Page 9 of The Fight For Survival
Shaking my head to clear the daze a fricking photo put me into, I look at the rest. There are photos of Kane, Mia, and Daniel when they were little kids up to teens. They look happy. I don't think I have seen Kane look as bright-eyed as in these photos. I see pictures of Braylon, Jake, and that chick talking to Kane earlier.
I take in the main image, centered in the middle of the surrounding photos. "Don't ask," Braylon warns solemnly, walking off into the living room. I stare at it for a few more moments, questions going through my head that I've been forbidden to ask out loud before following him.
The living room has a large charcoal fabric L-shape sofa dominating the space. The dark wood flooring in the hall follows through to this room, though a large rug takes up most of the floor in here. They have a corner tv unit with a 60" tv facing the couch and little nick nacks around the living room that makes the house a home. Yeah, I think envy is the right word.
Twenty-five now, I am starting to crave the comfort of a warm body to wake up to every morning. Someone to come home to after a strenuous day at work. To have a companion to share my thoughts with, watch tv with, and justbewith. I've had my fair share of lovers. In my line of work, it's too easy not to find a willing body to come home with me. Lately, though, it feels empty. My whole life feels empty. I needmore.
I follow the voices, walking through another hallway to see four doors. Two are open, revealing a bedroom and the other a bathroom. The other two are closed. I find the kitchen on the left and see Mia shooting back some clear liquid in a shot glass. Braylon has a beer in his hand, and they are both sitting at the dining table.
Mia spots me, standing up and wobbling slightly, eyes glossy. She asks, "what's your poison?" The slur in her voice takes me by surprise. Shit, how many shots has she had already? I look at Braylon, and he mouths, "lightweight."I smother a laugh in my fist. "I'll just take a beer, thanks."
Taking the beer from her outstretched hand, our fingers brush, stealing my breath when I feel a charge of pure electricity shoot off our fingers, traveling up my spine, straight into my heart. My body tingles as I stare wide-eyed at the woman in front of me. I'm sure my soul just found its mate. No. Joke. As we stare at each other, a pretty blush creeps up her neck, her cheeks reflecting a delicious glow. Her emerald eyes widen, looking startled.
Did she feel it too? She had to have. That feeling was too powerful for her not to.
The clearing of a throat snaps our heads towards a glowering Braylon. I take a long drink of my beer and lean against the counter—nothing to see here.
Mia ducks her head timidly and sits back down at the table. Undoing his ponytail, leaving his hair to settle around his face, and sitting on his shoulders, Braylon asks Mia, "You want to talk about what happened tonight?" I noticed Mia's hands twitch as she watched Braylon undo his hair. As if she had the urge to run her hands through it. Hell, it looks so soft,Iwant to run my hands through it—I kind of like my face how it is, though, so I'll refrain.
Shaking her head and pouring herself another shot, she snorts, "Not really. What I want is to forget I ever saw that useless fuck bag and drink myself into oblivion." Another shot down.
Braylon looks at me for help. A raise of my eyebrows and a shrug of my shoulders let him know I won't be much help. It's not my place to stop her. Giving me a dirty look, his focus returns to Mia, and he smiles affectionately at her.
Does Daniel know his friend wants his girl? I don't blame the man. The woman is a walking, talking, wet dream, and after the exchange we just shared? I want the girl!
"If we're not going to talk about Kane, what do you want to talk about?" I ask, downing my beer and getting myself another one out of the fridge. So I'm making myself at home. Sue me.
"I don't want to talk. Let's play a game," Mia bounces up and down in her seat giddily. Braylon groans, putting his head in his hands, but I beam at her. I love games! "What did you have in mind?" I ask her eagerly. Giggling at my enthusiasm, she replies, "truth or dare," while clapping her hands in fast excited movements. "My favorite," I wink at her, causing a blush to touch her cheeks once again.
I like the sound of where this night is going.
Cade
(Daniel)
Fuckinghell.Mybeautiful,strong woman completely broke in front of hundreds of people. I don't blame her. The only thing keeping me from doing the same is that I'm too worried about her.
My stomach cramps, the image of Mia's breakdown still fresh in my mind. I wish I could go back and protect her from the onslaught of emotions she must have been going through when she saw Kane. I would love to be the one comforting her right now, but if I let Kane out of my sight, I'm afraid he might disappear.
After thanking Braylon, he walked off, leaving me with Kane. Bray knows what this is about, the amount of time we've spent together in the last four years. He more or less knows our entire story involving Kane. Thinking about it, he's the only one I have told my story to.
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" I ask Kane thinly, determined to get some answers. My anger is simmering, making me ball my hands into fists at my sides. Before Kane spotted Mia, his face had gone from regretful to indifference so fast it made me wonder if there was any part of the Kane I knew left.
"Yeah, we have an apartment for the weekend. We can go there," Kane responds, looking resigned. "Are we going to be alone?" I question, remembering he had a friend with him. Damon, I think, though looking around, he doesn't seem to be here anymore. "I told Damon we would need the apartment for a while," he sighs moodily, heading toward the locker rooms. I follow him to get his things. There is no way I'm letting him out of my sight. Who knows if he would attempt to flee again or not?
When I first realized it was Kane that Zoe was talking to, the shock hit me with such force I had to hold on to a nearby table. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Sure, the feelings I had pushed down for so long finally invaded a place in my mind where I imagined him standing there. He had changed, but I could tell it was him right away. I would notice those bright blue eyes anywhere.
"I'm ready, let's go," Kane says, throwing his sports bag over his shoulder and marching out of the locker room. This asshole doesn't have a right to be pissed off. Acting as if talking to me is a burden. Well fuck him, he's about to know what he did to us, and I won't be sugarcoating it either. As we are heading for the exit, my phone pings.
Braylon:I'm taking Mia home, and Damon is with me.
Why the fuck would Damon go? Though we just kicked him out of his own place for a while, I'll cut him some slack, I guess.
Me:Thanks, man. I'm sorry about all of this. I would be with Mia right now if this wasn't time sensitive.
Braylon:Don't sweat it. I know the history between you. And I know there are a lot of questions you need the answers to. I hope you get things out in the open. You know what I'm talking about, right?
I swallow hard, pausing before responding.