Page 79 of HER SISTER

"Okay, now say it."

I sighed as a loose smile remained on my lips, "I deserve an apology."

Mili only gave me a narrowed look, "You know I love your smile, but I need you to be serious," she said, easily earning a pout from me.

"I can't help that you make me smile," I said, wiggling my brows at her as I pulled her in for a kiss.

Mili shook her head at me, briefly pecking my lips as she said, "Say it again."

I smirked slightly, "Oh are we on that kind of timing because—"

"Atiana," Mili practically whined as she leaned down to nip at my bottom lip, "Say it again," she repeated herself as she pulled back from my lips.

I sighed dramatically as I leaned back into the bathroom counter, "I deserve an apology," I said, forcing my smile away and my serious tone to take its place.

Currently, Mili seemed bent on getting it through my head that Mya owes me an apology, and even if I agreed, she had managed to make me say it a couple hundred times.

It had only been two days since I found out about everything from Arielle, and Mili had already reached out to Mya and arranged for us to meet.

Mili hummed happily as she gripped me back into her warm body, "See, it wasn't that hard," she pointed out.

I purposefully remained quiet, deciding I was in the mood to press her nerves.

"Ati," Mili suddenly called after me as I walked past her and out of the bathroom.

I wasn't mad whatsoever, but I swear she's so fun to mess with.

I walked down the stairs, allowing my heels to click as Mili followed down behind me.

"I should be back before twelve at the latest," I called over my shoulder as I walked to the door.

And I knew that leaving without a goodbye kiss seemed to be on Mili's no-no list.

A list that I seemed to love messing with.

"You know we don't leave without properly saying goodbye," Mili emphasized, easily grabbing my wrist and flipping me back around.

I couldn't stop my unconscious smile from growing, but I still managed to remain somewhat serious.

"My bad," I murmured as I briefly—and I mean, very briefly pecked her lips before I said, "Love you."

And if the goodbye kiss didn't push it, that definitely did.

Especially with the way her lips dramatically parted.

"Wow... love you? Where's the I?" Mili questioned as she reached out for my waist and pulled me into her warm body entirely, "And that wasn't a goodbye kiss," she pointed out, leaning down towards me to initiate another one.

And I couldn't stop myself from kissing her soft lips back as she managed to press me back against the nearest counter.

I hummed when one of her hands wrapped around the side of my neck, easily pulling me in even deeper.

My head naturally tilted back farther when Mili's tongue parted my lips, easily tightening her grip on my waist.

How she managed to always shift the mood was beyond me.

I let out a deep breath as soon as Mili pulled back from the kiss, "And that's how we do goodbye kisses around here," she pointed out in a matter-of-fact tone.

I only smirked slightly, "Yeah, I just wanted to annoy you," I admitted, which easily earned a soft laugh from Mili.

"Yeah okay, you know you couldn't possibly annoy me," Mili said, clearly amused by my words as she briefly pecked my lips again, "But that doesn't mean you can't frustrate me—play your cards wrong, and I'll have you bent over the table, edging you until you're so overstimulated, you couldn't even think about an orgasm. "

My lips unconsciously parted at the painful visual she had just put into my head.

Remind me not toactually test her.

Mili let out a satisfied hum at my reaction, "Glad I could get my point across," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek as she said, "Good luck with my sister—I love you."

I couldn't help but smile at her emphasis on I.

"I love you too," I mocked her words back.

Mili rolled her eyes at me, "Mhm, leave before I spank your badass," she warned as she took a step back from me.

I hummed as my smirk grew, "I don't know that sounds kind of sexy to me," I trailed off in a teasing tone.

Mili smirked to herself as she walked over to the fridge, "Even with a belt?"

And just like that, my amused smile was gone.

"Yeah... so um, I'll see you in a little bit," I said, suddenly waving the white flag in our little ego contest.

Mili let out an amused hum, "Don't drink too much," she called over her shoulder.

"Can't make any promises," I called back.

And before she could say anything else, I was out the door.

I definitely wasn't about to drink much, but I also wanted to have somewhat of the last word in our little debate.

—

The bar was as packed as it should be on a Saturday night.

Yet, it still wasn't hard to spot Mya over in the corner booth, sipping on her drink as she scrolled on her phone.

She looked exactly the same—her usual dark hair was down and straightened and she wore a navy corset top with light jeans.

Luckily, I was wearing something casual as well—from my black long-sleeve v-cut top that showed off my chest to my black leather pants.

I drew in a nervous breath, suddenly contemplating the idea of even talking to her and instead just going back home to Mili.

At least I could say I tried, right?

I shook my head at my crazy thoughts, knowing that we had to talk sooner or later.

At least I could go ahead and rip the band-aid off now.

Even if this was good or bad—I wouldn't be stuck wondering all the different what-if scenarios.

My heart practically plummeted down to my knotted stomach as soon as Mya glanced up from her phone, easily meeting my stare.

And at first, it was obvious that she was slightly caught off guard.

But within seconds of meeting my stare, she shot me a small smile before waving me over.

Just like that, some of my nerves faded slightly.

They weren't gone completely, but they weren't nearly as bad with Mya's friendly actions.

All I could hear was the soft music and the chatter of people as I sat down across from her.

And even being in her presence was enough to send my nervousness back up.

"I hope you don't mind that I ordered for you," Mya's familiar voice coated the air between us.

I smiled slightly as I stared down at the espresso martini, "Not at all, I've actually never had this before," I admitted, hoping to break some of the clear awkwardness between us both.

Mya nodded a few times, awkwardly clearing her throat as she played with her nails.

"I—"

"So—"

We both smiled as we looked at one another, clearly amused by the fact that we both managed to talk at the same time.

"You can go ahe—"

"You can go fir—"

Mya laughed slightly, easily making me laugh too.

"I'll go first," Mya determined, taking a brief sip of her drink before she said, "So look.

.. I'm really sorry for how I handled things.

.. that night. I was just so angry, and I've always really been a hot-headed person—Mili is obviously the opposite of me in that department.

.." she awkwardly trailed off, clearly puzzled by something going on in her head.

And while I managed to hear everything she said, I could really only focus on the fact that she had apologized to me first.

Yes, I know I deserved it... I just didn't expect that to be the first thing she said.

Mya pursed her lips, "I just—" she drew in a slight breath, "—I always had issues with keeping friends growing up because of my sister, and I just... I thought you were my friend," she whispered the last part.

I couldn't help but frown slightly, "I still am, Mya," I assured her.

Mya nodded, "Yeah-no, that's not really how I meant it—I just meant.

.. I thought I finally found a best friend who wouldn't get with my sister," she admitted honestly, shaking her head before she said, "And look, aside from my reaction, I'm happy if you're happy—really, Ana.

It just really hurts because of everything I've experienced in the past that's all. "

My frown grew deeper as I unconsciously reached out for her hand, which she seemed to let me hold, "I'm really sorry for lying to you, Mya," I whispered.

Mya only shook her head slightly, "Honestly, Ana, it's not even that big of a deal to me—I don't even care if you guys are together, or that you kept it from me," she explained, easily making my brows furrow in confusion.

I guess I just expected her to be more upset... I don't know.

"Look, I talked to Ari and she gave me a different point of view.

I know the silly promise we made back in August was a factor and this is like you're first real relationship—then the whole Cam thing was going on, and it just..

. safe to say it was very messy and probably difficult to navigate," Mya said, and I couldn't help but feel slightly relieved that she saw my point of view.

Maybe giving this all time was the right choice after all.

"I was really only mad because of past situations resurfacing, and I was just... scared that I would lose yet another friend because Mili would inevitably move onto someone else," Mya tried to explain.

And I couldn't help but feel nauseous at the idea of Mili with anyone else.

Which definitely wouldn't be happening on my watch.

Mya blinked a few times, "Of course, she's not moving onto anyone now. That's not what I meant at all. I just uh—"

"I know, Mya," I cut her short with a warm smile.

Mya nodded a few times, letting out a deep breath, "I really am happy for you both. It seems like you're exactly the person that my sister needed—and she seems like someone you needed as well," she said, and I couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Thank you," I whispered, easily earning a small smile from Mya who gently squeezed my hand, "Considering everything that happened in the past, I really should've told you sooner, so I really am really sorry for that," I said, knowing that I wanted her to know how genuinely bad I felt.

Mya smiled, "Thank you for that," she said, clearly content with my apology, "And I shouldn't have handled everything the way I had... so I'm sorry for that," she added.

I drew in a deep breath as we looked at one another.

"So is the war finally over?" Mya joked.

I couldn't help but laugh, "So over," I joked back.

Mya suddenly let go of my hand to slide out of the booth, "Good because I'm dying to hug you," she said, easily causing my smile to grow as I slid out of the booth as well.

And as soon as I was standing, Mya didn't hesitate to pull in for the biggest hug of my life.

"I've really missed you," she whispered.

I didn't hesitate to hug her back, "I've really missed you too," I admitted as our hug managed to grow deeper.

And after a few moments of silently hugging each other, we managed to pull back with smiles.

"Okay, now it's time to fill me in on you and my sister," Mya determined with a laugh, easily causing my smile to grow wider.

My brows raised slightly, "There's a lot to say," I said, smiling like a literal idiot as I thought about my girlfriend.

Mya only laughed as she slid back into the booth, "Well, we have all night," she joked with me.