Page 80 of Beautiful Chances

Wait what? She told my mom that we are moving in together?

Mom hugs Mia close before saying, “Yes, I can’t wait to see what you guys pick. There are some excellent houses out here, but I know Kas wouldn’t want to move that far away from Shannon and Marilyn. Do you want me to help you look for houses?”

Mia beams at Mom and tells her she’d love that before turning to Dad. “Thank you for helping us—helping me—James. And for… Well, for making Coen the man he is today.” She winks at him before they also hug.

“You’re very welcome, Mia. And thank you for putting up with our son, well, all three of them.” Dad laughs his booming laugh, and I quickly say goodbye and hug my parents before Mia and I get into the car waiting for us.

“Are you ever going to tell me why the house tour took so long?” I immediately wince at how accusatory I sound. “I mean, I would love to know,” I add to sound less standoffish.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Mia turns toward me and takes my hand. “Your mom is a remarkable woman in so many ways. After five minutes alone with her, I was telling her my entire life story. The good, the bad, and the truly messed up—and she just sat there and listened to me. It was weird. I’ve never really had a girl talk before—but this is exactly what I imagine it would be like. She didn’t judge me or tell me what to do, she just… Listened. Before I knew it, I’d laid myself completely bare.”

I stroke her hand with my thumb, gently sliding it across her skin in what I hope is a soothing motion.

“Coen, I will tell you one day, but I can’t right now. I have some things I need to work out for myself, and I promised your mom I would take some time to figure out what I want and not what I think I should want.”

Yep, that sounds like something you’d want after a heart-to-heart with my mom.

“For the record, I think that’s a good idea,” I say. Looking at the plastic bag between us with the pies, a thought strikes. “Is that why you had been crying when you came back after spending time with my mom?”

Mia’s laugh sounds more self-deprecating than happy. “I told her about Neil, and everything became too much…” She sighs before saying what I’ve already guessed. Despite how dark the car is, I can see the blush creeping across her cheeks, and I want to console and reassure her that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Mia’s story is grueling. She might not see how bad it is because she’s living it, but the things she’s endured could make even the most stone-cold badass weep.

“I’m so—”

Placing a finger on my lips, Mia interrupts me. “You lied to me, Coen. I know why you did it, and I do understand. But you lied, again. When will you stop?”

Ahh, fuck. I hoped we wouldn’t have to talk about this.

“I’m not angry; I’m disappointed.”

As I open and close my mouth, I try to come up with something to say. Anything will do, so of course, I have nothing. “Mia, I—”

Exhaling audibly, she says, “I know why you protected your dad, and I think you did the right thing. If there ever is another time, can you promise to tell me if there are things you can’t disclose?” Her sad and defeated tone makes my heart plummet to my stomach, and I wish she would yell instead. Anger would be better than her sadness and disappointment in me.

“I love you, Coen. You need to trust in me as I trust in you.”

Uncaring that we’re in a moving vehicle, I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide closer to her. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I didn’t think… I panicked. I wanted to tell you everything, I really did.” Unable to wait another second, I claim her lips with mine, needing her taste to reassure me I didn’t fuck up beyond repair. “I love you, too, Mia. You’re my everything.”

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