“And what do you think about it?” Mitch asked, his hand slowly rubbing my arm. Up. Down. Up. Down.
I leaned my cheek against his chest, finding comfort in the rhythmic rise and fall. After everything I had done, after all the mistakes I had made, Mitch was still there, offering his support. I was pretty sure I didn’t deserve it, but he gave it anyway.
And he was the only one to really ask what I thought I needed to do. He wanted my opinion. It mattered to him.
I felt the tears on my face, but didn’t wipe them away. “I think I need to change,” I admitted, feeling defeated.
Mitch sat up and turned me around so that I faced him. I looked up into his handsome face and for a moment I was overwhelmed.
I had never taken the time to really, and I mean really, look at him before. I had been completely obsessed with Garrett and trying to make him love me that I totally ignored this beautiful man that had always been there.
His hair was dark brown and on the messy side. It was often in his eyes and he would toss his head to flip it back. He’d give me a shy smile that was so sweet it made my heart pitter-patter. His dark eyes were clear and intense and seemed to see me clearer than anyone ever had.
He really was beautiful. Inside and out.
“You don’t need to change, Gracie. But you need to learn to take care of yourself. To put yourself first. I can’t lose you. Not ever.” He gripped my hands between his. His face was flushed and his eyes flashed with emotion.
“I’ve hurt so many people,” I agonized, trying to turn my head.
Mitch grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. I wanted to close my eyes, to block him out. But I couldn’t. He made me want to listen. To hear everything he had to say.
“Yes, you have. But you’ve hurt yourself most of all. And that’s not okay. Because you deserve to be happy. I only ever want to see smiles on that beautiful face of yours,” he said softly, cupping the side of my neck and running his thumb along my jaw.
We were close. So close.
Too close.
Too much.
I pulled back suddenly and Mitch’s hand fell away. I moved a few inches, putting distance between us.
“Let’s watch some TV. I need something mindless,” I said, forcing a smile that I didn’t feel.
Mitch didn’t say anything else, but he stayed. He always stayed. He was always there.
“There’s nothing else going on. Stop being such a conspiracy theorist,” I teased.
“Yeah, well I for one will be glad to see you. None of these bitches can play Minecraft like you can. They’re weak, G. Weak I tell you!” Garrett complained and I grinned.
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I resist? I can’t have you dealing with subpar gaming on your own. Though I planned to go to my mom’s for dinner.”
“Did you just say you were going to ditch us for your mom?” Garrett sounded horrified and I found myself laughing so hard there were tears rolling down my cheeks.
Several people gave me strange looks as they passed by me to go into the deli. I must have looked a sight, cackling like a hyena in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Well you know how much I love to hang out with my mom,” I said, wiping my eyes.
“Whatever. That’s up there with the old, I have to wash my hair excuse. But seriously, we all miss you,” he said.
We all miss you.
“All of you?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself.
There was a moment of silence. Just long enough to make me feel stupid.
What was wrong with me? Why had I asked that? Way to make things even more awkward.
“Yeah, G. All of us,” Garrett said finally and my heart hammered in my chest.
Neither of us mentioned him by name. We didn’t need to. The implication was there.
I wondered how much Garrett knew.
“Get ready for an epic takedown, though. Because I’m not taking any prisoners just because you’re a chick,” he warned.