“We’re going.” Lewis grabs his keys and gently urges Mira to the door.
She glances up before she walks out, and our eyes clash for an instant. Vulnerability and something else flashes in hers.
The urge to go with her burns through me.
I make myself stay.
No matter what we had or didn’t have in the past, I’ll never want anything bad to happen to Mira. Finding her in the woods hurt and alone fucked with my head. I feel connected to her again.
I squeeze the tops of my thighs, a pulse pounding at my temple. I don’t want to see Mira in pain, but I also don’t want her in my life. I’ve moved on from all that.
After they leave, Cali sits on the couch across from me while Jaeger rustles around in the fridge. “So what do you think?”
She must have said something, but I’m spacing. “About what?”
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting strange ever since Lewis got the call that Mira was missing. How well do you know Mira? Is there something going on between you two?”
“Fuck no.” Her brows rise. Whoa. I need to tone down the angst. Unfortunately, running into Mira isn’t the only thing that has me on edge. “There’s nothing going on. I barely know her.”
Mostly true, if you ignore carnal knowledge.
“Oka-ay. Well then, what do you think?”
Seriously, what is she talking about? “Cali, it’s been a crazy night. I’m tired. Get to the point.”
Her mouth compresses. “Your attitude sucks, Tyler. You’ve been an ass ever since you returned. And on that note, why did you come back? You still haven’t said. I thought you loved Boulder.”
I quit my job as a biology teacher in Colorado and returned to Lake Tahoe. It’s not really home anymore, since our mom moved to Carson City a couple of months ago. But Tahoe is the place I associate with home.
My mom isn’t pleased that I have no prospects…and leech off my sister. Put that way, it sounds bad. I just couldn’t remain in Colorado. Not after things happened with Anna.
I envy my sister. She went through heavy stuff recently, but she’s put her life to rights. Meanwhile, my head’s so fucked up with guilt and anger, I can’t see straight. That’s why I returned. Not that I’m explaining any of this to my sister.
“I missed you. Isn’t that enough?” I say, feigning sincerity.
Her eyes narrow. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Just make sure you keep your drinking in check. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how many beers you’re going through and how often you’ve come home hammered—when you’re not being antisocial on your computer.”
Christ, I gotta get my own place. So I’ve been going out, and burying myself in a writing project to keep my mind off things. I don’t need my baby sister mothering me.
After Mira, I resolved never to get screwed over by a girl. I did the screwing. That’s the problem. I was blind, insensitive. I ended up hurting someone I cared about. Anna deserved so much better than me.
Cali punches me on the arm.
“Hey.” I rub my shoulder. Jesus, she’s feisty. “Was that necessary?”
“Get your head out of your ass. Jaeger and I talked. We think Mira should move in for a little while. It’s not safe for her alone in her apartment after what happened.”
Correction. Make that new living space an emergency.
No way am I sticking around if Mira moves in. That’s the last thing I need. But Cali’s right, Mira shouldn’t live on her own. It’s not safe. Lewis’s place is out. Gen moved in with him recently, and from what I understand, his place is small. That could get awkward. Cali says Lewis’s relationship with Gen put a strain on his friendship with Mira.
Not that I care. Why am I even thinking about this? I’ve been around my sister too long. I’m getting dragged into chick drama.
“Yeah, sure. It’s your place. Do what you want. I’ll stay with a buddy. Mira can have the loft.”
Gen and Cali rented a one-bedroom with a low loft above the kitchen. They shared the bedroom, until Gen moved in with Lewis a couple of weeks ago.
Cali sighs, exasperated. “That’s what I’m talking about. If you were listening, you would know this. I’ll stay with Jaeger so Mira can have my bedroom. You don’t need to move out.”
