Page 42 of Isolation

“The heart wants what it wants,” he answers nonchalantly.

“Wow,” I can’t help but marvel. “Whatever happened between them? I mean, it’s common knowledge that they used to sleep together, but I never heard the full story.”

“I guess Alexa wanted more, and Milo just wanted to be friends.”

“I feel like that’s too simplistic an explanation for such complicated feelings.”

Brandon sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets. “Alexa said they were friends with benefits for a while, but Milo lost interest in sex. She couldn’t entice him into it, and the more Milo moved on, the more she pined after him.”

Milo stopped being interested in sex!?“If she has been stuck on him for so long, there has to be a little bit more to it than that,” I gently press.

Brandon’s megawatt smile graces the room. He playfully punches my arm. “I guess the same could be said about him. He has been stuck on you for years. Is there more to that story?”

I whip my head towards Brandon, unable to hide my shock.

“Don’t look so surprised that I notice things,” he laughs cheekily.

When I don’t respond, Brandon’s voice loses some of its previous amusement.

“I am not judging. The whole thing about your relation to one another was so passé to me. It shouldn’t have even been an obstacle. I know it’s not my place, but if that’s still holding you back...it shouldn’t. He has been pining over you for years. Actually, pining is not the right word. Devastated. Wrecked. Brutalized.”

“Brutalized?” I emphasize the word. “That’s quite a dramatic choice of word.”

“I don’t think my choice of words are dramatic enough,” he says tightly. “He kicked Asher out of our company just for kissing you. Asher worked his butt off for this app. None of us wanted him gone, but Milo is the majority owner. He twisted our arms into it without even giving us a reason. The girls never found out why, but I saw Milo at that party. I knew how it was going to end for Asher. He threatened to kick all of us out too if we didn’t back him up.”

I lower my eyes, remembering the night of Milo’s twenty-first birthday party and how he beat up Asher.

“I am sorry,” I offer. “I know Ash is a good friend of yours.”

“Asher landed on his feet,” Brandon shrugs. “The point of the story is that I have only ever seen Milo lose his shit over you. He didn’t disclose what happened between you two. I’m guessing it was bad considering how he changed. He used to be a happy go lucky guy. Now he broods so much; he might as well be a fucking serial killer.”

I crack a smile at Brandon’s use of that word. Mia also commented on Milo’s detached nature over the years.

“Losing your shit is not an indication of a healthy relationship,”I point out.

“Sure, but itisfun for me to watch,” he changes his tone back to his light-hearted self. “Did you see how he dragged the plates and cups from in front of me at breakfast the other day?”

My mouth drops open. “You ass. I knew you were flirting with me on purpose. You were totally trying to rile Milo up.”

“I couldn’t help myself,” Brandon laughs deep from his chest. “Whenever I put my hands around your shoulders, all of the veins on Milo’s forehead pop. He has never been a reactive person, even before all of his fucking brooding started. This is fun.”

I am still shaking my head at Brandon’s ridiculous self when Mia joins us in the kitchen.

“Hello, Mia,” Brandon greets her with a big smile.

“Hey,” she gives him a tight smile before hugging me. She is still not her usual bubbly self.

“How are you?” Brandon asks her more kindly, without any of his usual playfulness.

Mia gives him a small nod to indicate that she is fine. I hate watching her in pain.

Mia will forever be my little princess, even though she is almost a fully functional woman now. She is looking at colleges and has a boyfriend. It’s weird to think of her as a grown-up, but now that she is, we have developed a closer bond than ever before.

I am nursing the mimosa that’s sitting on the kitchen counter. After taking one more sip, I pass the glass to Mia. She looks like she needs it, and I sometimes let her drink under my supervision, just like Milo used to let us.

Speaking of, we are soon joined by Milo’s remaining business partners and Milo himself.

While we all exchange pleasantries, Milo’s gaze lands on Mia and the mimosa she is holding. “Who gave you that?”