Page 151 of F*ckboys

Fallon searches my face, her brows furrowing. But she steps back and opens the door wider in silent invitation.

I walk through, and she closes the door behind us. The click of the lock sounds like a death knell, sealing my fate.

I face her in the dimly lit foyer, heart in my throat, and begin to speak the truth.

Chapter 84

Fallon

My fingers tremble as I type out the message.

Me: Mia, I'm sorry. I understand now why you met with Aksel. You were worried about me, like always. I shouldn't have lashed out. I felt betrayed, like the two people I trusted most in this world were conspiring against me. But I was wrong.

Me: I don't expect you to forgive me. I just wanted you to know that I get it now. And I'm sorry.

Me: More than sorry. I'm gutted that I hurt you.

I hit send and stare at the screen, my heart jackhammering. She'll never speak to me again. I've lost her, like I lose everything that matters.

The phone buzzes almost immediately. A text from Mia.

Mia: Don't be ridiculous. I forgive you. I've been having a hard time too. We both said things we didn't mean.

Mia: I miss you, Fal. Can we get coffee tomorrow? I have news I want to share in person.

Relief floods through me, warm and bright. She's giving me another chance. I text back immediately.

Me: Yes, coffee would be great. I miss you too. Tomorrow works. Same place, same time as we used to?

Her reply comes seconds later.

Mia: Perfect. See you then.

Mia: Love you xox

Those two words loosen the knot in my chest. She still loves me, despite everything. We'll work through this rough patch like we always do.

Tomorrow, over coffee and pastries, our friendship will be mended. She's one of the few good things I have left. I won't screw this up again.

The next morning, I get to the cafe early and snag our usual table by the window. Mia walks in a few minutes later, looking casually chic in cropped jeans and a flowy top, her hair in a messy bun.

When she sees me, her face lights up. She hurries over and wraps me in a hug. "I'm so glad we're doing this."

"Me too." I hug her back tightly. "I've missed you. I love your outfit, by the way!"

We order lattés and muffins over small talk, then settle in. An awkward silence falls as we both try to figure out where to start.

Mia clears her throat. "So, I want to let you know that I met someone."

My stomach drops. Of course she did. Not that I'm not happy for her. Hearing this just hits home that I've missed hearing about her day-to-day experiences. While I was wallowing in self-pity, she was out living her life. "Oh?" I force a smile. "That's great. What's he like?"

"His name is Liam. He's charming, smart, ambitious. We have a lot in common." She grins, then sobers. "But there's something you should know. He recently took a job at Montgomery Enterprises. In the acquisitions department. I guess he's peripherally related to the family… like second cousins or something."

The floor tilts under me. Liam works for my family's biggest rival, the company trying to stage a hostile takeover of one of my family's biggest assets. The news cuts deep, reopening the wounds from the other night. My best friend, dating one of my family's biggest competitors, doesn't sit right.

Mia's gaze turns pleading. "Fal, I didn't know, I swear. When I found out, I almost ended it with him, even though we haven't been talking. But he's not like the rest of them. He doesn't care about the feud or the competition. He just wants to be with me. And we agreed not to talk about work because neither of us wants to confuse things."

I stare at her, the hurt and anger warring inside me. How could she do this? After everything we've been through, she chooses some guy she just met over our friendship… why not just leave things as they were? Why reach out on the pretense of trying to mend things, only to go straight out and pick the one person with a dick attached who can compromise my family's business if sensitive information gets into the wrong hands?

---