“Your cousin has an overinflated ego and a shockingly poor personality,” I snapped.
Gray said nothing. My words mattered little to him, and I wish I could say the same, but his words hurt. Turning to Ava, it annoyed me more than his words did that she’d remained silent. “I’m going home to fix the mess your new friends have caused.” I was proud that my tone was calm and my voice steady. “I’m not coming back. It’s quite clear I’m not welcome, and I really don’t like to mingle with thugs.”
“Thugs?” Jett asked. I hadn’t noticed him crossing the floor and coming to stand beside his twin.
Turning to him, I smiled sweetly. Had Ava, my supposed best friend, been able to see, she would have known it wasn’t a positive thing. “Why yes, thugs. Thugs who bully girls to get them to do what they want. Thugs who threaten to get people thrown out of college. Thugs who like to run around and cause damage in the dark.” I looked scathingly at the twins. “You bring trouble to your family and your friends, and you don’t even care. No, wait.” I frowned thoughtfully. “Youdocare, about yourselves. No one else.”
With a glance at Ava, who stood looking stunned by the entire exchange, I spoke to her. “I won’t be back. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine the further I am away from them.”
With my back straight and my face clear of emotion, I walked past the twins and exited the living area. Climbing the stairs swiftly, I willed myself to keep it together. I would not let either one of those jerkfaces see me cry.
Quinn was coming down the stairs, her hair damp, I assumed from a shower. She halted when she saw me, and I saw the smile fade.
“Mia? What’s wrong?”
“I’m going home,” I told her as I passed, hoping she didn’t follow.
“It isn’t safe,” she started to protest.
Stopping, I turned back to look at her. “Yes, it is. For me.” She went to speak, and I cut her off. “I am truly, truly sorry for everything you have gone through, Quinn, I am. You seem to be a really nice person, and I’m sorry that happened to you. I even feel bad for the jerk downstairs, but your problems are onlymyproblems if I’m with you. Or associated with you.” I knew how selfish it sounded, and I no longer cared. “My home got targeted because of who moved in. The people causing you issues aren’tinterested in me. I wish you well, and I know with the psycho that you call boyfriend, they will be sorry for whatever they try to bring your way. But it is not for me to get involved with.” She looked as dumbstruck as Ava at my outburst. “I’m sorry, it’s just . . . it’s just not my drama.” Shrugging almost in apology, I turned and ran up the stairs. I locked the bedroom door behind me and quickly changed back into my dress from last night.
Gray’s hard words were ringing in my ears.Desperate? I didn’t care who he was — he had no right to talk to me like that. He didn’t know me, and he had no basis for his judgment.
Ava herself had said that it was probably because of Ash that they broke in.Notme. I was not involved, but I would be if I stayed.
Wiping my eyes quickly, ignoring the telltale dampness, I quickly shook my hair out with my fingers forming a quick comb. Mama always said to never let them see you falter, never let them know you’re scared. Taking a deep breath, I opened the bedroom door and pushed aside my disappointment that Ava wasn’t waiting.
I would have been waiting for her.
This was the second time in as many weeks that I was rushing out of this darn house. I should have known better than to get involved.
At the foot of the stairs, Ash stood waiting. “Red . . .”
“My name is Mia,” I told him quietly.
His shoulders slumped a little, but he didn’t move from his spot. “Can we talk?”
Standing on the second stair, I was almost eye level with him. Without thought, I reached out, and my hand cupped his cheek. “No, we had fun, Brute, but you can go home. I’m a big girl, and those people aren’t looking for me.”
“What if they are?”
“I’ll be okay.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek, surprising us both. “Sleep more, you look exhausted.” Sidestepping him, I walked to the door and opened it.
I didn’t look back, and as I walked away from the house, I was very much aware of the fact that my best friend hadn’t followed me.
Chapter 18: Ash
The rest of the team had cleared the living room, and in the kitchen, Ava stood in one corner and Gray stood in the other, leaning against the fridge, his hands behind his back, casually watching Ava, waiting. In between them stood Jett, hovering as if he didn’t know what side to choose. Quinn stood outside the kitchen on the other side of the breakfast counter, but I could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was pissed.
“Who wants to tell me what that was?” I asked quietly as I looked between Ava and Gray.
“She didn’t want to be here, and honestly, I agree with her,” Gray told me without looking away from Ava. “She was involved because you wanted her here.”
Ava blinked, and then it was like a volcanic explosion. The girl erupted. “Are you fucking kidding me? Youagreewith her? The woman who you just called a desperate slut?”
“Whoa, what?” I asked as I too looked at Gray for an explanation.
“Gray!” Quinn gasped. “Why?”
