Chapter Eleven
Mia
Mia awoke to sunlight piercing her eyes. Her head ached, which told her she drank way too much considering she was a shifter and she should have already metabolized all the alcohol from her system. It took her several minutes to realize two things. The first, that she was naked beneath the sheet that covered her. The second, she wasn't alone. She turned her head and squinted until the person next to her came into focus.
She suddenly felt sick. Oh god. She'd gotten totally wasted at the party. She wished she could forget everything that happened, it would make this so much easier, but she couldn't. She'd started making out with Seth Conners, a senior who was on the football team and knew Gage from the year before. He also knew Cole. She started to shake at the realization that she'd slept with him. She didn't even know if they used protection. Her memory was too fuzzy on the details.
She crawled out of the bed and scrambled to find her clothes. She needed to get out of there before he woke up. She needed to go home and crawl into a hole and never come out again. How could she have let herself get so drunk she ended up sleeping with someone she had zero interest in?
“Where ya going?”
The question was mumbled sleepily but she heard it anyway. “Home. Dis was a mistake.”
“You didn't seem to think so last night when you were all over me.”
Mia tugged her clothes on and turned to him. “Yeah, well, I was wasted. Dat won't happen again. Neither will dis.”
“Suit yourself, babe. I'm cool with it just being a random hookup. I gotta admit, I was a little surprised you were a virgin. I figured Gage was hitting that, with the way he was always in people's faces any time they even looked like they were going to hit on you.”
Mia snorted. “He's too busy getting his dick sucked by other girls.” She could hear the bitterness in her voice. She opened the door, glanced back, then left.
The sunlight made her eyes tear up as she reached the car. She dug around in the glove box until she found the sunglasses she knew were in there then she headed for the docks, and home.
Beau and Julius were sitting on the porch when Mia finally came home. They'd been discussing trying to track her down because it was late morning and she wasn't answering her phone. When they saw her disheveled look they both cocked a brow at her. “What happened to you?”
“I don't wanna talk about it.” She pushed past her twin and cringed a little because she knew they could smell another person's scent on her. And the stale odor of sex.
“Oh, hell, Mia. What did you do? Don't gimme dis 'I don't wanna talk about it', shit either. Da last time you pulled dat it was because you were sexually assaulted.” Julius narrowed his eyes at his twin.
“It's not like dat. I got drunk, really drunk...and had a one-night stand. Happy now?” She felt...ashamed by her actions. She'd always said she wanted to save her virginity until she got married, or at least until she was in a serious relationship, and then she went and had drunken sex.
“Who was it wit'?” Jules eyed her closely.
“None of your business.”
“Talk to us, cher. We can see da shame in your eyes.” Beau moved to her and hugged her gently.
“It doesn't matter. I can't go back and change it. I got drunk and I had sex and I don't feel very good about it but I'm not gonna be like some girls and say he took advantage. Dat's not right. He was drinkin' too. I just want to go take a shower and crawl into bed for a while.”
“A'right. You go ahead and do dat. If you wanna talk, you know where we are.” Beau gave Julius a look when he started to argue. Mia needed her space.
“Thanks, Beau. I know you're both worried about me. I'm okay. Or I will be.” If she told herself that enough times she might start to believe it.
They watched her go. “Did you recognize the scent on her?”
Julius nodded. “Yeah. I know who she slept wit'. I'll make sure he doesn't go around spreadin' shit about her.”
“Good.”
Mia stood under the hot spray and scrubbed until her skin felt raw. She felt dirty but there was no one but herself to blame for it. When the water started to turn cold she finally got out, dried off, and tugged on a pair of lounge pants and a tank top. She crawled into her bed and curled up on her side as silent tears began to slip down her cheeks.
Julius was walking past his sister's door when he heard a noise. He knew, without being told, that she was crying. He slipped in and crawled into the bed with her. “Talk to me, sis. I don't like seein' you hurtin'.”
Ever since they were little, any time she was upset, he would cuddle her and let her talk it all out until she felt better. “I feel dirty, Jules. I wanted my first time to be wit' someone I cared about. No, if I'm completely honest, I wanted it to be wit' Gage. He's da only one I want. Why doesn't he want me? Why aren't I good enough for him?”
“No, Mia. It's not like dat. He's a stupid boy who is lettin' da wrong head do all da tinkin'. He came by here, last night, lookin' for you. He knows he fucked up. I tink he does have feelin's for you, he just doesn't know what do about dem.”
“If dat's true, den why is he always screwin' other girls? A girl was on her knees with his dick in her mouth, Jules. Does dat really sound like someone who has feelin's for me?”
“Like I said, sis, he's tinkin' wit' da wrong head. If you'd been home when he came by, I really tink he would have fought me and Beau both just to get to you.”
Mia wanted to believe him but her heart hurt so much. “I tink I'm gonna take a nap,” she said softly.
“I'll stay til you're asleep.”
“Thanks.” She pulled the covers up until she was almost completely hidden from view, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Gage
Gage paced his room. He needed to talk to Mia. He needed to find a way to make things right with her. He knew the first thing he needed to do was stop fucking around. If he had any hope of ever being with Mia, he needed to straighten the fuck up. Mia was too important to him and he couldn't keep blaming it on hormones.
“Rumor has it you got caught wit' your pants down, literally, by a little redhead. Why do I get da feelin' it was Mia?” Remy leaned against the door frame leading into his brother's room and watched him pace.
“Because it was. I fucked up, Remy. Really fucked up. Mia surprised me by stoppin' by. Carrie was here. Mia walked in on her givin' me head.”
“Fuck, Gage. What in da hell is wrong wit' you? You know Mia's crazy about you, don't you? Anyone wit' eyes can see it. You got a great girl who worships you, and every damn time I turn around you're fuckin' around wit' some tramp who will spread her legs for anyone. I'd give my left arm to have someone devoted to me da way Mia is to you.”
“I know I fucked up, Remy. I already admitted it. I know I need to stop. I kept tinkin' I needed to give her time. She's a junior in high school, not even six months ago she was almost raped. I didn't tink, okay? I admit it. I wasn't tinkin'.”
“Oh, you were tinkin', but it was wit' da wrong head. So, how are you gonna fix dis mess you made?”
“I don't know. I know I'm not welcome at da Lafluer's right now, so I can't go dere and try to talk to her.”
Remy held something out to him. “Good ting I got dis from Beau, den, ain't it?”
Gage frowned, took the card Remy held out to him, and read it.
Saturday, September 25th
Introducing new artist Mia Lafluer
Gallery viewing from 6 pm until 9 pm with a small party after to celebrate her debut.
He blinked and looked up at his brother. “Dat's next weekend.”
“I know. Dat's probably why she was here, to invite you personally to it. If you're gonna fix tings wit' her, dat'll give you da chance.”
“Thanks, Remy. I owe you one.”
“One, hell, you owe me a lot more den dat but dat's what family is for.”
Gage nodded but he wasn't paying attention. He was already starting to put together in his mind what he could do to prove to Mia that he was sorry for hurting her and that it would never happen again. Whatever he was going to do, he had a week to get it done.