after graduation, the rumors only got worse. That’s why I was so surprised to see you two together yesterday. I figured he was done with you after that.”
I felt nauseous. Everything in my stomach suddenly wanted to defy gravity and purge out of me. This couldn’t be happening. It was my secret—mine and Garrett’s. Now, I find out that everyone had known. If that were true, Liv would have said something. Wouldn’t she?
I heard the crack seconds before my eyes recognized the force of Garrett’s fist colliding with Brent. With little effort, Garrett quickly had Brent pinned to the wall.
“Listen to me, you piece of shit,” Garrett said with gritted teeth.
Everyone in the store was now eerily silent, afraid to make a peep.
“You’re going to apologize to Mia, and you’re going to do it quickly.”
Brent began to protest, but he quickly changed his mind as Garrett tightened his grip.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry what?” Garrett pushed.
“I’m sorry, Mia. I’m sorry for saying what I did,” Brent said.
Garrett released his hold on Brent, and he slumped to the floor. Garrett’s eyes found mine, and he was instantly by my side, wrapping me in his arms. We vacated the store. Tears I hadn’t realized were there were streaming down my face.
“Shh…baby, it’s okay. It’s over.”
He helped me into the car and even fastened my seat belt. Once he was strapped in and the engine roared to life, he looked over and gently swept away my tears.
“We didn’t pay for my shoes,” I said quietly.
He gave a hint of a smile, and his eyes softened. “Consider them a parting gift from Brent.”
I didn’t think we would be going rafting anytime soon.
Chapter Nineteen
~Mia~
He’d held me all night, soaking up my tears as they fell onto his chest. His arms had encased me in warmth, and I’d never felt more precious.
When we awoke this morning, he wanted to call in sick again, but I was adamant. I would not be the reason for the demise of his career. He’d already taken one day, a first for him. If he took another, I was sure they’d send out a search party or a HAZMAT team.
“But I can’t leave you like this,” he’d said.
I could tell he had been conflicted.
“I’ll be fine, really. I have Sam. There is also ice cream in the freezer and plenty of horrible daytime TV to keep me occupied.”
His eyes had searched mine, and he’d finally relented. “Fine, but I’m not working a minute past five. I’ll be home right after, and we’ll order a pizza or something. We can watch one of those horrible chick flicks you used to love.”
I’d smiled, realizing he’d referred to my home like it was ours. I didn’t think he’d even noticed it, and I definitely wasn’t going to point it out, but it had made my heart flutter, seeing how easily we had fallen back into place.
We were so different. Eight years had changed us both, yet we were still the same.
I’d offered to make him breakfast, but he’d wanted me to stay in bed, saying he would much rather have that vision in his head for the rest of the day.
After a long, lingering kiss that left me dizzy, he was out the door, and I was alone.
For about ten minutes, I seriously contemplated going to work, but then I realized I didn’t have a job where I could do that. Shift work didn’t allow me to just pop in and work whenever I wanted. I couldn’t be a workaholic like Garrett even if I tried.
I took a long, hot shower, letting the hot spray work my muscles until the water turned cold. I spent a ridiculous amount of time rubbing lotion into my skin, remembering the way Garrett’s fingers and hands had massaged and moved along my body.
Once dressed, I dried my hair and threw it up into a ponytail, and then I checked the clock.
One hour.
That was all that had passed.
Damn. This is going to be a long day.
I needed to find something to do to keep my mind off of yesterday. Why did I ever think Brent was nice? I should have known better.
Everyone at school had known I was pregnant, which means everyone knew what I eventually did. It didn’t take a genius to put it together. Girls didn’t run away to have babies anymore. It wasn’t the fifties. Girls ran when they wanted to start over, and I’d run.
I’d run, which meant I hadn’t been around to deal with any sideways glances, stares, or whispers. Had Garrett had to endure any of that? Had he known about the rumors, too? If it were only me involved, I honestly wouldn’t have cared if everyone knew. Let them drag me through the mud. But Garrett? I didn’t want anyone thinking for a second that he’d forced me into a decision I didn’t want or that he hadn’t been there for me.
That was what hurt the most about people knowing. I’d always hoped that I had protected Garrett by disappearing.
Letting out a huff of breath, I realized I was doing a terrible job of distracting myself. My trusty four-legged sidekick and I headed downstairs, and I started searching around the kitchen for something to eat for breakfast. Besides the small amount of pasta fixings Garrett brought over the night before, I was out of almost everything. I seriously needed to make a run to the grocery store.
I pulled out a box of cereal and opened the fridge.
No milk. Great.
As I was grumbling to myself, my doorbell chimed, and Sam and I ran to the door to answer it.
Standing with a glorious bag of groceries was Liv.
“You brought food!” I exclaimed.
“Yep, nice to see you, too.”
“You brought food!” I clapped my hands together and took the bag from her. My mood immediately fell when I saw the contents. “What the hell is this crap?” I asked, making my way back into the kitchen.
Sam pranced and wagged his tail in reaction to our visitor. He and Liv had developed quite a deep bond since he’d stayed with her a few times. She’d jokingly told me that Sam was the only male she’d ever given her heart to.
“It’s food,” she answered blankly.
“This is not food—unless you’re a rabbit.”
“That is people food, real people food. It’s vegetables, flax seed, organic muffins, and cage-free eggs.”
I made a gagging noise that earned me a slap to the ass.
“I brought you groceries!” She pouted.
“You brought me hippie food. Sometimes, a girl just wants a milkshake and a hamburger.”
“Well, he didn’t exactly specify an order when he called.” She was pulling out groceries I couldn’t even name and putting them away.
“Who called? Garrett called you?”
Her lips curved into a smile, and she nodded. “Mmhmm…”
“He called you this morning?”
“Yes. He said you had a rough night, and he didn’t want you to be alone all day. So, he asked if I could come over and spend the day with you. He quickly added that he’d eaten you out of house and home, so he told me to bring sustenance.”
I felt a little blush, and I tried to hide the smile consuming my face.
“Oh my God!”
“What?” I tried to feign innocence.
I snorted out a laugh, and she began jumping up and down in triumph.
“I knew it! Now, spill!” She pulled a few brown muffins sprinkled with oats out of a container. They looked like they could take out a window with a single toss.
She handed one to me on a plate, and I gave it a doubtful look.
“What do you want me to say? Fine, yes, we’re sleeping together.”
I was right. The muffin was harder than a baseball. I slipped it into the microwave and waited for it to warm.
“Okay, but what does that mean?”
Hearing the ding, I pulled out my breakfast and grabbed some butter from the fridge. Liv gave me a judgmental look but didn’t say a word. If she was going to make me eat this shit, she would have to deal with me slathering it in butter.
“I honestly don’t know. He’s made it crystal clear that we are not seeing other people, but I don’t know much beyond that. We have a lot to work through.”
Liv decided to forgo tea and had coffee with me instead. We took our breakfast into the living room and sat down on the couch while I worked up the courage to say what needed to be said.
After another sip of coffee, I finally asked, “Liv, when I left after graduation, were there rumors about me?”
Her eyes met mine, and she took the time to set down her plate and coffee.
“Is that why Garrett sent me over here? Is that why you were so upset? Mia, what happened?”
I let out a lengthy breath of air that I’d been holding in, and I told her how we’d run into Brent at the restaurant and Garrett’s anger over the phone number.
“That’s kind of hot,” she said.
“Pay attention!” I snapped. I couldn’t help but grin though. I continued on from there, telling her about Garrett’s plan to get me on a raft.
She laughed at the thought until I got to the part about Brent basically telling me I was trash.
“That dirty rat bastard!” she yelled.
“Liv, it’s fine. Garrett took care of it. Now, please, answer my question. Were there rumors?”
“You left so suddenly. You know there were bound to be a few.”
“And before I left?” I asked.
Her eyes shifted, and I could tell she knew something.
“Liv, please tell me.”
“I didn’t believe a single word, Mia. Yes, everyone thought you were pregnant. A freshman heard you throwing up in the restroom and then crying with Garrett. Someone else saw you run out of class a week later. I tried to tell them that it was nothing, but it was high school.”
She’d stuck up for me. The entire time, she’d defended me.
“They weren’t rumors, Liv. It was true,” I confessed.
“What?”
“I was pregnant.”
“Oh my God, Mia. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have been there for you.” Her hands found mine and gripped them tightly.
“We didn’t tell anyone, not even our parents.”
“Is that why Garrett proposed?” she asked.
I smiled, remembering that happy memory when he’d asked me to marry him. I never once felt like he had done it out of duty or responsibility. His eyes had met mine, and I’d seen nothing but love shining through.
“That’s why we moved it up so quickly, but he wanted to marry me, regardless of the baby.”
“But something changed?” she asked hesitantly.
“Don’t they always? I was young and easily swayed by my parents. I told them, thinking they’d support me. God, I was stupid. My mother convinced me that I would ruin Garrett’s life by going through with it.”
“So, you ran.”
I nodded. “So, I ran.”
“Does Garrett know why you left?”
“No, it doesn’t matter.”
Her hands squeezed mine. “It does matter. Don’t you think he deserves to know everything?”
It was a question I’d thought about so many times.
But I’d always come to the same answer.
“It doesn’t change the past.”
~Garrett~
“I am so fucked,” I said to no one as I surveyed the amount of unfinished work on my desk. That was just the paper. I still had a ton of emails, reports, and a dozen other things to go through.
I’d never been so far behind in my life. I was always the go-getter, the man who finished first and asked for more. Looking down at the clock on my computer, it registered that I’d been in the office for almost four hours, and I’d accomplished nothing.
Not only was I behind but now I was lazy, too.
And the kicker was that I didn’t care, not one fucking bit.
I was just sitting in my chair, counting down the minutes until I could run for the elevator and leave.
So, this was what the rest of America felt like?
It was boring.
For the first time since starting my job, I realized it was nauseatingly boring. I’d always hated it, but I’d just been too busy to care.
My phone chirped, and I checked it. A text from Liv appeared, saying she’d just arrived at Mia’s and she was feeding her.
I smiled, glad that Mia wasn’t alone and was being taken care of. I hated the thought of her being by herself today after what she had gone through.
I could have killed Brent Malcolm with my bare hands. I always knew he was a jerk, but yesterday, he’d proven he was a Grade A asshole. Not being one to listen in on high school gossip, I’d never known the rumors floating around about Mia. Had I known, I would have protected her as best as I could.
A knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts, and I found Kara walking in. Her pencil skirt and tight blouse did nothing for me as she neared, but I suddenly wondered what Mia would look like dressed like this.
Is this how she dressed for work in her old life?
I couldn’t picture my Mia in an office, working files and pushing numbers.
My Mia.
It had been less than two days, and I’d already fallen back into my old ways.
“Hey, Kara.”
“Hey, just came in to check on you.”
“Huh?” I asked in confusion.
“You were sick, and I wanted to make sure you were feeling better.”
Oh, that. Visions of taking Mia on the kitchen counter came to mind—her body reacting to my every touch, shattering as she pulsated around me.
Best sick day ever.
“Right. I feel much better, thanks.” I might have thrown a little cough in there for effect.
“Great!” she said brightly. Her hands folded together, and she lingered. “I was also wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat.”
“What? Now?”
“Well, it is lunchtime.”
Her eyes were hopeful, and she bit her lip as she waited for my answer. When Mia did this, it would drive me to my knees, but I felt nothing seeing Kara do the exact same gesture.
“Kara, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I’m seeing someone.”
“Oh.” Her eyes were downcast, and the look of defeat was clearly written all over her face. “Is it serious?” she asked.
I answered honestly, “She’s the one.”
Her eyes softened, and she smiled. “I’m happy for you, Garrett.” She sounded genuine and sincere.
“Thank you, Kara,”
“Do you still want to grab some lunch? Friends only, I promise,” she asked, throwing her hands up in defense.
I laughed but declined. “Actually, there’s someone I’d like to visit.”
Twenty minutes later, I had a bag of food, and I was once again knocking on a door. Lately, it seemed to be my thing.
Declan opened the door this time, and I heard Lily yell in glee.
He grinned. “That better be for me.” He pointed to the huge bag of greasy food.
; “Sure, but you’ve got to share.”
He shrugged and invited me in.
“Leah’s not here, if that’s who you are looking for. She had to work.”
“Nope,” I answered, as I walked through the double doors, “ I came to see you actually.”
I followed him into their massive kitchen and pulled out the food as he set out the plates. While I placed the food on the plates, he set Lily down. She was now happily eating Cheerios in her high chair, blowing raspberry with her tongue.
“So, the food really was for me,” he said with a grin, “Nice.”
We made quick work of our food. Being men, we didn’t talk much as we ate. We just shoveled food and washed it down.
Once I was sure I’d eaten an entire cow and a field of potatoes, I broke the silence. “Can I ask you something?”
“Are we going to have a heart-to-heart, Garrett? Because Leah will be home in, like, an hour, and she can totally take care of that shit.”
I grinned. “What I need to ask, only you can answer.”
“Okay, shoot.”
I took a deep breath. “Were you ever able to forgive Connor’s mother?”
Leah and Declan’s oldest child was his from a previous relationship. Declan hadn’t known Connor existed until a couple of years ago when Leah met Connor in an ER after his mother had been killed in a car accident. They had managed to put two and two together several months later. Heather, his ex-girlfriend, had chosen to keep Connor a secret from Declan.
Declan leaned back in his seat and stretched his neck, obviously giving himself a moment to think it through. “Eventually, yes, but it took a while. What she did was wrong, but it didn’t make her a bad person.”
“Even though she betrayed you?”
He nodded. “I didn’t say it was an overnight revelation. It took a while. But we all have to make tough decisions, and when faced with extraordinary circumstances, even the greatest of us can choose wrong.”
I let his words sink in. I’d never allowed myself to step into Mia’s shoes. I’d never wanted to. From the time she’d left, it had been all about me—my feelings, my wounds, and my pain. I’d never stopped to think about her feelings, her wounds, or her pain. How much had she suffered over the years?
