Page 32 of The Fight For Survival

"Yep. She turned up yesterday while I was occupied with a lady friend. Let's just say it didn't go well," I tell him, cringing at the situation.

I couldn't believe it when I opened the door to find Mia standing there. She was wearing a green blouse only a redhead could pull off. Dark wash Skinny jeans and a black leather jacket gives her a seductive edge. It took me a minute for it to sink in that she was standing at my door, and then panic set in because it was the worst timing for her to show up.

It was strange because, logically, I knew she wasn't my girlfriend and never would be, but it felt like she caught me cheating, and I felt ashamed of that. The way she reacted to the situation only made me feel worse. Damon's voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Shit, man. So what is she here for?"

"I don't really know to be honest. I think she just wants to know why I didn't take that job and was kind of pissed that I didn't say goodbye in person."

Damon whistles under his breath. He bins the leftover toast and puts the plate into the dishwasher. "I wish you would rinse things before putting them in the dishwasher," I mumble, causing him to laugh. "Then what is the point in having a dishwasher? If you are going to wash them before putting them in, you may as well just handwash everything," he says, shrugging, holding his hands out, palms up.

He turns somber, and I'm taken aback by the sudden change in his mood. I'm about to tell him it doesn't matter about the plate when he speaks. "So, I've been talking to Braylon a lot since we left." I raise my eyebrows when he pauses, patiently waiting for him to continue. It doesn't surprise me that he found a friend when we went home. He is the charismatic one of the two of us and makes friends wherever he goes. Does he think I would be mad that he made a friend in my hometown?

"He has sort of asked if Iwouldmanagehim," he rushes out in one breath. I furrow my brow, trying to make sense of what he said, and then my eyes widen when realization sets in. Braylon wants him to manage him? So is he moving here? I speak my thoughts aloud, and Damon's hesitant look tells me how wrong I am.

I walk around the table to stand in front of him. "No, you told him no, didn't you?" I ask. There's panic in my voice, and my stomach feels hollow.

I can't lose him.

Damon is my best friend,mymanager. He wouldn't just leave me, right? With bated breath, I wait for his reply, eyes narrowing when he doesn't outright tell me that, of course, he wasn't going to leave me here alone.

The doorbell rings as he opens his mouth, causing us both to jump. Damon looks at me, a heaviness in his posture. "You should get that," he says, voice low, as he brushes past me, walking towards his bedroom, going in, and closing the door behind him. The doorbell goes again. Sighing heavily, I go to open it.

Mia is wearing black leggings and a long purple flowing top today. Her hair is up in a high, tight ponytail, and her make-up is minimal, showing off her pale, clear complexion and making her eyes brighter. And I don't think she has looked more beautiful than she does right now.

Clearing my throat, I greet her and open the door wider for her to come in. As she brushes past me, I inhale her vanilla scent, my mouth watering as if preparing to taste her flavor. I close the front door and guide her into the kitchen, asking her to take a seat at the dining table with my hand.

"Would you like some coffee?" I ask her, trying to prolong the reason I asked her here. She smiles and nods. Pouring us both a mug, I take them over to the table and sit opposite her. We sit silently for a minute, taking small sips of the bitter drink. "I was going to come and see you again today before I left. I was stunned when you asked me here instead," her smile is small. "Was there a reason for that?" she asks. I press my lips together, grimacing.

Now she is sitting in front of me. I doubt whether or not I should give her the letters. If I don't, I just know they are going to continue to make contact with me. I could run again, move to another state, and cut off all contact like last time. I shake my head at that thought. That's still hurting them. Face tightening, I pull the letters from my pocket, ironing out the creases with my hands. Avoiding eye contact with Mia, I hold the letters out for her to take, hands trembling. She takes them, looking them over.

"What are these?" she asks, voice small.

"The letters I wrote for you and Cade five years ago," there's a quiver in my voice. Her surprised eyes meet mine.

"You didn't give them to us," she states.

"I was going to, but then I thought it would only hurt you more."

She looks at me, and I meet her eyes, flinching at the tears gathering in them.

"So why now?" she whispers.

"It's the only way you will see the truth. If you read them, you will finally see that I'm too broken and leave me alone. It's better this way," I tell her tiredly. My body aches, and exhaustion sets in. Her face pinches, and she looks angry. Her hand goes to the seal of her letter, and I rush out, "what are you doing?"

She looks at me, her voice strong and unwavering. "Proving you wrong. Nothing you could ever say will make me give up on you, Kane, and it's insulting that you think otherwise."

I jump out of my seat, "no, don't open it!" she blinks at me, confused by my urgency. "Wait until you are back in Seattle. Then you can open it."

Far away from me where I can't see the disgust on your face.

Face resigned, she dips her head in agreement, standing up and putting the letters into her back pocket. I walk her to the front door. Fuck, this is it, I realize. I won't ever see her again after this. Before she can walk out, I pull on her wrist, causing her to stumble into me, her face in my chest. I need one last taste before she goes. I take a gentle hand to the back of her neck to guide her head, slanting my lips over hers. She inhales as I slip my tongue into her mouth. She responds instantly and brushes her tongue with mine.

There's a bittersweet feeling about this kiss. A finality, and my heart aches.It's for the best, I tell myself. When I pull back, her eyes are wet. She knows this is the end. And just like an echo of my final words to her five years ago, she whispers, "goodbye."

Damon

Throwingclothesintoaduffle bag, I go over how to explain my decision to leave to Kane. I was surprised when Braylon asked me to train and manage him at his permanent spot at Noxious. He has been messaging me since I came home, and I'd say we've become friends, but I never expected him to ask me that.