Page 51 of Built

My girl just turns and walks out the door.

I’m cheering her on, counting the steps until I can open the door and get her into my truck when I spot him chasing her. Dickhead hurries into the middle of the road and grabs her arm, forcing Mia to stop.

I’m out of my truck and running to her before I spot the car, but it only makes me quicker when I do. It’s usually a quiet street. Not much traffic. But locals speed down here all the time because of it. And you have to watch out for Mrs Hayden. She’s ninety-three and probably shouldn’t be driving anymore at all. Only, my uncle can’t bear to cancel her licence.

I dart into the road, grab Mia, and pull her against me. Then I give Oliver a shove so hard he falls backwards onto his arse. “Don’t fucking touch her!”

Mia shrieks as the car swerves, and Mrs Hayden’s white Nissan almost hits us. I stumble backwards, pulling us out of the way and Oliver swears. “You fucking lunatic. Are you trying to get someone killed?”

“What the fuck is your problem?” I start back towards Oliver, lifting him to his feet by his collar. “She just wants you to leave her alone, do you get that? You fucked up. You lost her. End of story.”

Oliver pushes me away, brushing down his shirt like it’s made of gold thread. It might be for all I know. “And you think you can keep her, do you?” His face twists into a sneer. “You have no idea who she is, do you? Who her family are. Good luck making that work. You’re just a walking cock and a way of getting back at me.”

His words sting, as they’re meant to. I hate myself a bit for the fact they do.

I turn, putting my arm around Mia, trying to make sure it doesn’t show. “Ready to go?”

She nods. “Yeah. I’m done here.”

It feels good to help her up into my truck. By the time I start the engine, I’m already feeling better.

She sighs. “I think I’m going to have to head back to Sydney this week. I don’t think I can keep putting it off.”

My stomach drops into the floor, and my knuckles tighten around the steering wheel. I force my face to stay neutral, though. Slowly I nod, keeping my eyes on the road, not trusting myself to look at her. “Yeah. Guess not.”

We’re silent for the rest of the drive. At least, it’s not far. But by the time I pull up in Mia’s driveway, my stomach has crawled back inside my body and tied itself in knots.

I thought I was getting somewhere, but what if this changes everything? Have I just run out of time?

TWENTY

Mia

Luke goes quiet when I mention going home. I know I’ve upset him and I can’t think of a single thing to say that will make it better. I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back to Rosella Bay. I’ve already taken almost all my annual leave for this year and all my flex days.

The fact is, I need money. My parents might be wealthy, but any money they’ve given me is tied up in the apartment. They don’t believe in giving anyone a free ride. Not even me. They’ve always wanted me to work hard, to learn what it’s like. Up until now, I always appreciated that, even if it meant it gave them more control over my life.

Luke parks in the driveway and gets out to open my door for me.

“Thanks.”

“For what?” I get out of the truck, and he shuts the door behind me.

“For being there for me. For having my back even when I thought I didn’t need it. I did.” I fumble for my keys in my handbag so I don’t have to look at him. My vision is blurry from the tears I’m not going to shed over Oliver.

His hand gently tilts my chin so I have to look. “Hey, I will always be here for you. Always. No matter what.”

I bury my face in his chest and his big arms hug me tight. “Why is he being such a jerk about this? I thought I knew him. I thought our history would mean something.” I sniff and tell myself to stop crying. I can’t though.

He strokes my hair. “Maybe it just hit him what he’s lost. ’Cause I can tell you he’ll never find anyone better.”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s true, and he’s a fucking idiot for not seeing it sooner. For not telling you every bloody day. He didn’t deserve you.”

I wipe my eyes and look up into Luke’s handsome face. “I wish I didn’t have to go. I wish I could stay here forever and never deal with any of this.”

He nods. His jaw is tight, but his tone is soft. “I wish you could stay, too, but I get it. There’s one thing, though.”

---