Page 80 of F*ckboys

I suck in a breath. "I spent the night with Aksel."

Mia's brows lift, a flicker of something dark in her eyes. Then her lips curve. "Oh, really? How was it?"

Her tone's too casual, like she's asking about the weather. My fingers curl into fists. "It was...good. Different."

I scan her face, but she's shuttered tight. My chest aches. After being friends for so long, and after so many years of closely working together, I can usually read her, but now...

"Well, that's great." She stands, grabbing her jacket. "I should get going. Early day tomorrow."

"Mia, wait." I jump up, catching her arm. "Are we okay?"

She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Of course. Why wouldn't we be?" She pulls from my grip.

"I don't know. You're acting strange." I glance at her with concern.

"Don't be silly." She shrugs into her jacket, avoiding my gaze. "I want you to be happy, Fallon. You deserve that."

"But—"

"Congratulations." She brushes past me.

"For sleeping with my ex boyfriend?" I quirk a brow.

"No," she shakes her head. "For moving on."

My eyebrow raises even higher. She's being so cryptic.

Mia, usually an open book, now seems to have chapters I can't access. Her response is casual, almost indifferent. "Well, that's what you wanted, right? To move on."

"Um, I guess?"

"Well, then I’ll be more specific. Congratulations for moving on and going back to remake the same mistakes all over again."

My throat tightens. She wrenches open the door, a blast of chill air rushing in.

I stagger after her. "Mia!"

But she's already halfway down the path, dissolving into the night. "Your life, your choices," she calls as she disappears from view.

A sob rises in my chest. She's gone. Maybe she was never really there for me at all.

After freezing in place for a moment, I chase after her. I can't have someone else important in my life just up and leave. It's too much to bear. I catch up with her right beside her car.

"Mia, are you not okay with this?"

She offers a nonchalant shrug. "Why wouldn't I be? Like I said, it's your life, your choices."

I frown. She's avoiding the question, hiding behind evasions. This isn't like her. "Come on, Mia. Talk to me."

She sighs, raking a hand through her hair. "I'm fine, really. You don't need to worry about me."

"Too late for that." I fold my arms. "Spill."

Her lips thin. She stays silent for so long I think she won't answer. Then she says quietly, "Maybe I'm not ready to move on yet."

My heart stutters. "What do you mean?"

She looks away. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

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