Page 132 of Wild

I look at Cannon and Fox.

“I fucked everything up. I’ve cost us our album, and with Hayes’s influence in the music industry our chance of landing someone else is slim to none.” I shove my fingers through my hair in frustration. “But,” I begin sadly, “I don’t take it back. I would do it all over again. She’s worth it.”

“Good answer,” Cannon says.

My head flies in his direction in surprise. “You approve?”

Sure, my friends have been supportive of my relationship with Mia, but I expected them to be pissed at me for fucking things up. I should’ve been firmer with Mia and insisted we couldn’t keep it a secret for my band’s sake. But I guess love makes us blind. I ignored the consequences even though I was very much aware of what they are.

“Yeah, I fucking do.” He coughs—stupid smoker’s cough, the guy seriously needs to give them up. “Mia’s been good for you. This fucking sucks, sure, but I don’t believe it’s the end for us. I refuse to believe that.”

Fox grins, trying not to laugh.

“What?” I ask him.

He chuckles, while Cannon glares at him. “It’s just that he’s been working on all this Zen and meditation shit. Oh, and what else is it?” He snaps his fingers, thinking. “Oh, yeah, manifesting. He’s manifesting our future too—you know picturing in his mind that we’ve already achieved certain things.”

Cannon shakes his head. “I never should’ve told you any of that.”

Trying not to laugh, I put my hands on my knees and stand. “I’ll get our flights booked back to L.A. for later this week.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Cannon holds up his hands. “You’re leaving too?”

“I can’t stay,” I whisper, finally admitting out loud what I knew last night, why I didn’t want to look Mia in the eyes. She would’ve known. She would’ve seen my resolve and talked me out of it, and I would’ve gladly let her.

“Why the hell not?” Fox asks, leaning forward. His hands are clasped tightly together, and his dark hair is a wild disarray. “Are you going to leave her?”

I nod, barely the jerk of my chin. I feel like I can’t breathe admitting my plans aloud. “I won’t come between her and Hayes. That’s what would happen if I stayed. She’d choose me. Shechoseme. I won’t have her regretting her actions because of me. Her dad is her dad and I’m … replaceable.”

“You know that’s not true,” Cannon says, looking at me sadly.

“She’ll move on,” I say, the words scratching at my throat like poisonous barbs. “And I will too.”

Lies.

CHAPTER31

MIA

Iopen the door for Hollis and immediately start ranting. “I can’t believe him barging in here like a lunatic. I am anadult. I can have a boyfriend. I can have sex and drink and party and do whatever the fuck I want and he can’t say a thing.”

Hollis stands in the doorway, rocking back on his heels.

“What? What is it?” I pause, walking slowly back toward him. “What’s wrong?”

My heart drops to my stomach when he won’t meet my eyes.

He works his jaw back and forth, looking down at his boots. Finally, he raises his head. His golden eyes are shuttered, closed off, not at all like him. “I won’t come between you and your dad. I won’t become someone you resent some day for driving a wedge into your family.”

I feel he’s stabbed me in the chest. I press a hand to my heart expecting to find a tangible wound there, but there’s nothing.

“I would never resent you,” I whisper.

“You would,” he states. “Maybe not now, or even three months from now, but one day you would—I don’t ever want to see that day come.”

I go to him, grabbing his jacket in my hands. “How can you say that?”

“He’s your dad, he’s family. I’m … I’m nothing.” He ducks his head, refusing to meet my eyes.

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