About Last Night...

I looked down at her nervous demeanor. It was clear she didn’t want to be seen with me. Talk about a kick in the gut. Then a thought occurred to me. Did she have a boyfriend?

A voice behind me startled her. Harry handed me my coffee and a brown paper bag. “Here’s your shit, man.” I scowled as he handed Maya an ice-cream cone. Fuck me. Was she dating my best friend? Harry went on, “No way we’re getting a table, so why don’t we just find a bench on the beach.” He jerked his chin toward Maya. “You remember Mia, right?”

Mia? Who the fuck was Mia?

She cleared her throat and tried to smile, uttering a weak, “Hi, Matt.”

Matt.

My gut sank. I stared at her in shock. She called me Matt. Confusion rolled through me. She knows me.

I turned to Harry. “I don’t—” I couldn’t even speak. I was starting to freak out. I shrugged, because no words would come.

Harry laughed. “Sorry. I thought ‘cause you were standing here that you reintroduced yourselves.”

Reintroduced? I’d met Maya before? My brain had officially gone offline. Something was going on here. Something bad. I could feel it in my bones.

He pointed to Maya. “Mia.” He turned to Maya. “Mia, I see you remember Qui

I was beyond confused. “Who?”

Harry snorted. “My sister. Dude, seriously, keep up.”

“Sister? I—” Fuck. No. Fuck no!

It hit me like a ton of bricks to the chest. My heart started to palpitate and my palms became moist. I stared pointedly at Mia. “Mia’s your sister…but you call her Mi

Harry smirked, slapping me on the back. “Now he’s got it.” He placed his fingers under my coffee cup, lifting it to my mouth. “You sure you’re awake yet? Get some coffee into you, stat. Come on, let’s find a bench.”

Harry walked toward the beach and all I could do was watch in horror as Mia winced, mouthing a pained, Sorry.

This was not a joke. There would be no hidden cameras or celebrity host to reveal that this was all a sick prank. I’d fucked my best friend’s baby sister. I’d taken her virginity. And she’d paid me to do it.

I walked by Mia’s side, accidentally brushing our hands together, and as if my hand were a Taser, Mia squeaked and jumped. Harry eyed his sister. His sister. Oh, shit. I’d eaten my best friend’s sister’s pussy. And I liked it. I was going to hell. “Relax, Mia. It’s not like Qui

Of course, he said this as I was sipping my coffee. I proceeded to choke on said coffee, coughing till I was blue, spilling a mouthful down the front of my shirt.

Mia rushed over, napkins in hand. “Are you okay?” She started to blot the light brown stains on my pristine white tee. I uttered an a

As I held her wrist in a vise-like grip, she looked up at me, her pouty pink lips slightly parted, her big brown eyes shining. Goddamn her for looking the way she did. She whispered a quivering, “I’m sorry,” and I think we both knew she wasn’t apologizing for my shirt.

I dropped her hand. “No harm done.” I said it, but it was a blatant lie. The damage was abundant. I’d likely lose my best friend over this. And that pissed me off.

Harry was all the family I had. I didn’t want to be alone again. The thought of losing the one person who stood by my side all these years was enough to cause a stabbing pain in my chest. I absently rubbed at it. How was I supposed to fix this?

I thought about it, and the truth of the matter was devastating.

I couldn’t fix this.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mia

If looks could kill, Qui

Damn it all to heck. I was supposed to tell him! I was meant to do it in my own time!

You know what? This is all Harry’s fault.

Yes! Let’s blame Harry. I like that. Let’s roll with that. Good.

I sat at the very end of the bench, looking out into the ocean while licking at my ice-cream cone. That was the only thing keeping me going—crap-loads of sugar and iced cream in a chocolate waffle cone.

The guys spoke while I tried to ignore them. Well, it was more Harry who spoke and Qui

Qui

Harry dug deeper. “What do you mean fine? Was she okay-fine, or was she smoking-fine?”

Qui

My brother laughed. “Okay, so she was dead-fish-fine?”

And without meaning to, I yelled a defensive, “Hey!” at the same time Qui

Harry made a face and held up his hands, palms forward in a placating gesture. “Geez, you guys are too sensitive. I was kidding…sort of.”

I glanced at Qui

Qui

My heart raced. It might’ve been one of the only times I had heard of Qui

I don’t know him at all.

Harry ignored Qui

I looked Qui

He snorted and rolled his eyes. Harry nudged my arm, an expression of confusion crossing his face. “I know you wouldn’t, kid. You’re good people.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, standing. “I think I’m just going to go home, Har. I’m not feeling the best.”

Qui

Harry tried to feel my forehead, but I slapped his hand away, scowling at him. “Who are you, my mother?”

He huffed out a laugh. “Bite your tongue.” He checked his watch again. “Hey, I’m go

I shook my head. “I can catch the bus. I know the route like the back of my han—”

Harry was already shaking his head to say no, when Qui

Harry’s expression turned relieved. “Seriously? Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

But Qui

Crap.

Piles upon piles of flaming crap.

Qui

I needed to explain why I’d done what I did. He was clearly pissed about it, and I don’t blame him. I had no right to put him in the position I had.

I just hoped he would understand.

He had to understand.

Raising his hand, he clicked a button on his keys and an older silver sedan unlocked. He opened the door for me, and as soon as I sat, he closed the door behind me. I buckled up and waited for him to do the same. As soon as he started the car, I spoke, “Qui

But he raised his hand, demanding silence, and so I shut my trap.

We drove on, and at every red light, he stopped to look at me, the same motions every time. He’d stop, turn, look me up and down, sigh, shake his head, and then commence driving. At least he no longer looked angry. Now he just looked tired.