Page 121 of Cuffed By Love

Mira sighs, dropping her gaze to her hands resting in her lap. “Then we won’t be friends, Devin. We’ll keep it professional and just be associates.”

I stare at her, and she stares back. Defeated, I nod. “Fine. If that’s what you want, then we’ll pretend Mira. We’ll act as if nothing happened between us, and we’ll forget that we spent three days screwing each other’s brains out. We’ll just ignore the feelings we have for one another, yeah?”

For the life of me, I don’t fucking understand this girl. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going at the moment. Is she knowingly trying to make me crazy? I can understand and appreciate that she’s confused, but seriously it’s like we’re taking one step forward and ten steps back. How can you spend the most incredible three days with someone, tell him you’ve got feelings and then shove him back in the friend zone. I don’t know if she’s testing me or what, but I’m praying and hoping she just needs some time to get her head straight because this is just ridiculous. Needless to say, I stormed out of there. I went there with the expectation to reconcile but somehow ended up in an even worse position.

* * *

Three weeks have goneby since that day in her bedroom. Mira wants space. I’ve given her space, and my patience is wearing thin. If she wants to ignore what happened between us and move on, then I’ll do the same. Megan popped up again the other day out of the blue. I got a text message, three little words. ‘I miss you.’ I sat there staring at it for ages before I swiped and deleted it. She chose to end things, not me, so she can live with that decision now and continue missing me until kingdom come for all I bloody care.

In front of our colleagues, Mira and I put on a great show of proficiency. However, behind closed doors, things are tense. We barely speak two words to one another. Dev and Tinks, nowhere to be seen. Instead, we’ve become almost like two cold strangers, both stubborn and unwilling to submit to the other. When she’s not looking, I watch her, discreetly admire her, and when she thinks I’m not looking, she does the same. The sexual tension between us yet again at its highest point. We’re one eye-fucking session away from tearing into each other. I can feel it coming.

Levi moved out of my place that very night and went to stay with my parents for the duration of his stay—however long that fucking is. I wonder if he’s still in contact with Mira after she told us both where to go. My parents have picked up on the tension between us when we’re around each other while we visit my dad or when mum insists we have a family dinner. Dad is doing great on the upside, he’s only got ten more chemo sessions left, and the lumps have reduced significantly. I’ve got a really good feeling he’s going to beat this and come back stronger than ever.

“Bro, you have to come.” Logan insists like a whiney child. “We barely even hang out anymore.” I look up at him from my phone, and he gives me a sheepish smile. “Okay, fine, we hang out quite a lot, but seriously it’s going to be a good night. Maybe this will help break the ice between you and Mira. The frostiness between you two is really starting to chill my bones, bro.”

I exhale heavily and nod, “Fine, fine. I’ll come for a couple of drinks.”

“Ah yes, my man. It should be a good night, plus Mira always sings, so you’ve got that to look forward to.” Logan gushes, giving me a suggestive wink. I love listening to Mira sing—I could listen to her tirelessly. Fuck, I miss her.

Later that evening, I walk into the Karaoke bar and join Mira, Lexi, Ayla, Wyatt and Logan at the table at the front of the stage, listening to some guy absolutely botch a rendition of the classic ‘It’s my life by Bon Jovi.’ “Are we sure we shouldn’t be sitting in the back?” I utter, wincing as I take a seat, the only empty seat beside Mira.

“Least he’s got the balls to go up there and sing.” Mira fires back, and I smirk, reaching over her to take the bottle of beer from Logan.

“Still thinking about my balls, baby?” I drawl as I withdraw and grunt when her elbow rams into my ribs. “I’ll take that as a yes.” I groan, leaning back in my seat.

Next up was Ayla and Lexi singing Wannabe by the Spice Girls. “I’m going to marry that girl!” Logan calls out, pointing at Lexi, who beams at him and we all hoot and cheer. I have no doubt those two will get married and have a flock of adorable blue-eyed, blonde-haired babies. I don’t know how they’ve managed to stay together throughout the years with their messy relationship, but I’m glad they did because they’re absolutely perfect for one another. I watch Mira singing along to the song with them. I only wish we were as lucky or had the opportunity to see if things would work out.

I lean forward when Mira takes the stage. I couldn’t help but shake my head at the song choice ‘Since you’ve been gone’ by Kelly Clarkson. A song obviously aimed at me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Each word she sang pierced straight through my heart. I’m so moving on. You had your chance; you blew it. Out of sight, out of mind. That’s bull; she’s never been out of my mind, and I know I’ve never really been out of hers either. Mira absolutely killed it; whenever she sings, I get goosebumps.

Though, toward the end of the song, she veers her gaze away from me to look straight ahead and freezes as though she’s seen a ghost. Her amber eyes wide and alarmed while she stares at whatever she’s looking at. She seems downright terrified. What the hell? I follow her gaze and turn in my seat, trying to work out what she’s looking at. By the time I turn back around, her trembling fingers drop the mic, and she runs off the stage.

Wyatt takes off after her, and Ayla follows. I look around at the worried faces around the table.

“What the hell just happened?”

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