“Good enough, princess.” I emphasized the word and Della glared at me, moving in my direction to place two hands on my shoulders.
“I think it’s time for you to leave.” She pushed me back to the front door and I willingly moved along, liking the way her hands felt against me, and Mia trailing closely behind us.
“All right, all right. I know you can’t resist yourself, but I’m going.”
Della snorted loudly from the threshold, rolling her eyes as I grinned down at her. Once we were both out the door, Della slammed it in our faces and I glared at Mia. “Why exactly did you follow me out here? Did you really think I’m still going to give you a ride?”
“Justin, I didn’t really lie to you. I just never answered your questions. You can’t be mad at me for being vague. You didn’t push for details, so I didn’t offer them up.”
I stalked over to my car, and she continued following me, placing a hand on the passenger door handle. “Mia….” I trailed off when I saw what looked like actual tears glistening in her eyes. I didn’t think that was really possible. I unlocked my door, and then reached over to unlock hers. She slid in quickly, most likely worried that I would change my mind. I probably should have.
The ride to her friend’s house was eerily silent, save for her giving me directions. It was weird because Mia was never quiet. I could tell she was sobering up, even though she had mumbled the address so low I barely heard her. I pulled into the apartment complex’s parking lot, finding a spot right near her friend’s building. I really didn’t feel like being around her anymore. My mind was wandering places, like where Della and I would be, if Mia hadn’t bent the truth.
Mia sighed loudly and I turned toward her. “Are you gonna tell me exactly what happened back there? Why did you tell me that Nash and Della were dating? They clearly aren’t, his pregnant girlfriend was standing right next to him.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Please. There’s something going on there. You can’t be friends with guys, it’s just not possible.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Aren’t we just friends?”
A hurt look flashed across her face, and she wiped at her eyes with her fingertips. “I was hoping we could be more,” she responded quietly.
“So that’s why you lied? You were trying to keep me away from Della? I thought she was fucking pregnant with Nash’s baby. Do you know what that did to me?” I yelled the last part, and Mia jumped in her seat.
I felt all sorts of rage that I thought I’d tucked away after losing Della and all of the shit that happened in between. I didn’t know what to do or what to think. Was there a chance, or were things just too fucked up? And just when I thought I was starting to move forward, maybe with Blaire. I didn’t know if I could just forget all about Della, though, and the possibility of what could be.
“I’m sorry, Justin. I just thought…never mind. Just know that I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much I hurt you. I just figured you and Della were over for good, and there was no going back. At least I tried.” Her voice rose slightly, as if I were supposed to give her a round of applause for her effort or something. I knew Mia had problems, but I didn’t have time to deal with hers. I had enough of my own.
“Just get out, Mia.”
“Justin—”
“Get. Out.” I snapped out the two words, and she huffed loudly, but thankfully opened up her door, slamming it shut so hard, I was surprised the thing didn’t fall off the hinges.
I squealed out of the parking lot, heading toward my house where I could find a little bit of silence before heading into work. I needed time to think, and time to figure out what direction I wanted my life to go in. Things with Blaire were just starting up, but I didn’t know if I could pass up a chance with Della again, no matter the outcome.
I TOOK A deep, calming breath after throwing Justin out of my house, pressing the palms of my hands to my eyes. I couldn’t believe Mia. Well, I take that back. Really, I could. I just didn’t understand why she would do something like that.
It explained a lot.
Justin’s anger toward me at the funeral, him showing up at Shorty’s and putting his little show on for me. I wasn’t justifying his actions, but I could understand them a little bit better. He had probably done it all because he thought I was with Nash. I gave him hope that things with us could possibly happen again, and then he thought I went running back to Nash. If I put myself in his shoes, I would be pissed, too. But why in the hell would he believe anything that came out of Mia’s mouth in the first place? And why were they together? Mia had been talking about a guy in her life non-stop lately, and I now knew that it was Justin she had been going on and on about.
“Della.” Nash’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I tuned back into reality.