When I Fall

I stare into Mia’s eyes, my stomach twisting, my chest burning. Thoughts of Mia’s mom dying from breast cancer two years ago flood my mind with panic.

“Did you?” I ask.

Mia nods. “A few days ago. We didn’t tell you guys because we didn’t want you to worry if it was nothing. We were supposed to get the results yesterday, but nobody called. Then we woke to a message really early this morning from someone at the office. They said my results were in, and for me to call back, but I can’t reach anybody. I’ve been calling them all day, and it just sends me to voicemail. It could be nothing, it could still be nothing, but I can’t get an answer.” Her chin trembles.

She pulls free from the girls and steps closer to me.

“Reed, Ben’s losing it. He seemed okay yesterday, but he was so angry we missed that call this morning. And then he blew up when they didn’t just tell us the results in the message. I told him they can’t legally do that, but he won’t listen to me. His mind is made up that something’s wrong. I can’t calm him down, I can’t talk to him. I told Luke to take him outside because I was afraid he would start scaring Nolan. I’ve never seen him like this. I don’t know what to do. You know how he is with me.”

I reach up, gripping my neck with both hands.

Shit, the whole fucking state knows how Ben is with Mia. He’d kill for her. He threatened to put my ass in the ground several times when I first met her and he thought I was making a play. I’ve never met anyone that insane over someone before, and it’s been like that since the beginning for Ben. If he lost her, I don’t know that he’d ever recover from that.

Shit, I don’t know if any of us would.

I wrap my arms around Mia, pulling her against my chest. Her tears wet my shirt.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m sure the doctor is just busy right now. And I think it’s good that they want to give you the results over the phone. If it was bad news, wouldn’t they want you to come into the office to discuss it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know how my mom got her results.”

My stomach sinks. I grip Mia tighter.

“I’m so scared, Reed. What would happen to Ben? And the boys, I can’t,” she sniffs, her body shaking. “I can’t leave them.”

My eyes connect with Beth’s over the top of Mia’s head. She blinks, sending tears down her face as her lips try and give me that sweet smile of hers. They barely lift before she turns away to hide her emotions. Tessa’s face is buried in her hands.

Fuck. This can’t be happening. Not Mia. Not our Mia.

I press my mouth into Mia’s hair. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. Ben’s going to be fine, those boys are going to be fine because nothing is taking you away from them. You’re strong, Mia. You need to stay strong right now, okay?”

Her head moves against my chest. Another whimper is muffled.

“I’m going to go outside and try and talk to Ben. Promise me you’ll stop thinking the worst.”

She leans back, dropping her arms from around my waist. “I promise.” Squeezing my hand, she looks up into my eyes. “Thank you for coming over.”

“Damn it, Mia. Stop thanking me. You know I’d do anything for you.”

Her lips quiver into a weak smile. Letting go of me, she turns and starts rubbing her hand down Tessa’s back, whispering words to her I can’t make out. Only Mia would think to comfort other people right now when she’s barely keeping herself together. Sometimes I think she’s too good for all of us.

I’m almost out the front door when footsteps quicken on the hardwood behind me.

“Reed, wait a second.”

Turning my head, my gaze falls on Beth. Her eyes are still threatening tears.

“Yeah?”

She slowly moves toward me, studying my face with rapt attention. “Are you okay?”

Letting out a deep breath, I lift my shoulders, barely raising them. “I don’t know. I’m trying to be. It’s Mia, though, you know? This is fucking scary.”

“I know it is.” Reaching her hand out, she wraps it around my forearm and applies the lightest pressure. “You two are really close, huh?”

I look down as her thumb begins moving along my skin. “Yeah. Well, we all are. Everybody loves Mia.”

“You were so sweet with her in there. I think you really helped her.”

“You’re helping her too.” I swallow, looking into those big, dark eyes. “It’s really nice that you’re here for her. I know that means a lot to Mia.”

Beth’s mouth twitches. “I was really shocked that she wanted me here. I just met you guys. I’m not used to people taking to me so fast.”

“Who wouldn’t take to you?”

Her hand flinches against my arm, squeezing me, as those perfect lips slowly part. Air rushes into her lungs, her face washes over with color. She’s isn’t hiding her reaction to me, and for the first time since I met her, I wish she was. This is not what I need to be doing right now. Brushing my hand along her cheek, allowing the heat of her blush to warm my fingers isn’t what Mia asked me over here for. I can’t see that I still do this to Beth. Not right now.

My hand falls away from her face when she begins to lean into it. “I gotta go outside. See what’s going on with Ben.”

She wets her lips, looking over my shoulder briefly. “Okay.” ns class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">