Mine Would Be You (40)

“Uh-oh,” Roman mumbles looking at the scene.

Even though I know it must be something to do with Myles and Nina, no one has told me a damn thing. And I have a feeling that everyone knows something but me, maybe excluding Emma, but she’s been quiet all day too.

“What’s going on?”

No one answers my question as we’re interrupted by the arrival of everyone. Myles turns to look at Nina and strides closer to her, turning her towards him. His voice is low, but I hear the words loud and clear. “Can you control your friend?”

Nina furrows her brows, looking at him angrily as I stand up. “Don’t touch me, Myles.”

“She hit me in the gut, Nina. What’s her fucking deal?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know, why don’t you ask her?”

Myles shakes his head and steps closer, Nina’s eyes flicking between Harper and Emma. “This is wrong, and you know it.”

I clench my jaw and step up next to them. Myles glares at me, holding onto Nina tightly. “How ‘bout you lay off?” I motion to his hold on her and step closer, causing him to step back.

Myles sneers, letting out a laugh that is void of all humor. “God, this is bullshit.”

Emma speaks up from behind me, softly. “Myles, stop it.”

He glances at her but fixes me with the cold, angry look once more. “You’re so full of it.”

Anger floods my veins as I start to put some pieces together. “Spit it out, Myles.” And I know I’m not one hundred percent innocent, know that he saw Nina and I together last night and how I haven’t really left her side.

I know he’s putting together his own puzzle, but I also know he has a tendency to overreact, overexaggerate things, so I have no idea what he thinks is going on between us. Because as of now, it’s not much. Yes, I should’ve told him right away, but I didn’t.

And now we all have to deal with the consequences.

He glances between Nina and I, eyes latching onto where my hand is lightly touching her side. I didn’t even realize I did it. I meet her gaze and nod gently to the towels, hoping she’ll go sit down and remove herself from the situation. Thankfully, she does.

“I can’t believe you,” he says, watching the exchange.

I raise a brow. “Whatever I did or didn’t do, I’m sure it doesn’t warrant you acting like this much of an asshole.”

He chuckles. “You know what you’re doing. Why the fuck is Nina here?”

I cross my arms, my jaw clenching tighter. “What does it matter?”

“Just give me a straight answer, fuck. I’m not stupid. I saw you two at the wedding, and then I show up here, and she’s here. You can’t do that.”

This time I chuckle lowly. I could easily tell him nothing has happened, because it hasn’t, but it’s none of his goddamn business, not when he’s acting like this. “I can’t what?” I want him to be an adult and spit it out.

“Date her. Pursue her. Whatever the fuck it is, it can’t happen.”

I nod slowly, as I glance around. I notice Nina and Emma next to each other. Guilt sits heavy on Nina’s shoulders, but Emma looks anything but mad at her as they hold hands in the sand. Harper looks like she wants to tackle him.

“You mean I can’t date your ex?” I narrow my eyes, and he stares angrily back as I step closer. My own anger growing. “The girl that you broke up with and are no longer with? That one?” He doesn’t say anything. “Let me clear some things up for you. One, we’re not dating.” Which is true. For now. “Two, if I want to pursue her, considering I met her way before I knew she was your ex, I will.” Also true. “Three, I was going to fucking tell you if it got more serious. I was going to tell you as soon as I got home from this trip that you didn’t even tell me you were coming on.”

“That shouldn’t matter. You still hid it,” he bites out.

And yes, he’s got a point. I know what I did was wrong, and I’ll own up to it.

“I know that. I should’ve told you from the beginning, you’re right. But let’s get one thing straight, this isn’t about you being mad that she’s here.” I lower my voice so no one else can hear it, not afraid to be brutally honest. “You’re mad she’s moving on. Even though your fucking married, you’re upset about it. Or at least don’t know how to deal with it. And I’ll tell you what, this is not how you deal with it.”

“Fuck you.”

Despite my anger, I’m also hurt. That he’s not willing to even hear what I’m saying, to not even try to understand. We’ve been friends for years, best friends, and he’s ready to throw everything away for a stupid fight. We’re both in the wrong, I get that, but this is bullshit.

“Myles.”

He purses his lips and holds up his hands. “I’m done with this. All of this.”

I run a hand through my hair as I watch him stride off up the dune, past his wife and my friend, who watches with sad eyes, and my chest constricts at the sight. At everything. At the fact that my friend can’t even listen to me, at the fact that he just strode past the love of his life without a second thought.

I look at Nina, who watches the whole thing with a careful gaze, and I feel like shit. This is exactly what she wanted to avoid when I convinced her to come here. She didn’t want the pressure of anyone, of Myles knowing anything prematurely, and now that’s royally fucked up too.