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Right before he walks out, Mia says, “It was nice seeing you, Trent.”
Without looking at her, he utters, “Whatever.”
Instead of calling him back to apologize to Mia, I turn to her. “Sorry about that. I knew something was going on, but I had no idea what. He’s had an attitude lately.”
“It’s okay, Sheriff. It’s to be expected.”
I get up from the table and grab both of our plates. After rinsing them, I put them in the dishwasher alongside T’s. I walk over to the fridge, grab two beers, and hand one to Mia. I lean back against the counter.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going talk to Tessa and straighten this shit out,” I tell her. I grip the counter with my hands so hard that I’m surprised the wood doesn’t splinter.
“You’re taking what I told you earlier better than I thought,” I say. I expected more of a reaction from her. Yes, I know I shocked her, but I still thought I would see more emotion than what she’s shown, especially with her temper of late.
The look she throws my way is hard. Her mouth forms a flat line, and her eyes tighten slightly. “Oh, you better bet your ass I’m fuming inside. I want to hunt the bitch down and beat the living shit out of her. When I think she was just here and I had my opportunity, it makes me want to scream with rage, but it’s pointless. What’s done is done. She’ll eventually get hers.”
Okay, that’s more of the Mia I was expecting. If the situation wasn’t so fucked-up, I would laugh. But it is fucked-up, so far fucked-up that I still want to punch a hole in the wall when I think about it. Not just because of what Tessa did, but also because I still feel so fucking guilty. The sorrow I feel for what we lost almost brings me to my knees.
“I know it doesn’t help, but I never slept with her again,” I tell her, hoping it brings some comfort.
She whips her head up at my comment. She’s surprised.
“But you married her. Are you telling me you never slept withher again even though you were married? That’s hard for me to believe, Sheriff.”
I take a step away from the counter in her direction. “Fuck no, I didn’t sleep with her again. I couldn’t stand the sight of her. I only married her because she was pregnant and I didn’t want her raising my child on her own. If she was capable of drugging me, there was no telling what she would do.” It was true. Tessa tried her hardest to get me to sleep with her, but I wanted nothing to do with her. She knew it and used everything she had to change my mind. Was not happening.
“Well, that’s nice to know, but it still doesn’t really matter. Once was obviously enough.”
I flinch.
“I’m sorry,” she says, without looking at me. “That was uncalled for. I know what happened wasn’t your fault.”
I acknowledge her apology with a nod, but don’t say anything.
She picks at the label of her bottle and we lapse into silence again. I walk the rest of the way until I’m standing in front of her. I reach down and tilt her chin up.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Pix. So damn sorry,” I whisper to her.
I see the vulnerability in her eyes, and it nearly breaks me. She’s more of the old Mia right now than I’ve seen in years. I watch, tortured, as a single tear leaves a trail down her cheek. I wipe the wetness away and want to bend down and kiss her soft lips, but I don’t. I’m not going to scare her off when she’s finally looking at me and talking to me. I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. If it’s the only thing I ever have of Mia, I’ll take it.
Mia closes her eyes and slightly shakes her head, dislodging my hand from her chin. I take a step back when she stands. I want to hit something when I watch Mia put her mask back on.
“Thank you for telling me, Mac. I need to get going,” she says, and puts more space between us. I want to rant and rave and close the distance back up, but I don’t. I lost that right long ago.
I walk her to the door, Loafer trailing behind us. She bends down and places a light kiss on top of her head while petting herback affectionately. Jealously hits again, and I grip the door handle tightly and glare daggers at my dog. Ridiculous? Maybe, but I still do it.
Mia gets back up and faces me. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Anytime, Pix. Thanks for listening to me.”
She nods and steps out the door. She walks to her car and gets inside without looking back. A minute later, I’m still standing there watching the dust settle.
11
Mia
Her thoughtfulness…
