Dylan opened the door and my shock was real. “Vera?!”
“Hi, Mike,” my ex-girlfriend said, looking shy as she stared between Dylan and me. “Can I come in?”
I was still in shock so I just nodded and moved away from the door. Dylan walked ahead, guiding her to the living room where our waffles were still out, a clear sign we’d been eating before she rudely interrupted our lovely moment.
Why was she even here? I hadn’t seen her in over two years and last I’d heard; she was in a happy relationship with someone else. She’d tried contacting me after her latest break up but I’d ignored it. Then she’d found another guy and seemed happy to share him all over her socials, just like she’d done with the first guy.
“I apologize for just showing up,” she began once she was sitting on the couch, Dylan and I standing next to each other, seemingly in agreement that this wouldn’t take long, so why sit?
“Has something happened?” I asked, thinking maybe she needed my help with something, or one of our friends had died, maybe. My mind went all over the place with ideas.
She shook her head, then looked pointedly at Dylan. “I actually came to speak with you privately.” She then turned her attention back on me and smiled softly.
Instinctively, I moved closer to Dylan, not wanting to be parted from him. My entire being rebelled at the mere thought. “Whatever you wish to speak about, can be said in front of Dylan,” I stated calmly, noticing how Dylan’s body seemed to relax at those words. “How did you even know where I live?”
“I visited your mom,” Vera said, sounding a little miffed that I didn’t want to banish Dylan from the conversation.
Wait, she went to my mom’s place?
“Why are you here?” I asked, more annoyed now that I understood something hadn’t actually happened and she was being secretive on purpose, but seeing my mom? That was just weird and now I wanted answers.
“I miss you,okay?!” she snapped.
I took a single step back, having clearly misheard her. “What?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’twhatme, I just told you I miss you, aren’t you happy to hear that?”
“I thought you were seeing someone?” I said, still reeling. She’d left me and hadn’t once returned my texts or calls after our breakup. I knew she’d pestered me with texts and calls as my work trip was nearing its end, but I’d ignored them. Dylan had told me to block her, and I had. We weren’t friends, Vera and I, and now all of a sudden, she wanted me to believe she’d missed me, and enough to visit my mom and just show up at my apartment?Make that make sense, please and thank you.
“I broke up with him six months ago. I waited for your work trip to end before speaking with you. If I’d known you returned home ahead of time, I would’ve visited sooner.” So, she’d tried contacting me while she was still in a relationship? I’d truly dodged a bullet when she broke up with me.
“Because you missed me?” I questioned, needing this to make sense. She was over me, and was very vocal about it, too.
“Yes,” she beamed. “I came to see if you wanted to date again. I promise to respect your work this time and will do my best to support you.” Those words would’ve once made my heart beat with happiness. But now?
I opened my mouth to let her down, but Dylan beat me to it. “Actually,” he drawled, moving closer to where I stood, holding one hand protectively around my waist. “Mike is mine, and I’m not sharing him with anyone.”
Chapter Eleven
Dylan
Vera blinked. Then laughed so hard tears formed in her eyes. “Mike’s not gay, but thanks for the laugh.”
I was still holding firmly onto Mike’s waist, glaring at the woman who’d dared to show up and think Mike would just drop everything and take her back. No chance. Mike wasmine.
When neither of us joined in on the laughter she sobered, staring wide-eyed at Mike. “Is this true? You’re gay, or bi? Or whatever you might label as.”
I figured Mike felt conflicted on what his labels were. Hell, he’d yet to actually tell me he liked me. I just knew because of the whole anchor thing. I decided to help him out, giving him the chance to feel less in the spotlight.
“We don’t care much for labels here; all you need to know is that we’re very happy and in love. And Vera?”
She blinked, “Um, yes?”
“Mike is mine and only mine, you get that?” Now, normally I wouldn’t be so possessive or snippy, but Vera had done so much damage to my wonderful Mike, I couldn’t help myself. I finally had a chance to see her face as she realized Mike would nevereverbelong to her again.
“Is this true, Mike?” she asked, ignoring me completely.The audacity!
Mike nodded, “It is.”
