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“Why don’t you ask her to go with you?” Mia felt near tears, and her own reaction made no sense to her. Blaine had asked her to participate in any girl’s dream: a month long, all expenses paid vacation in the Caribbean. To top off the luxury, she’d get to spend the vacation in the company of the man with whom she was falling in love. For some reason, something in her core rebelled at the idea.
“What’s the matter with you?” Blaine asked, incredulous. “I want you to come with me.”
“If you want to be with me,” Mia said, “stay here.”
“That’s not fair, Mia. I’m telling you, this tournament is a dream opportunity.”
She turned on her heels and called over her shoulder as she left. “Your choice.”
*
When Mia got into her car, her hands seemed to be working of their own accord. She scrolled through the favorites list on her phone. Her mind raced.
This has all been too perfect, she thought. He’s had his fun, now he’s leaving. He probably doesn’t really want me to come with him, anyway. Asking me to go makes him seem like a nice guy. And again, over and over in her head, Why would a man like that want me? Really want me? Why, why, why?
She hit Jeff’s number. The phone rang once and he picked up. “Hey. You remembered me.”
Mia cut to the chase. “Do you want to come over so we can talk?”
“Uh—I was about to go for a run—but yeah. Like right now?”
“I’m on my way home. Meet me in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay, sure,” Jeff said. “I’m really glad you called—“
“See you soon.” Mia ended the call and stepped on the gas.
She beat Jeff to her apartment by only ten minutes. She took the time to put on deodorant and lipstick, but her prep ended with the basics. She let him in, and asked him if he wanted something to drink. The decorum seemed weird. After all, less than a month ago, this man had practically lived at her place. She got a diet Coke for Jeff and joined him on the couch. Mia at one end, Jeff at the other. They were like offensive and defensive lines preparing for a fourth down attempt. Jeff wore flip-flops and an old fraternity tee shirt. His shaved head fairly glowed in the lamplight.
Mia found she wanted to laugh, or maybe cry. He’s such a child. A child with a bald, shiny head. He couldn’t be more opposite to Blaine.
Bald or not, Jeff had a great smile. He used it on her now. “It’s so good to see you.”
Mia pushed aside her comparisons and focused on Jeff, right in front of her. “You too. What did you want to talk about?”
“I made a mistake, Mimi,” he said. “I miss you. We had our problems, but ours was still the best relationship I’ve ever had.”
“Hmmm,” she said.
“I’ve been out some over the past couple weeks. You know—went on a few dates and chatted with some girls in the bars—“
She rolled her eyes. Jeff’s comment was more annoying than heartbreaking. This is stupid, she thought. Why am I wasting my time talking to him?
“Don’t roll your eyes, Mimi,” he said. “You’ve been out with other people. Hell, I saw you with that big GQ dude out by the lake.”
Mia giggled. Blaine was a big GQ dude. A smart, successful GQ dude. A real man. Not to mention kind and gentle and funny—
Jeff was still talking. “…I just think we should give it a try. See if we can work it out, you know? It was real sweet how you booked that fishing charter. Maybe we can go together.” He scooted toward her on the couch.
“Uh…I don’t know—”
His leg was brushing hers. Suddenly Mia realized that the last thing she wanted was for Jeff to touch her. Panic set in. What if she’d blown it with Blaine? Maybe she needed to call him… at least talk through the St. John thing. “Sorry, Jeff—I don’t think—” Her phone dinged, distracting her again. She just had time to see Blaine’s name on the screen before Jeff kissed her.
He stuck his tongue in her mouth. She pulled away, but not before he managed to grind his lips into hers. She shoved him, hard, on his chest. “Stop it, now. This is over.”
“Mia—” Jeff’s lip trembled, and Mia had time to wonder why any display of sensitivity on Blaine’s part turned her on, but Jeff’s show of feeling left her disgusted and somewhat sorry for him.
“You need to leave,” she said. “Right now.”
