Page 74 of Bad Habit
They both shoot off at the same time. I bite my tongue before I scream out of frustration and bring attention to us.
“No. Because Mia goes after what she wants. Always. If she wanted more from me, she would tell me.” I let go of the bag, we’re obviously not going to continue our workout.
“Or maybe you should just ask her. Communication is key, man.” Eli says softly.
“Are you really going to lecture me about communication with the girl you want? How’s Devyn?” I watch Maxwell drop his head out of the corner of my eye. That was a hard shot, but Eli doesn’t even flinch.
He just steps forward and says in a low voice, “I’m never at risk of losing her.” And suddenly it’s harder to swallow. The thought of losing Mia never occurred to me.
“She doesn’t have to stay here. She isn’t AJ. This place didn’t raise her. Mia has a heart that will change the world. And you can’t change the world by staying in the same place.” Maxwell says softly, trying to defuse the tension. I just stare at both of them before turning to look at her. They are right. I need to find a way to tell her that I want more with her without making her want to pull away. AJ is always saying what she loves most about Mia is that she is so free. I don’t want to take that away from her. But the ominous weight that now fills the deepest pits of my stomach reminds me that I desperately don’t want to lose her.
I make it home after the fights, limping from the hard hits I took on my thigh and ribs tonight. I lost both fights. My head just wasn’t in it. I was going to ask Mia to come with me but she told Eli she wouldn’t be at the gym today because she has to go help her grandmother set up the gala space for tomorrow. I didn’t want to make her feel guilty for not being able to be there. So, I just didn’t even tell her that I was fighting. I also didn’t tell AJ. She would be so pissed at me if she knew I was fighting back to back like that
My injury has fully healed and I’ve been using restraint on that leg when needed, but she wouldn’t think there is a single good reason to push my body this hard. And she would be right. I risk getting hurt every time, and this isn’t my career. Not like it is for Rory. But it’s where I feel like I have purpose. I keep searching for the same feeling everywhere else, anywhere else. And I always come up short.
My phone vibrates on the counter of my bathroom as I turn on the hot water in the shower. I check it to see a picture of Mia laying on the floor covered in a facemask and a barely there tank top.
Mia
The only thing getting me through today is knowing I get to see how hot you look in a tux tomorrow.
My chest shakes with quiet laughter. Leave it to this girl to always make me feel better even when I’m in pain.
Oliver
I’m pretty sure you prefer me out of my clothes.
Mia
Don’t pretend to know me.
Oliver
I don’t have to pretend.
There’s a pause in her texting. I’m just about to step inside the shower when the phone vibrates again.
Mia
How was your night?
We don’t normally do this. Small talk. But I will never complain about her spending her time talking to me.
I take a selfie from the chest up and send it. The screen lights up and she is FaceTiming me. I quickly wrap a towel around my waist before answering.
“Are you naked?” Her sweet face appears on my screen.
“Are you?” The small string holding up her tank top has fallen down her shoulder, barely visible on the screen, making her look like she doesn’t have clothes on.
“Did you fight?” The pinch between her eyebrows and small scrunch of her nose lets me know she’s concerned. I glance up at the mirror and take in the small cut on my cheek and dried blood on my neck from where an elbow cut me. Overall, I could have taken much more damage, but I tried to protect my face more tonight since I have to go with her to this big party tomorrow. And she made it very clear that it is very formal. “You didn’t tell me.” The hurt that trickles through her words actually stings my heart.
“You were busy today, I didn’t want to bother you.” I let the water from the shower fill the silence between us as she catalogs me through the screen.
“Did you win?” I can tell that she wants to say something else but she refrains.
I let out a harsh breath. “Not tonight.” I lean back against the wall, resting my arm holding the phone over my other arm folded across my chest. “My head just wasn’t in it tonight.”
“Make sure you treat that cut.” She says softly.
