Page 56 of Worth the Fall

Austin and I are tucked into the corner booth of our usual burger joint, a place that hasn’t changed since our college days. The menus are still sticky; the fries come in grease-stained baskets, and the soda machine always seems just a little off. It’s comforting, in a way. Familiar.

"So," Austin starts, leaning back in his chair and pointing a fry at me like it’s a weapon. "You’re really in it, huh?"

I smirk, swirling the ice in my soda. "In what?"

He rolls his eyes. "Don’t play dumb. Mia. I can see it all over your face."

I try to keep my grin in check, but it’s no use. "Yeah," I admit, leaning back in my seat. "She’s amazing, man. Smart, funny, and don’t even get me started on how she is with Felicity. Like, who just clicks with a five-year-old like that?"

Austin raises a brow, his smirk tilting into something softer. "It’s not hard to see why you’re into her. Mia’s great."

"She’s more than great." The words tumble out before I can stop them, and Austin gives me a look. I press on anyway. "It’s like… I don’t know. Everything just feels easy with her. She doesn’t try to be someone she’s not, and she doesn’t expect me tobe perfect either. But she also doesn’t take any shit, you know? She’s fire."

Austin chuckles, shaking his head as he dips a fry into ketchup. "Look at you. Miguel Ramirez, certified hard-ass, turned into a puddle by a woman who could probably out-argue you in court."

"Don’t I know it." I laugh, but the weight behind my words is real. She’s more than I expected, and somehow, she makes me want to be more too.

Austin leans forward, wiping his hands on a napkin. "I’ll say this: Mia’s been through a lot. So, seeing her this happy? It’s a good look on her. And on you."

I nod, feeling the warmth of his words.

But then he adds, "I mean, after Cameron, I wasn’t sure she’d get there, you know?"

That name hits like a stone dropping into water, sending ripples through the easy rhythm of the conversation. My hand tightens around my soda cup, but I keep my tone casual. "Yeah, I know about him. High school sweethearts, twelve years together, the whole thing."

Austin nods, popping another fry into his mouth. "Exactly. She was pretty wrecked after he pulled the ‘I need space card. I mean, who does that after over a decade together?"

I force a laugh, but my chest tightens at the thought of the guy who held her heart for so long. "Yeah, sounds like a real winner."

"He wasn’t," Austin says bluntly. "And honestly? I wasn’t sure she’d let herself move on. But she has, man. With you. If she wasn’t all in, she wouldn’t be with you."

The words are meant to reassure me, but they land heavier than they should. I think about the moments when Mia’s smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, the occasional faraway look whenshe thinks no one’s watching. I shake off the thought, forcing myself back into the moment.

"Yeah," I say, offering Austin a smile. "I know."

But the truth lingers in the back of my mind, quiet and insistent: Do I know?

Austin studies me for a moment, then leans back in his chair. "You like her, huh?"

I glance at him, my brow furrowing. "What kind of question is that? Of course I like her."

"No, I mean you really like her. Like, you’re already planning how to make this thing work long-term, aren’t you?"

I don’t respond right away, but I can feel the truth settling in my chest. "Yeah," I finally admit. "I am. I’m in love with her."

Austin nods, his grin widening. "Good. Because I think she’s doing the same thing. Don’t overthink it, man. She’s with you because she wants to be, not because she’s trying to get over someone else."

I let his words sink in, the tension in my chest easing slightly. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m overthinking things. Mia and I are good together—I know that.

"So," Austin says, smirking again as he reaches for his burger. "How long before you put a ring on it?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "One step at a time, man. Let’s survive dinner with Felicity first."

He chuckles, raising his burger in a mock toast. "Fair enough. But I’m calling it now—it’s only a matter of time."

As we dive back into our meal, the conversation shifts to lighter topics—work, sports, and our next golf meeting. But in the back of my mind, Mia lingers, her laughter, her warmth, and the way she fits so perfectly into my life with Felicity.

And despite Austin’s reassurances, I can’t help but hope she really is over him.

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