Page 32 of Marking Mia

I can hardly breathe with his hand on my elbow.

“What do you mean?” I ask, taking a sip of water to soothe my dry throat.

“Something happened, and you’re not telling us,” Finn says, and suddenly Kane looks at me sharply. “You look upset.”

“It’s not a big deal or anything,” I say, letting out a long breath as I stare at my drink. “I’m sorry if I seem a little off. I broke up with my boyfriend.”

The change in the atmosphere is immediate and bizarre. All three men straighten, their expressions shifting from concern to something that looks almost like excitement. Finn’s eyes darken, Jace’s lips curve into a smile, and Kane’s shoulders relax as if a weight has been lifted.

“When?” Kane asks, his voice casual but his eyes intense. “When did this happen, Mia?”

“This morning,” I admit, still confused by their reactions. “It wasn’t... it didn’t go that great.”

I notice the bulge in Kane’s pants straining against his expensive slacks, and my cheeks flush hot. Is he getting turned on by my breakup story? That can’t be right. I must be imagining things, just as I must be imagining the sudden spike in my arousal.God, what the fuck is wrong with me?

Our food arrives, sparing me from having to explain further. I pick at my salmon, my appetite diminished by the strange tension at the table. Finn watches me with his observant eyes, cataloging every movement.

“It’ll get better,” he says, sounding very sure of it.

“I’m okay. It just means I have to start over, you know?”

“Justin is a total asshole,” he states bluntly, and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “I’ve seen how he treats you when he comes to the café. The way he talks to you.”

“Yeah, he’s a bit of an asshole,” I agree.

His jaw tightens. “No one should be spoken to like that.”

A lump forms in my throat. I didn’t realize anyone had noticed. I’ve become so accustomed to Justin’s verbal jabs that I barely register them anymore.

Jace reaches across the table, his fingers stopping just short of touching mine. “What’s going to happen now? Do you have a place to stay?”

The concern in his voice seems genuine, and it makes my chest ache. When was the last time someone worried about me?

“I’m still going to live with him,” I confess, staring down at my half-eaten salmon. “Just until I can find somewhere else. We share an apartment, and I can’t afford to break the lease.”

“Why do you stay with him?” Kane asks carefully, his fork suspended halfway to his mouth. “Even before today.”

The question hits a nerve. Images of my foster parents flash through my mind. Their cold eyes and the way they counted every penny of the government checks made it clear I was just a source of income. I don’t have anyone but Justin, and they wouldn’t understand.

But I can’t tell these strangers that. I can’t admit how pathetic I am or how afraid I’ve been of being alone. So I shrug and force a smile, trying to appear stronger than I feel.

“It’s complicated,” I say, the understatement of the century.

“So,” Kane says, putting his fork down by his plate, “you work at the café part-time. It must be difficult to make ends meet.”

The observation takes me off guard, and I squirm slightly in my seat. I had been feeling more comfortable, but it’s strange to have the spotlight shine on my struggles like that. Finn and Jace had always danced around the topic, but Kane is confronting it head-on.

Fuck, I can’t control my thoughts tonight. Or my body, which feels like it’s running a fever despite the restaurant’s cool air. I press my thighs together, trying to ignore the increasing wetness between them.

How does he know my schedule? My heart stutters, and I glance at Finn, who seems completely unperturbed by Kane’s comment. Of course, Finn must have told him about my living situation.

“Itcanbe difficult,” I admit cautiously, setting down my fork with trembling fingers. “But I manage.”

Kane’s expression is sympathetic, but it only makes me feel worse. I don’t want his pity. I don’t want any of this strange attention they’re lavishing on me.

“How do you manage?”

“Well, the strangest thing happened today,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I told Finn and Jace this, but I checked my bank account and found an anonymous deposit of ten thousand dollars.”

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