Page 13 of Fractured Mind
Levi chuckles and looks at Jackson. “Yeah, man. Even me and Roman know about Mia, and we didn’t even go to school with you guys back then.”
“You think I wanted Mia to see me for the first time fighting?” I stretch my neck from side to side to ease the tension... but no such luck.
“I didn’t invite her,” Jackson replies. “Blame Ruby for that.”
“What was Ruby thinking... taking her there? She could have gotten hurt.” She nearly did. If anyone had touched her, I would have lost control.
“Ruby thought she was doing the right thing... inviting her to watch you, since you were close,” Levi adds.
Ruby is harmless, but regardless, the situation was fucked!
My thoughts drift back to Mia. The wariness in her eyes as she looked at me like a stranger... it hurt my dead, black heart. I run my hand over my forehead.
“Where’s she been all this time?” Roman asks.
That’s the million-dollar question. “I have no idea. Mia and her mom disappeared off the face of the earth. I searched for them. No one knew where they were.”
“She lost her memory, didn’t she?”
I frown and nod at Levi.
“You’ve got a chance to start fresh,” Levi says, then wiggles his eyebrows. “Win her back. Be charming like me and you’ll have her in no time.”
Roman laughs out loud. “We can hardly handle one Levi, let alone two.” Roman looks at me. “You and Mia are different people from who you were before. Just get to know each other again.”
I release a dark chuckle.Yeah right. Like she’d want to know who I am now. The person who fights to be free of my emotions because they have me in a chokehold and threaten to strangle me... I have no future prospects. I have nothing to offer her.
Levi overly rolls his eyes. “Boooriiing. She’s fuckin’ hot though...” he says.
My temperature rises as agitation claws at me.
“You have good taste in women, I’ll give you that.” Levi adds to the fire.
My glare hardens. I wish he knew when to shut the hell up.
“Uh, Levi,” Roman says, his gaze shifting back and forth between me and him. “Don’t poke the bear.”
Levi’s eyes widen as he looks at me. “Sorry... I’m just telling the truth. Youdoneed to chill out though. She’s not going to like an angry guy who hates the world.” He turns to Jackson. “No offense.. . I know some women like the whole broody, short-tempered thing you two got going on.”
Jackson’s eyes narrow sharply. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
Levi suppresses a laugh. “Calm your tits. Don’t take it personally.”
“I’m going home. I need a hot shower,” I tell them. Because I didn’t get the chance to fight tonight and now everything with Mia has me on edge, my body is wound tight.
“I’m looking forward to going to school this week,” Levi says with a wicked smile. “Getting to know yourex-lover and all.”
“You”—I point at him—“behave and stay away from her.” I know he’d never try to hook up with a chick I like, but if one person can get under my skin, it’s him.
Levi’s eyes light up. “Ohhhh, and defensive.” Amusement drips from his tone. He stands up. “I’m going home too. I’m pumped for tomorrow,” he says enthusiastically.
I’m glad someone is. So many emotions battle within me, I don’t know what to feel. I walk outside and to my car and close the door with more force than necessary. I rub my hand down my face. I can’t believe she’s back... after all this time. Feeling her in my arms... my body aches for more... to hear her voiceagain... see her smile. I’m obsessed, but I have waited for this day for as long as I can remember, and she did not disappoint. She’s beautiful. I nearly lost my footing when I first saw her. She’s clearly no longer a girl... all woman with curves. How could I not notice? And those fucking tight jeans... I groan.
I’m used to attracting any girl I want, but now I want to know everything about Mia, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m not friends with women, I only screw them. Ruby being the only exception.
One thing I know for sure is as much as I’m thrilled to have her back, I have to tread carefully. After she watched me tonight, I’m sure I’ve already messed things up before I’ve had a chance to build a relationship with her again. This is going to be hard for me, but I’m going to let her see the real me, not the troubled version everyone else sees.
I pause before starting the car, wondering if Mia could possibly like who I am now.But who is she?Does she resemble the girl I once knew, or is she completely different too? I guess there’s only one way to find out.