Chapter 467
Mia’s POV
“You liked me. The same way that girl just p>
He stops.
“Didn’t you p>
The question hangs in the air between us.
His thumb is still moving on my wrist. Those circles. Steady. Relentless. Grounding me to this moment even as my brain is trying to escape it.
I can feel the warmth of his skin seeping into mine. Can feel the way my pulse is probably visible to him now. Can feel how my breathing has changed–shorter, shallower, like I can’t quite get enough air into my lungs.
The fluorescent light above us flickers again. On. Off. On. Casting his face in strange shadows for half a second before the light stabilizes.
In that brief darkness, his eyes look almost black.
Then the light returns and they’re gray again. But different. Knowing.
Like he can see right through me. Through all the years and distance and carefully constructed walls. See straight back to seventeen–year–old Mia sitting three rows behind him in European History. Drawing his hands in the margins of her notes. Memorizing the exact angle of his jaw.
My heart is doing something impossible in my chest. Trying to climb out. Trying to run away. Trying to do anything except stay here in this moment with this question hanging between us.
“Didn’t you p>
He asks it again. Softer this time.
He’s just waiting for me to admit it.
Mia’s POV
“No p>
The word shoots out of my mouth. Too fast. Too defensive.
“No. That’s–no. You’re completely wrong p>
His eyebrow lifts. Just one. That small movement that says he doesn’t believe me.
“I didn’t-” I pull my wrist from his grip. This time he lets me go. “I didn’t like you. Not like that. Not the way you’re implying p>
“No p>
“No.” I cross my arms. Defensive posture. I know it is. Can’t help it. “I had a crush on someone else actually.
Ryan Petersen. Varsity football. Running back. He wore number 34.
The lie comes out smooth. Detailed. Convincing.
Except Kyle’s mouth curves slightly. Not quite a smile.
“Ryan Petersen,” he repeats. Flat. Like he’s testing how the words sound.
“Yes. Ryan Petersen.” I’m doubling down now. Committing. “He was two years ahead of us. Really popular. Dated Lauren Martinez for most of senior year but before that-” I gesture vaguely. “-everyone had a crush on him p>
“Everyone p>
“Yes. All the girls. He was-“I’m warming to this now. Building the story. “He was homecoming king junior year. Threw the winning touchdown at State. Got recruited by Michigan but blew out his knee senior year and p>
“Mia p>
“What p>
“Ryan Petersen was gay p>
The words hit like cold water.
My mouth opens. Closes. “He–what p>
“Gay.” Kyle’s mouth is definitely curving now. Definite smile. “He came out sophomore year of college. Married his husband three years ago. They have a dog I m. Very popular. Lots of golden retriever content p>
“I–how do you p>
“Morton went to school with him. Shows me the I m once.” His eyes are dancing now. Amused.
My face is burning. I can feel it. The heat starting at my cheeks and spreading up to my hairline, down my neck.
“Okay fine,” I say quickly. “Not Ryan Petersen. Someone else. Lots of guys p>
“Lots of guys p>
“Yes. The lacrosse captain. Um-“I scramble for a name. Any name.“–Matt. Matt Callahan? No wait, Matt Fitzgerald. He was really p>
“Matt Callahan moved to Connecticut sophomore year.
“Another Matt then. There were multiple Matts. It was a very Matt–heavy school p>
“Mia p>
“And there was that guy from drama club.” I’m grasping now. Desperate. “The one who played Danny Zuko in Grease. He was really good. Really p>
“That was me p>
The words stop me cold.
“What p>
“I played Danny Zuko.” His smile is wider now. “Spring musical. Junior year. You’re thinking of me p>
Oh god.
Oh god oh god oh god.
“No I’m not–I don’t-” My voice is small. “I don’t remember that p>
We stare at each other.
“It’s okay.” His hand comes up. Not touching me. Just there. In the space between us. “You don’t have to admit it p>
“There’s nothing to admit p>
“Okay p>
He drops his hand. Steps back. Creating distance where a moment ago there was none.
I stand there. Frozen. My hands still in my hair. My heart still trying to climb out of my chest.
“DADDY!” Alexander’s voice cuts through. “YOU’RE HERE! CAN YOU TRY? WE ONLY HAVE ONE QUARTER LEFT p>
I watch Kyle kneel down. Eye level with the children. His hand resting on Alexander’s head. Casual. Natural. Like he didn’t just completely unravel me thirty seconds ago.
“Show me which one you want,” he says.
“The ELEPHANT! The pink one! It’s SO BIG p>
Madison is quiet beside him. Just pointing at the machine. Her face hopeful. Kyle stands. Studies the machine. His head tilting slightly. He slides the quarter into the slot. The machine beeps.
His hand goes to the joystick.
The claw moves. Left. Forward. I
The children hold their breath.
The claw travels. Smooth. Steady. Reaches the drop zone.
Opens.
The elephant falls. Lands in the chute with a soft thump.
“YES!” Alexander screams. Pure joy. “YOU DID IT! ONE QUARTER! YOU DID IT WITH ONE QUARTER p>
Madison already has the prize door open. Pulling out the elephant. Clutching it to her chest like it’s made of gold.
Kyle kneels again. Says something to her I can’t hear from here. Something that makes her smile. Real smile. The kind that lights up her whole face.
Then he stands. Looks across the restaurant.
Directly at me.
He smiles. Then turns back to the children. He lifts Alexander onto his shoulders and takes Madison’s hand, walking toward the exit.
I’m still standing here. By the register. Where he left me.
My face is still burning.
“Mama!” Ethan’s voice. “Are you coming p>
I blink. They’re all at the door. Three children and Kyle.
“Yes,” I manage. My voice sounds wrong. Distant. “Yes, I’m coming p>
I walk toward them. My legs feel strange.
Kyle holds the door open. For me. His hand on the glass. His body creating space for me to pass.
I have to walk past him.
His scent hits me as I pass. Cedar and cold air and something underneath that’s just him. The smell I used to try to memorize in high school. The one I drew in the margins next to his hands and his profile and the back of his head.
“After you.” he says quietly.