Page 87 of Where You Left Me

Inside though, it feels like there’s a hole in my stomach. Thinking about Mia leaving again makes me nauseous. I can’t decide what’s worse; her leaving the first time without knowing, or her leaving this time, knowing and I still can’t stop her.

“You can put on a good front for everyone else, but I know you. If you let her go again, it’s going to tear you apart.”

“Hey,” I raise my voice, and throw up my hand, pointing a finger at him. “This is on her. I told her how I feel. I can’t make her stay, Maverick. So don’t give me that.” My eyes water without warning. “I already know it’s going to destroy me.”

He looks at me with pity and I can’t stand it. Maverick has seen me at my worst. He’s picked me up, carried me, and he’s pushed me through. And we don’t say it out loud, but we both know he’s going to have to do it all over again.

CHAPTER 24

Mia

Sitting in The Pines on a rowdy Sunday night with Cammie is typically a good time. But tonight, all I can do is keep my attention pinned on the back hall where the door leads to the garage. I know Jones is out there. Messing around with that stupid old truck like always when something is troubling him.

“You okay?” Cammie asks, finally forcing me to tear my gaze away from the back hall.

“Fine.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

I let my lips pull in a weak smile. “Just anxious for Rosie to get here. Should I go to the bar and order us a round of drinks while we wait?”

“Sure. How about Long Island iced teas?”

“Works for me.”

As I head up to the bar, my vision wanders down the hall to the back door again and I bump into someone.

“Oof,” the air deflates from my chest.

“Mia? Shoot, sorry. You okay?” Dean asks.

Rubbing at my shoulder that just came in contact with his chest, my cheeks fill with embarrassment. “I’m fine. Totally my fault. How are you? Recovered from the ride yesterday?”

“My hammies are a little sore, but more or less.” He gives me a goofy grin.

I smile back and spot his girlfriend, Sabrina coming up behind him. “Hey,” I greet and force another smile. I don’t really know Sabrina. But the fact that she was Jones’s last girlfriend is unsettling. It’s obvious what he saw in her. Cute, beautiful white teeth, big tits. Perfectly sweet too. But he broke things off with her before I returned.

“Hey, Mia.” She dips her chin.

Dean glances around. “Jones around? He needs to pay up on a bet we had going.”

My lips pinch together. “I haven’t seen him. I’m here with the girls tonight.” I point at my table where Cammie is playing on her phone. “But I am leaving town on Wednesday, so I guess this is goodbye.”

His head whips back in my direction as his brows shoot up. “Really? You’re leaving? How come? You two love birds have a spat or something?”

“No,” I lie. “This was always the plan, to go back at the end of summer.”

“Well, you’ll definitely be missed around here. Don’t be a stranger.” He pulls me in for a hug.

“Thanks. And I won’t. My parents won’t allow it again,” I say, with a laugh.

I’m prepared to give them a wave and go on my way to the bar, but Sabrina takes me by surprise when she touches my arm. She peers right into my eyes and says, “Ya know, I thought Jones was the epitome of commitment phobia. But it was just a commitment phobia with any woman other than you.”

I don’t know what to say so I say nothing.

“I’ve seen how he is with you. He’s different. He’s better. You make him better. I know you had plans to leave, but I hope you’ll reconsider,” she says, before walking away.

It’s as if I’m in a trance while I order our drinks at the bar, wait for them, and carry them back to our table.

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