don’t care about my company. I don’t care if I go completely bankrupt. All I care about is you. I lo—”
“Stop.”
“Mila please, let me finish.”
“No. Most women could give you a second chance, but I can’t. Not with my past. I can’t afford to give out second chances.”
I’m frozen watching her leave. I consider chasing after her and forcing her to hear my words. I consider locking her in my bedroom to know she’s safe.
I do neither. I’ve made too many decisions about her life without her input. I cost her her career. I forced her to live with me. To work with me. And brought up a past she clearly needs to keep hidden. Whatever happened that night, it’s worse than I thought.
I need to let Mila Burns go. I need to give Abri whatever she wants to ensure she stays away from Mila. Then I need to get drunk and forget the last five years ever happened.
I don’t know how long I stand in the entryway staring at the door. Five minutes, an hour, or ten hours. But eventually, I realize I should have gone with the option that involved forcing her to stay. Because I realize too late where she’s most likely sleeping tonight. In a cheap motel room or her car. I gave her a couple grand, but that’s all the money she has. She doesn’t have another job, although I will gladly give her the money I promised her if she will take it. But even the couple grand I gave her she won’t spend out of principle.
She’ll sleep in her damn car.
I jerk my phone out of my pocket and dial Lana’s number. She’s the only friend Mila has that she keeps in contact with.
“Hello? Who’s this?” Lana answers.
“Lana, this is Ace Knight. I’m Mila’s um…”
“I know who you are. And no, she’s not here. She’s not allowed on campus because of you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I fucked up. I want to make things right, but I can’t do that if I don’t find her.”
Pause.
“Her favorite place to sleep in her car was on Walnut Street, by the Old 17th Avenue Bridge.”
“Thank you, Lana.”
I drive to the spot Lana gave me, but I don’t find Mila. I drive to the office and question everyone I can, but she’s not there. I get desperate and call Abri, but she doesn’t answer me.
Cole.
I dial his number.
“Hello,” Cole answers.
“Is she there?”
Cole swallows.
“Fucking, answer me, Cole. Is Mila staying with you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“No, Knight. You won’t.”
“You’re not fucking my girlfriend.”
Cole sighs. “Go to sleep, Knight. Give Mila some space.”
“No, I need to be there for her. She can’t sleep without me.”
“She’s sleeping just fine. I’ll watch out for her though, and make sure she doesn’t get any nightmares.”
“Cole! You fucking bastard.”
Silence. He ended the call.
I slam my phone down. Cole’s my friend. He won’t hurt Mila, but Mila might try to use him to hurt me. To make sure things end permanently between us because she knows I can never forgive her if she sleeps with my best friend. And she can’t forgive me for keeping the truth from her.
I’m fucked no matter what happens.
19
Mila
I open my eyes slowly like I’ve been asleep all night. I don’t think I slept more than five minutes at a time without a nightmare impeding my sleep. I’ve been lying in Cole’s bed for the last hour awake, but unable to convince myself to get out of bed or even open my eyes.
I swing my legs over to the side of the bed to force myself up, taking a break from trying to sleep.
“Umf.”
I retract my legs as I hit a lump on the floor. I turn on the lamp on the nightstand and look down to see Cole lying on the floor.
“Morning,” he says rolling over.
I tuck my legs underneath me as I sit on the edge of his bed.
“You shouldn’t have slept on the floor.”
He cracks his neck as he sits up. “You were having nightmares. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
“You could have slept in the bed with me.”
Cole shakes his head as he laughs off my statement. “No, I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to keep breathing after Knight found out.”
“He wouldn’t find out.”
“Knight is my best friend. I would never betray him. Even if he deserves it.”
Cole stands up.
“You’re a good man. I’m sorry I ever thought differently.”
Cole shrugs. “Don’t worry; I can be as much of an ass as Knight is.”
I smile.
“Breakfast?”
“Sure, what