Page 79 of The Only Heart that Matters

When I pulled up to the house, she spoke for the first time. “You don’t need to walk me to the front door.”

“Of course I will,” I insisted.

“No. Just let me go. You know Daisy is going to have questions about our sleepover.”

“Exactly why I should be there to answer them with you.”

“No need. I’ll tell her there’s nothing going on between us. It’s the truth, after all.”

The defeat in her voice ripped my heart out of my chest.

I reached for her, but she pulled away. It felt like she had dropped my heart on the driveway and drove the truck over it.

“Mia, talk to me.”

“I can’t do this again. It already hurts too much.”

“Okay.”

Okay? Really asshole? That’s all you got?

I wanted to punch myself in the face, but what else could I say after the morning she’s had? Especially when she was telling me to let her go.

The awkward part of me wanted to apologize for last night, but I wasn't sorry. Like I told her, I’m a selfish bastard. I wouldn’t change a thing.

The front door opened and my sister filled the doorway, arms crossed, letting all the heat out of the house.

She didn’t look happy, but I didn’t give a shit.

Mia let herself out of the truck and walked away without a goodbye or so much as a look over her shoulder, which threw me into a desperate panic. The woman has a death grip on my heart and was unknowingly walking away with it.

I’ve been to Sunday dinner every week since. After three no-shows, Mia and Sawyer are finally here.

Shit, they’re a sight for sore eyes.

I’ve barely slept since dropping her off three weeks ago. I texted her later that morning to check on her and she thanked me, but said she needed some distance.

Respecting her request was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

There have been a million times I almost texted her, called her or drove to the house when I was at the ranch to visit Mom. But I didn't. I’m not strong enough to hear the pain in her voice. If I saw the heartbreak on her face again, I may just say fuck it and claim her as mine. Consequences be damned.

Tonight, things are back to normal. She greeted me with a platonic hug, as if she hadn’t let me bind her up with the tie fromthe hotel robe as I feasted on her. As if she hadn’t come all over my face and we hadn’t fucked ourselves senseless.

With these memories occupying space in my head, it’s still the defeat and sadness on her face when I dropped her off the next morning that won’t leave me alone. It refuses to let me pretend everything is okay.

Although what I think is playing pretend on her part may not be. Maybe the space between us over the last few weeks was what she needed to get over things. Over me.

I haven’t been so lucky.

My feelings have only intensified.

I miss her.

I miss Sawyer.

At the moment, Mom, Cal, Charlotte, Daisy, and I are video-chatting with Knox. During the call Mia snuck away to change Sawyer’s diaper. I’m a man obsessed, waiting for her to come back into the room. So much so, I’ve barely heard a word Knox has said. Before I know it, we’re saying our goodbyes.

Getting up from the table, I’m about to make up an excuse to go find Mia when Daisy swoops in. Taking me by the arm, she forcefully drags me out the back door to the privacy of the deck overlooking the pastures. I’ve made sure not to be caught alone in a room with her for three weeks now, and have avoided eye-contact with her all night. Hell, I’ve been avoiding my sister as much as Mia’s been avoiding me. Daisy is a damn tornado when she wants to be. I’m afraid I’m not prepared for the storm she’s about to bring.

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