Page 105 of Pucking Tangled
“They…” She hiccuped. “They’re talking about you and Casey, too.”
“Mia, they’ve been talking about us since we came out,” he told her, his voice matter of fact.
Luca heard Waylon tell her, “Let them watch, baby. Let them talk. Just means they see what we already know—you’re worth everything.”
Casey
Casey could barely remember the drive back to the house. His head was spinning with emotions.
Anger.
Pain.
Fury.
He drove Mia’s car with his hands clenched around the steering wheel tighter than they needed to be, following closely behind Luca’s SUV, his eyes glued to the taillights like they were a lifeline. He knew Mia was in that car, tucked safely in the back with Waylon and Owen, and it killed him that he couldn’t see her. Couldn’t hold her. Couldn’t fix the look on her face that had gutted him on those campus steps.
But someone needed to get her car back to the house so that no one broke into it.
By the time he pulled into the driveway, Waylon was helping Mia out of the car. She looked steadier now, but barely. Her steps were slow, and she didn’t look up once as they walked to the front door.
Casey turned the ignition, and got out of the car, breathing hard through his nose.
The minute they made it inside the house, Mia broke free from Waylon’s embrace and made a quiet beeline for her room.
She was already halfway down the hall before he could catch her. She didn’t say a word to any of them—just slipped into her room like her heart had been shattered and the only thing holding her together was the quiet.
He followed.
Didn’t knock.
Didn’t hesitate.
“Mia.”
She turned. Her chin trembled again, but she didn’t start crying. Not yet.
“I’m okay,” she said softly.
Casey closed the door behind him. “You keep saying that, but you don’t look okay.”
“I just…” She blew out a shaky breath. “I can’t believe this is happening. It was one day.One perfect day. And they ruined it.”
Casey crossed the room in two steps. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head against his chest. Her shoulders shook and her breathing hitched.
“It was. And they don’t get to take it from you,” he whispered. “From us. They don’t get to ruin what we are.”
“But they already did.” Her voice cracked. “People I’ve gone to class with for a year—they’re laughing at me.They think I’m some pathetic groupie with no self-respect.”
“You’re the smartest, strongest person I’ve ever met.”
Her hands fisted in his arms. “Then why does it feel like I’m breaking?”
“Because you’re human. And this isn’t fair.” He gently cupped her face in his hands. “Mia, I don’t care if the whole damn world saw that kiss. I’d do it again in front of cameras, on a billboard, at center ice if it meant showing themwho you are to me.To all of us.”
Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. A sob broke free, and she hid her face against his chest as she let it all out again.
He held her while she cried, messy and heart-wrenching. He rocked her back and forth, whispered into her hair, kissed the top of her head over and over like she might shatter if he stopped.
