Page 79 of Sour Notes

God. We could have lost her in so many different ways.

I wish I’d known. Acted sooner.

I want to ask her so much more, but this is more than I ever expected her to tell me.

“He was cheating on me the whole time. I forgave him for it once, but when he knocked up my cousin, I finally woke up and saw who he really was—is.” She pauses, her voice cracking. “He said the most awful things when I told him I couldn’t do it anymore. Told me he didn’t care because I wasn’t the kind of girl men wanted to marry. That I’d been lucky to find him. That he pity-fucked me. I was an embarrassment, boring, a lousy kisser, shit in bed. Degenerate.”

I can’t contain the growl that rips from my chest at her words.

I’m. Going. To. Kill. Him.

She sniffles, and it damn near breaks my heart to hear my bright, beautiful girl so broken.

Turning on my side, I pull her into my arms. She doesn’t resist, her body racked with sobs as she curls into my chest.

Her tears soak my skin as I run a hand through her dark waves, pulling her even closer.

“I’m so sorry, baby. He can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t let him. But know this, every single word he said's a goddamn lie.”

“Not so sure about that.” She hiccups.

“I’m more than fucking sure. I don’t wanna sound crass, but I’ve got firsthand experience on a few of those points, and you get zero complaints from me. You are beyond perfect.”

Sniffling, she giggles, wiping away the tears from my chest with her hand.

“You have to say that, you’re my friend.”

“I’m not in the habit of lying, Mia. You’re like no one I've ever known. You’re spectacular. A stunning force of nature. You might not see that, but I do. People constantly gravitate to you. Any guy would be lucky to have you. Not that you need a man, girl power and all that, but if you wanted one, I mean.”

And I want to be that guy.

Her bloodshot eyes study mine in the moonlight, a tiny wobbly smile curling her beautiful lips.

“Thank you, Swayze. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload all that on you. I think I’m just frustrated with myself. I can’t believe that the second I saw him tonight, instead of ripping him a new asshole and showing him how wrong he was, I just clammed up and ended up right back there again.” She winces, blowing out a rough breath.

“Can you please not say anything to Nick or the others? I’d rather just forget about it.”

She leans back, and my heart twinges at her tear-streaked face glowing in the moonlight. I cup her jaw, swiping the tears beneath her eyes with my thumbs.

“You can trust me. But if he comes near you again, he’s leaving this island in a body bag.”

Her striking eyes practically glow in the dark when she smiles up at me, kissing me on the cheek before curling back onto my chest.

In less than a minute, her breathing starts to slow. On instinct, I run my fingers through her long dark waves and she lets out a dreamy little sigh.

Dropping my lips to the sweet-smelling crown of her head, I plant a soft kiss there.

“And for the record, Mia… I only ever saw you.”

Holding my breath, I wait. Will she realize I just declared my feelings for her?

All I get is a soft snore in response.

Of course.

The second I finally get the balls to say something… she’s asleep.

Maybe that’s for the best.