Page 102 of Wild

Cannon parks his SUV outside the garage doors.

“It’ll be okay,” Mia whispers and daringly leans over to kiss my cheek.

The second we leave this car I’m not her boyfriend anymore and she’s not my girlfriend.

Instead, I belong to Hayes, and it’s not a feeling I like.

CHAPTER25

MIA

My eyes want to drift to Hollis where he plays pool in the corner of the basement with my little brother.

At least Noah seems to be enjoying himself, hanging out with the guys. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy growing up with two older sisters.

“I’ve missed you,” my mom says yet again. “I feel like we never see you now.” She frowns, her eyes sad. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when you’re all gone.”

“You’ll be fine,” I assure her. “You have Dad and he’s like twelve kids combined.” I know it can’t be easy seeing your kids grow up and leave but she’ll adapt. “I hope I can visit more next semester,” I continue. “I’ll have fewer classes. Right now, with school, work, and…” I almost say Hollis but stop myself. “It’s a lot,” I finish.

“You seem happy, though,” she remarks. “You’re glowing.”

I want to open up, to share with my mom how much Hollis means to me, how he makes me feel, but I can’t.

My dad comes up, putting his arm around her. “This is nice,” he remarks. “All of us together and the guys, too.”

“They’re cool,” I say, looking over my shoulder at them.

Rush is giving Noah pointers while Cannon and Fox act as cheerleaders pepping Noah up to beat Hollis.

“We should eat soon,” my dad comments. “Before it gets too late.”

My mom turns in his arms. “I’ll go check on things.”

He follows her up the basement steps and I go over to the couch to sit with Addie. As much as I itch to go over to the guys, to put my arms around Hollis, to stand on my tiptoes and kiss him, it’s not going to happen today.

My siblings are tattletales.

“What’s up with you?” I ask Adalyn.

She looks up from her phone. “Nothing,” she says in a tone that conveys it’s definitely something.

“Are you texting someone you shouldn’t?” I joke.

She looks over her shoulder, searching for dad most likely. “A guy from school,” she whispers.

“Tell me about him,” I encourage.

“He’s … he’s kind of a dork,” she blushes. “Like, a total nerd, but I like him. He’s been tutoring me after school in the library since I suck at math—that’s how we met, and I really like him, but…”

“But?” I prompt.

“He’s totally oblivious.”

“You’re texting him,” I point out. “Surely he’s not completely unaware.”

She shrugs. “I told him to have a good Thanksgiving, he responded and I’m literally giddy because of it. I’m pathetic.”

“You should tell him you like him,” I encourage. “Guys are always so unaware. Don’t be afraid to take charge.”

---