Page 140 of Crash & Burn

“I didn’t mean to come between you guys, but you’re acting as if he is someone who is going to ruin me. You’re wrong, Mateo.”

“I told you to stay away from him and you went behind my back. You lied to me for months and so did my friends.”

“I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but I can’t take it back now.”

“I thought I could trust you. I thought I could trust my best friend. You took that from me, Mia.”

I take a step towards my brother, and tears fill my eyes. This isn’t about me and Eddie. This is about how we lied to him. This is about how he feels he misplaced his trust, and it makes me feel even worse.

“Mateo,” I say, and I watch as the hurt writes itself all over his face. The sky keeps getting darker, the air getting cooler, but I don’t care. I ignore the goosebumps on my arms, my exposed skin freezing to the touch. “We didn’t want to hurt you.” My voice cracks, and I am struggling to keep all the thoughts and emotions straight.

He looks down at his feet, and I watch as he inhales and lets out a shaky exhale.

“You could have told me,” he says, but his voice is just above a whisper. “You didn’t have to hide it from me.”

“I thought it was for the best. Initially, I didn’t know what was going to happen between us. Then, I was scared. I was scared you would be mad, and I never wanted to come between you two.”

“You love him?” The question seems random, but I know how my brother’s brain works. He is trying to see things clearly, trying to get all the facts so he can make a decision on how to move forward. I don’t know if he thought we were just fooling around, but I know Mateo wants what is best for me and for Eddie. I knew I just needed to be able to explain that we are what is good for each other.

“More than anything,” I say. “I didn’t think it was possible to love someone again, but this is different. Eddie, every day, reminds me that life doesn’t have to be about what you lost.”

Mateo shakes his head. “I don’t know about this,” he says but more to himself than to me.

I take a step towards him, and I wrap my arms around his waist. “I’m sorry,” I say, knowing my makeup is ruined with the amount of tears that have slid down my cheeks.

It takes him a second, but he returns my gesture, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “I’ve always just wanted what was best for you, Mia. I know you think I’m overprotective, but I never wanted you to think you couldn’t come to me about anything. I never wanted you to think you had to hide something like this from me.”

“I should’ve come to you,” I say into his chest. “I just didn’t want you to be mad, especially because you made me so off-limits to any guy who even glanced at me.”

“I was just trying to look out for you.”

“But I’ve told you I can take care of myself.”

“I’ve seen you do it too. Starting your photography business. Getting those clients. I don’t tell you this enough, but I am so proud of you.”

“Does this mean you’ll let me back on the tour?”

“Don’t push it. I’ve barely forgiven you.”

“So you’re saying I’m forgiven,” I tease.

“What I’m saying is,” he pauses before saying, “I should trust you to take care of yourself.”

“Youcantrust me.”

“You’re right. I’m just having a hard time accepting it, I guess. When I told Ava the story about you punching that guy last year and me getting pissed at you, she told me I was overreacting. She thinks I’m too overprotective of you.”

I lean back and look up at him. “Ava?”

It is dark now, the only light being some string lights on the vacant patio. His lips threaten to curve upward, but I know he is trying to be serious and probably stay mad at me.

“My girlfriend,” he responds.

“You talk about me with your girlfriend?” I step out of his embrace but immediately regret it with how cold it is getting.

“I was actually on my way to invite you to dinner with us tomorrow when I found you boning my best friend.”

My jaw drops, and my eyes widen. “I wasnotboning your best friend. I did bang him last night though,” I say and stick my tongue out at the same moment Mateo groans and shakes his head.

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