Page 142 of The Match Faker

I was sure there was loud music playing when I’d arrived, but the volume had been turned right down. As I broke my gaze, I saw that a crowd had gathered, their eyes fixed on us.

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Some privacy would be good.’

‘Come upstairs,’ Mia suggested.

The crowd parted and I followed her, feeling the heat of a dozen eyes on my back.

Mia opened the door to her childhood bedroom, switched on the light, then stepped inside.

It was just as I’d remembered it. Pink duvet. Old photos pinned to the walls and a pile of board games on the shelf in the corner.

‘You’ve still got our old games!’

‘Yeah. Mum kept our rooms like a shrine. They keep threatening to turn mine into a gym, but they never touch it. I think it makes them feel like we’re still living here.’

Mia sat on the bed and looked up at me with her gorgeous deep brown eyes. My heart raced. I was so nervous.

‘So… you came back…’ Her words hung in the air.

That was my cue to tell her why I was here. To tell her everything. I went to speak, but it was like someone had cut out my tongue.

I opened my mouth.

Come on. You can do this. Just tell her how you feel.

Love over fear.

‘I… I miss you.’

‘I missed you too.’ She looked up.

I sat next to her and took her hands in mine.

‘I’ve never done this before, so bear with me. I didn’t want to end things. But I was afraid. Y’know, about the stuff we spoke about before. So it was easier for me to just leave. I hoped I’d forget about you. Not because I wanted to, but because then it’d be easier. If I forgot about you, I wouldn’t get hurt. But I tried. So hard. And I just couldn’t get you out of my head. I love you, Mia. I’ve always loved you. That’s why I’m here. I want to be with you. If you’ll have me. I really wanna make this work.’

Mia’s eyes widened and she froze.

The silence stretched for what felt like hours.

I needed to know what she was thinking. Whether she felt the same.

Even if she didn’t, I was proud of myself. At least I’d tried. If I had to go back to LA knowing she’d moved on or didn’t feel the same way, I’d know that I’d done what I could, but had just left it too late.

I’d blown it. Shit.

‘Okay. Got it.’ I leant forward, kissed her on the cheek, released her hands and went to get up.

‘Wait!’ She grabbed my arm. ‘Do you really mean it?’

‘Every damn word.’ I looked her straight in the eyes, pulled her into me, then pressed my mouth on hers.

As our lips moved together, it felt like my body came back to life. Before I got here, I was broken, but now, Mia’s kiss had healed me. Being close to her instantly repaired the hole in my heart.

Nate had said the power of a good woman was magical and he was right.

I ran my hand along the back of her neck. I loved the feel of her soft skin. I’d missed it. And her scent. God. I wished I could bathe in it so that wherever I went she’d feel close to me.

Eventually we pulled away.

---