Page 58 of Discord
“I can’t explain your presence in California,” I said in a flat tone.
“Sure, you can,” he countered. “I have a West Coast office and my own reasons for visiting. You can stay with Milo and we’ll work around his schedule to see each other.”
My hands shook from irritation. He always had an answer for everything. “Raven will know it isn’t over between us if you’re there at the same time as me.”
“Make something up to explain my presence,” he suggested casually. “I’ll book our flights tomorrow. And your birthday’s coming up soon. We can visit Vegas on the way back and celebrate.”
I was no longer a daft schoolgirl with a crush. Every action Brandon took came with separate intentions. If he got me to Vegas after my eighteenth birthday, I wouldn’t be leaving Sin City a single woman. He’d somehow make sure we’d end up at some twenty-four-hour chapel. Had I mentioned he’d pulled out my vaginal birth control ring on two occasions, then came inside me? He was relentless in his pursuit and gave two shits about consequences.
“You’re not coming to California,” I repeated through clenched teeth.
He heaved a heavy sigh. “Do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?”
I averted his gaze and started righting my clothes. “What do you think?”
My heated words made him chuckle. The laughter carried into the street as I stormed out of his car and slammed the door behind me.
Asshole.
Mia
“Mia.”Relief poured through my chest at the sound of Chris’ pacifying voice.
“Hey,” I said faintly.
“Uh-huh. What did he do this time?”
Thank God for Chris. He and Gabby were the only ones aware of my tumultuous secret relationship with an older family friend (minus the semi-criminal details). I had fumed the entire walk back from Brandon’s car to my room, counting down the seconds until Chris could talk some sense into the situation.
I ripped the Band-Aid off and let it out. It was annoying that the black Mustang remained in place while I recounted the great tragedies Brandon Cooper brought to my life.
“He is always so irrational,” I ended. “Why must he force us in these impossible situations?”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t ‘hmm’ like you understand Brandon’s intention because I certainly don’t. Does he want to live life on the edge and prefers the possibility of my brother murdering him at every turn?”
Chris chuckled. “Sounds to me like Brandon wants reassurance, but you don’t seem interested in providing it. There is a clear disconnect when it comes to your family. He constantly worries about you choosing them over him, and he isn’t wrong in thinking it. You didn’t take my advice on taking time apart. At the same time, you refuse to go over to his house or out on a date unless he coerces you. It seems like you’re stringing him along, so I can’t blame him for doubting what you might do while in a different zip code. I hate to ask, but do you even like the guy?”
I scoffed, and the words were out before I could contain them. “Like him? I have been in love with that idiot since I was born. But he does stupid things and makes everything more difficult than need be.”
I snapped my mouth shut. I never admitted my feelings to anyone before. However, it spilled out during the passionate defense of my actions.
Chris thought I was stringing Brandon along, which was far from the truth. I avoided Brandon’s apartment because I was hurt by his betrayal. However, I understood his reasons after meeting with Asher. So, we were stuck in limbo. Brandon held leverage over my head because he didn’t trust what was inside my heart. Whereas I couldn’t be with him fully without knowing his true intentions. Where did that leave us?
Chris was quiet for several moments. He finally broke the silence with a direct instruction, “Start from the beginning.”
I twiddled with my thumbs before caving. Fuck it. I had walked around with this rock in my stomach for too long. It was time to come clean.
Following his advice, I started from the beginning. Everything I had never admitted to another human being. My obsession with Brandon. The stalking. Italy. Every torrid detail.
Chris didn’t judge or berate me for any of the things I had done. Instead, he waited for me to finish and said, “Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow.”
“And he doesn’t know of any of the things you have done?”
“No,” I said begrudgingly. “He’d hate me if he found out. He already doesn’t trust anyone.”
