Page 6 of Off-Limits

Mia takes a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever emotional onslaught she thinks is about to happen. But as the words start pouring out of her, it's like a dam has burst open, and there's no stopping the flood.

"It was so stupid," she says, her voice shaking. "I thought... I thought he really cared about me. That we had something real." She laughs bitterly, swiping at the fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "Turns out, he was just using me for sex and a place to stay while his 'real' girlfriend was off doing God knows what with some other guy."

That's not surprising. I'd heard about the issues with her ex. He was never trustworthy. Honestly, I'm surprised it took her that long to realize it.

She's crying harder now, her shoulders shaking as she tries to keep it together. I can't stand to see her like this—broken, vulnerable—and before I even realize what I'm doing, I've pushed my chair back and moved to sit next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. This might be a mistake, but fuck it, I'm still doing it.

"It's okay," I murmur into her hair, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "It's going to be okay."

For a moment, she leans into me, her body softening against mine as she lets herself be held. But then, just as suddenly, she stiffens and pulls away, her eyes widening as she takes in the fact that I'm shirtless and that our bodies are slightly pressed against each other.

"Jake," she breathes, her eyes locked with mine. "What are you doing?"

I realize then what I've done, how close I am to breaking my promise to Ryan. How easily I could give in to the temptation that is Mia, especially when she's like this: raw, emotional, and in need of comfort.

"Ryan would kill me," I say suddenly, my voice tight as I pull away from her. The words feel harsh even as they leave my mouth, but I can't take them back now.

Mia flinches at the mention of her brother, her eyes hardening as she swipes angrily at her tears. "You don't have to keep reminding me about Ryan," she snaps. "I know you two have some kind of bro code or whatever, but that doesn't mean you can just use him as an excuse every time things get... complicated."

She stands up abruptly, her chair screeching loudly against the floor. I wince at the sound, feeling a pang of guilt for upsetting her further.

I know she's right about that, but it still doesn't change my promise to him. It's complicated. I can't just undo it or pretend that it doesn't exist.

"It's not like that," I protest weakly, but Mia is already storming out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the echo of her angry words.

As much as I want to go after her—to explain myself and make sure she's okay—I know it's better to give her some space. At least for now. Because right now, all I can think about is how close we were—how good it felt to hold her in my arms—and how badly I want to do it again.

But I made a promise to Ryan. And as much as I might hate myself for saying those words, I know that breaking that promise would be a mistake neither of us could come back from.

Chapter 3

Mia

The sun is already blazing when I wake up, its rays searing through the thin curtains of the living room window where I've been sleeping on the couch. I groan, stretching my limbs as I sit up, the sheet tangled around my waist. It's going to be another scorcher today.

Sleeping on the couch sucks. It's terrible, but I can't sleep in my parents' bedroom. I was really hoping my bedroom would be available. I can't sleep in the guest room, even if Jake weren't here. Fuck. My life isn't so great right now.

I glance at the clock on the wall—9:30 AM—and sigh. I should have set an alarm, but who wants to wake up earlier than they have to when it feels like you're living in a sauna? Not me, that's for sure.

The house is quiet, too quiet. Jake must still be asleep upstairs. The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and not just because of the temperature. I can't help but think about how close we came to... something, that other day when he comfortedme over my breakup. His strong arms around me, his bare chest pressed against mine—it was almost too much to resist. But then he had to go and bring up Ryan, ruining the moment.

Fuck. He just can't stop thinking about my brother, can he? It's infuriating. I wish it were different. I wish he could think about anyone else.

I wish he would think more about me.

I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts from my mind. It's too hot to be thinking about Jake like that right now. I need a shower. A cold one. It's the only way to get him out of my mind.

Dragging myself off the couch, I pad upstairs towards the bathroom, my bare feet sticking slightly to the warm hardwood floors. As I pass by Jake's room, I can't help but notice that his door is slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of the rumpled sheets on his bed. My heart flutters traitorously in my chest, and I force myself to keep walking before I do something stupid like knock on his door.

The shower feels amazing—cold water pounding against my skin, washing away the remnants of sleep, the lingering heat from outside, and his face. I stand under the spray for longer than necessary, letting it soothe my muscles and clear my mind. The latter is the most important one. When I finally step out, wrapping myself in a towel, I feel more like myself.

As I'm drying off, I hear a soft knock at the bathroom door. "Mia?" Jake's voice filters through, tentative and slightly muffled. "You okay in there?"

I freeze, suddenly very aware of my state of undress. "Yeah," I call back, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just getting ready for the day."

There's a pause before he responds, "Okay. Well, if you're done in there soon, I was thinking we could go grab some iced coffee or something. Beat the heat together."

I smile despite myself, touched by his thoughtfulness. Maybe the tension we felt that day has finally dissipated. "Sure," I say, toweling off my hair. "Give me five minutes to get ready."

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