“I trust you can keep an eye on her?”
“Of course.”
I roll my eyes.
Ronan’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t press the matter further, which makes me actually start to believe we can move past this after all.
“I was thinking about inviting Mila over for a girls' night,” I blurt out before Ronan has a chance to leave.
“That sounds like a great idea.” He crosses over to me. “She could probably use a distraction.”
He wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“I won’t be long,” he murmurs before leaving Stephen and me alone once more.
“Was that weirdly civil?” I ask once the front door slams shut behind Ronan.
Stephen chuckles under his breath. “You would almost think he was trying.”
An hour later,I open the front door to find an almost unrecognizable Mila on my doorstep. It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to wince at her state.
Her dark hair looks like it’s in desperate need of both a wash and a brush, and there are dark circles beneath her eyes that almost match the color of the bruise on Stephen’s cheek. Even wearing an oversized sweater and leggings, I can tell she’s lost some weight from the way her collarbones are jutting out, which isn’t a good sign.
“Have you been eating?”
She shrugs as I gently close the front door behind her.
“Here and there.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I haven’t had much of an appetite.”
I narrow my eyes, but I don’t want to interrogate her out here in the foyer where there are listening ears, so I link my arm through hers and lead her into the TV room, passing Stephen on the way.
“We’ll be in here,” I say before closing the door on him.
Mila sinks down onto the enormous sectional and reaches for one of the blankets draped over the back, tucking it around her legs.
“Do you want some candy? You always have an appetite for Milk Duds.”
Mila offers me a small smile but shakes her head.
Crap. Things must be seriously bad if she won’t even accept an offering of Milk Duds.
I take a seat beside her on the couch and tuck my legs beneath myself. “I’m glad you came.”
“I almost didn’t.” She fiddles aimlessly with the blanket. “I didn’t want to drag my sorry self here and ruin your evening.”
“You’re not ruining anything. It’s not like I had any big plans myself.”
“Is Ronan still being…well, Ronan?” Mila glances up at me.
I shrug, internally battling how much to tell her.
It’s clear Mila still has a lot to process in terms of her own grief, and I don’t want to burden her with my relationship. But she’s also my best friend, and I know she’ll want to know what’s going on with me just like I want to know what’s happening with her.
“Things are better…”
When I don’t continue, Mila raises a brow at me, and I roll my eyes.
“Well, he’s being insanely jealous.”
