I can’t tell her I want to keep her all for myself. Sharing her with Cal, or anyone else, is not an option.
She crosses her arms. “It almost sounds like you’rejealous.”
I laugh it off. “Maybe I am. I was afraid he’d try to make a move, and I might have to stop the concert and ask him to leave.”
“Well, thank you for saving me from a date with Cal and giving me the best seat in the house. Speaking of the concert, how were your meetings today?”
“Long and terribly boring,” I say. When I was listening to the record executives, I could only think about how much fun we had the other night. The view. The kiss.Her.
She makes a small move toward me, and I want to pull her closer, but I stay in control.For her.
Next time I kiss her—if there is anext time—I want the real thing.
The sound of a motor grinding up the drive catches my attention, and Mia’s eyes stray toward the door.
“Are you expecting someone else?” she asks.
“Not at this hour,” I say, checking my watch. It’s after eleven.
“Stay right here,” I tell her. “I’ll make this quick.” I stride over to the door, eager to get rid of whoever is on the other side.
As soon as I open it, my stomach drops.“Ava,” I mutter.
“Hi, Jace,” she says, standing on the edge of the porch, looking like a lost puppy who’s found her way back.
Her smile makes me feel like I’ve been socked in the gut.
“What are you doing here?” I look past her in the dark. “Is Benedict with you?”
“No,” she says, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and hesitating. “We broke things off recently, and... I thought I’d make a trip to see you.” She steps forward, like she hopes to come in, but I don’t move from the door.
She shrugs in this helpless way, like it’s entirely normal to show up at your ex-boyfriend’s house after a year apart. “With your Christmas concert this week, I thought you might need some support.”
I cross my arms. Is she feeling nostalgic because it’s Christmas, and the holidays are the worst time to be lonely?
I feel Mia’s presence, watching our exchange. All I want is to rewind time. To kiss her again.Why did I open the door?
A throat clears behind me.
Ava’s gaze flicks to her. “Oh, hello. I didn’t see you.” Her mouth twists slightly.
Mia awkwardly folds her hands together and looks at me, a furrow deepening in her brow. She’s waiting for me to do something. Saysomething.
The moment drags on a beat too long before Mia says, “I probably should head up to my room.”
Ava looks between us. “Oh, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can go...”
“It’s okay, I’m tired anyway.” Mia turns away.
“Mia...” I say, trying to stop her, but she darts up the stairs.
Ava crosses her arms and lifts an eyebrow. “She’s living here?”
“Temporarily. She’s working for me until the concert is over.” At least that was my plan until things spiraled out of control. I hadn’t been planning on letting things get this far.
“Is your band here too?”
I shake my head. “Just Allan, when he’s in town.”