I watch his head move back to face me and there is a tiny drop of blood bubbling up on his lip. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry!” I rush to him and lean on my tip toes to try and see it better. I have one hand on his shoulder and the other is barely resting on his cheek, but I’m paralyzed by him not breaking eye contact as his tongue grazes his bottom lip and licks the blood away. I don’t even think he means for his hand to find my waist. “I made you bleed.” The words ghost over my own lips.
“You have a tendency to make men willing to bleed for you, Mia Cassidy.” He takes my hands in his and pulls them away from his body. I watch his chest rise and fall as his breath stutters out. “Don’t think. Just feel.” Those words are like a shot through my chest. “Let your emotions give you strength instead of doubt. Passion will help you put your whole body into it.” He lets go of my hands before reaching down and grabbing his bag he left on the ground earlier. “Next time, hit harder. If anyone ever puts you in that position. You hit them with everything you have.” I can’t read the emotions on his face but I know that they probably match the bonfire of emotions in my own body right now.
I watch him walk away and the air becomes easier to access when I take a deep breath. “What the fuck was that?” I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of AJ’s voice beside me.
I spin around and see AJ with a look on her face that is demanding for me to spill all of my secrets.
“I fucked Oliver!” The words escape me before I’m able to stop them. “Don’t be mad. Not that you have a reason to be mad. It was months ago actually. And it just kind of happened. I’m sorry. I love you.” I quickly glance around to see if anyone overheard my outburst. Eli and Maxwell are over in the weight corner, each in their own world with their headphones on and weights in hand. Oliver is in the locker room, thank fuck. Rory is in the corner working with Eddie. Thankfully it is just us on this side of the gym.
A rare smile spreads across her entire face, “Rory owes me a new workout set.” She doesn’t look upset at all actually. She doesn’t even look surprised. Wait.
“You fucking bet on me sleeping with your best friend?” The audacity.
“I absolutely did. And it’s Monday. So, you are buying our tacos and margaritas as payback for hiding it from me for months.”
“You’re not mad?” I know she still doesn't have feelings for Oliver. It’s obvious that she is in love with Rory, but she is still figuring that part out for herself. I just had this overwhelming fear of upsetting her because I didn’t want to lose her as a friend over something stupid. And sleeping with Oliver was stupid. I have such a great set up here and giving in to him could ruin that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him even go on a date. A one night stand with him has kept me tied up this long, I can’t imagine what something more serious would do to me.
“I’m pissed that you two idiots think that we are oblivious to whatever the fuck is going on between you. But no. I’m not mad that you and Oliver did whatever you did.” I feel lighter with her finally knowing.
I smile back up at her, “I got the move.” I don’t know how Oliver managed to get me to figure it out. But I’m thankful for that too. The failure from when I was training with AJ was starting to make me feel like I was drowning. Oliver didn’t let me sit in that though. It was like he took all the ability to focus on what I wasn’t getting and make my mind react in the moment instead of overthinking. He held the chaos in my head captive and showed me what I was actually capable of.
“How did it feel?” AJ’s voice is full of quiet pride.
“Empowering.”
MIA
“Ialready ordered your favorite tacos and a cherry margarita. I’m actually pretty sure they only keep stock of the cherry ingredients just for you. Did you sleep with the owner or something?” AJ is sitting in one of Rory’s hoodies and her green shorts she loves so much. But she is wearing a smile that seems to be making more appearances now. I love how Rory makes her soul less clouded with gray. I’m sure the stress of his big fight being gone is also making her feel less burdened too.
“His son,” I clarify for her. She raises an eyebrow but then starts laughing.
“I was joking, Mia!” She sputters through her laughter. I just shrug my shoulders. I wasn’t. It was one date and it was a good date. We hooked up in the back of the restaurant after he took me dancing. I love dancing. And it was when I first moved here.
“He was really nice. Great dancer.” I take my seat as the waiter brings our drinks over and AJ leans forward, squinting her eyes at me. Back to her normal self, this will be fun.
“Are we doing this now or after drinks and tacos?” She offers.
I take a breath, “I fucked your best friend. It melted my brain. It was three months ago. Hasn’t happened again. Nothing else to say.” I take a chip and top it with too much salsa.
AJ is back to laughing. And honestly, it’s unsettling. This girl never laughs this much until after she’s had a few drinks.
Pointing a chip at her, I demand, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
She clears her throat before taking a huge sip of her drink and scooting mine closer to me. She nods her head for me to start drinking. I normally don’t need this much encouragement.
“Remember the first time you made me come and get margaritas and tacos with you?” She’s still got laughter bubbling out of her as I take a healthy sip of my drink, “And I told you that I fucked my best friend?” I nearly spit the cherry flavored tequila right out of my mouth. She’s now coughing from laughing so hard. I quickly take my phone, snapping a picture to send the group chat for evidence. She has her head thrown back so far I’m surprised the chair isn’t falling over and her drink is nearly spilling from where she is still holding haphazardly.
WEST HAVEN DELIQUENTS
Mia
Rory come get your girl. She’s been body snatched.
Eli
Leave her alone. She laughs sometimes.
Maxwell
