Mila hasn’t been back to my place in three days. Not that she needed to, but I thought she might venture over. Perhaps she’s been working on her manuscript… or been busy with her boyfriend.
I opened my submissions again yesterday and wanted to tell her. She would love reading some of them in an assistant capacity. Her notes on the first third of Red Grave have been good.
Stupidly, I had planned on inviting her over to go through them.
I’m an idiot.
But it’s not like I’m twiddling my thumbs, looking for things to do. Jason and I are heading to Wales today with his brother Marc and a couple of Marc’s friends for a lads’ weekend.
The two brothers are heavily into fitness, so we’re climbing mountains between getting drunk. Jason has planned the perfect mix of activities and alcohol, and I can’t wait. It’s been a while since I’ve gone out. I need to let off some steam and forget a raven-haired woman with amber eyes and a smart mouth.
I read a new text from Mum, demanding I don’t die on a mountain.
I’ll do my best.
Then Dad’s name flashes on the screen of my phone.
“Hey,” I say.
“He’s alive!”
“Funny. I’ve been busy, Dad.”
“Too busy to check in with your old man? Your mum is driving me up the wall, asking what’s going on with you, as if I bloody know.”
I lean back in my chair and kick my feet up on desk. “Why does she think something is going on?”
“You know what she’s like. If you don’t reply instantly, she thinks something is wrong. She worries that you won’t go back to the counsellor if you need to. It’s not going backwards, you know? Is there anything on your mind? Or anyone?”
I sensed that coming. Dad has been prepped for this conversation. I can almost hear my mum saying, ‘Remember to ask him if there’s a lady friend, Eric, or he won’t tell you’. My dad isn’t a talker unless you go to him with a problem, so I know she’s behind this call.
“I’m fine with going back to therapy if I need it, but I don’t. Tell Mum I’m okay, and I’ll see her soon.”
Dad knows all of this. We’ve had extensive conversations about the things I’ve witnessed and how they’ve affected me.
He clears this throat. “Is there someone?”
“I’m not seeing anyone, no.”
“Oh. It’s just been a long time since that blonde lass.”
Gretchen and I dated for a couple of months last year. It was nothing serious, and she didn’t meet my family before we called it off, but it did allow Mum to begin to dream. Phoebe is settled with a good job, a husband, and a daughter. Apparently, I’m lagging behind by only having a career, as if that’s not a reason to be happy. I don’t need everything all at once.
“I’m twenty-four, Dad.”
“I know, son. Your mum just worries about you being there alone.”
“You make it sound like I never leave the house. I have a career and friends. I’m not alone. Plenty of people move away from their family.”
“Yes, yes, we know. We’re just concerned. Perhaps you should try that Tinder?”
I don’t know if I’m more horrified that he’s suggested I use it or that he knows what it is. “I’m perfectly capable of going out to meet a woman if I want to.”
“All right. What time do you leave?”
“Jason will be here any minute.”
“I’ll let you go. Be careful.”
“I will. Speak later.”
I hang up and slide my phone in my pocket so I can finish packing a few last-minute things.
Standing, I zip my holdall just as I hear Jason’s car pull up. I take my bag outside and lock the front door.
“You ready for this?” he asks with a grin so wide, I know he’s thinking about the women on the nights out rather than the hiking.
I throw my bag over my shoulder. “I’m ready.”
Across the road, Mila pulls into her drive. Jason looks over.
“What’s going on there?”
“Nothing. She’s not been over in a few days.”
“Is that odd?”
“No.” It could be the fact that I almost kissed her, but we moved past that almost instantly, and she’s been over since. “She doesn’t need to come over. I was helping her, and now she’s getting on with it.”
Though, I haven’t seen Liam all week.
I load my bag into Jason’s boot and step back. Mila is in my peripheral.
“She’s coming over,” Jason sings quietly. His smile, if possible, grows wider.
Slamming his boot, I steel myself for this interaction.
She doesn’t owe you anything.
“Hey, Reid. Jason.” She says his name as an afterthought. “You off anywhere fun?”
“Hey. We’re going to Wales. Lads’ weekend.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Oh, cool. What are you doing there? Besides the obvious. I mean, boys’ weekends are all about getting laid. You should go and live it up, get wasted, find women, climb, and then…” She stops and frowns. “Never mind. I hope you both have a good time.”
Jason chuckles under his breath. “Well, I intend to get laid multiple times. I mean, that’s what it’s all about. I’ll wait in the car, Reid.”
I clench my jaw as he gets into the driver’s seat.
“When are you back?” she asks.
“Sunday night. Probably late. The drive takes about three hours.”
“Okay.”
“Did you need something?”
She swings her hands behind her back. “All right, I’m not going to do the shy thing. I broke up with Liam that day I came over drunk. It was the right thing to do, and I’m all cool about it, but I was feeling guilty about being in your house afterwards… twice, after, actually. It seemed kind of shitty to end that relationship one minute and be in another man’s office the next.” She laughs nervously. “And I realise I just made that sound dirty. I didn’t think we were going to do anything, but… you know what I mean? So, I didn’t knock the other day when I wanted to, and then I didn’t knock yesterday or today because that all seemed weird.”
Taking a breath, she goes again, while I stand frozen. “So, I took a couple of days to get my head straight—to focus on where I am and where I want to be. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this the other night. I needed a minute. Should I have told you earlier? Should I be telling you now?”
I run my hand over my face. She seems completely confused by all of this. There aren’t any rules. We’re not a couple.
“Right,” I say.
She winces. “Anyway, I should let you get to what sounds like a really slutty weekend.”
“Mila,” I say, catching her hand as she begins to turn around. There is no way I’m letting her drop that bomb and walk away. “Thank you for telling me that. Are you okay?”
She takes a step back, and I let go of her hand. “I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m sorry that I didn’t come over… not that you asked me to.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
There have been times in my life where I had to put myself first, too. It’s a necessity, despite how wrong it makes you feel… and selfish.
“Thanks. Maybe when you’re back, I could finish that manuscript and talk to you about work experience at Wilson Press.”
I nod. “I’ve been waiting for that one.”
“We’ll talk later. You have a long drive ahead. Bye, Reid.” She waves and then walks away. Across the road.
Without fucking looking again.
I get into Jason’s car and watch her in the wing mirror until she goes home.
“So she’s single,” he says.
“I should have known you’d be listening.”
“Of course, I was. When are you asking her out? Sunday night?”
“Just drive, Jace.”
“Three hours, buddy. We’re going to talk about this at some point.”
“Not if I throw myself out of the car.”
Mila and Liam might get back together eventually; that’s what they do. I want to be elated, but how can I be sure they won’t be loved up again before I’m home?
“Such a baby. Forget her for now, man. We’re getting so fucking wasted tonight,” Jason says, grinning as if he can already taste the rum.
“We need to book a taxi back to the house. I’m not spending another night sleeping outside a club.”
“Sleeping? Reid, you passed out.” He laughs. “Then I did. Good times.”
“I still have very little memory of that night.”
“You scored the hottie with the tats. I was pissed.”
I roll my eyes. “Calling a woman your next conquest to her face is never going to work.”
“I was drunk! No one should take you seriously when you’re wasted.”
“No one should take you seriously, ever.”
“Behave,” he mutters, chuckling. “There’s a flask of rum on the floor in front of your seat.”
“You’re going to watch me drink for three hours while you drive?”
“If it takes you three hours to drink that flask, I’m taking you back home now.”
I shake my head, pick up the flask, and I take a swig. Mila’s back, I have a boys’ weekend ahead of me, and now I have rum.