Twenty-Four
OLIVER
Mia
We could remodel your bathroom? Make it moody so it matches your personality.
Or we could finish the brick wall.
Maybe build a bookshelf? Do you read?
Obviously not since you aren’t responding. Don’t be a dick, Oliver.
Oliver
Don’t touch my bathroom.
Mia
So you can read.
Oliver
And I finished the brick wall this week since I was banished from the gym.
Mia
You’re being dramatic, you weren’t banished.
I actually was. AJ told me that until my ribs healed up, I wasn’t allowed back in the gym.
I knew that if I came through those doors anyway she would get Dad involved.
so I chose to stay home. I worked out downstairs and I barely answered my phone.
The back to back messages are alerting though and it’s the only reason I picked it up.
I should have known it was her. I shouldn’t have pushed her the last time I saw her.
The plan has been to stay consistent and let her make the decisions.
Just keep showing up. And it’s been working too but I let my emotions show too much when I let her know that I wanted her to stay. She hasn’t spoken to me all week.
Mia
How are you?
Oliver
Better.
I wait for her to respond even though I don’t give her much to respond to.
I want to tell her I miss her or to ask her to just come over.
Tell her that she doesn’t need a project to work on to come over.
Then I get an idea. The only thing she told me that she would come to if I told her it was happening.
Oliver
I have a fight tonight.
I’m sitting on the floor of my kitchen, one of her playlists I stole without her knowing, and remnants of a new project I finished today on the counter. Waiting. I baited her with the opportunity to watch me fight, something I know she has grown an appetite for.
Mia
Don’t lose.
That is not the answer I was anticipating.
Oliver
I haven’t lost with you in my corner.
Mia
I can’t be there tonight.
She didn’t say that she didn’t want to be there. She said she can’t be there. I should leave it alone… fuck it.
Oliver
Why?
Mia
Because I’ll be somewhere else.
Oliver
Where?
Mia
Not The Poolhouse.
Oliver
You have a date.
Say no, pretty girl….
Mia
Win your fight, Ol.
She hasn’t had a date in weeks. That’s why I thought what I’ve been doing was working. I was confident that we were moving closer to being more than friends that fuck. I close out of that thread and pull up the only other person I can talk to about Mia.
Oliver
Where is her date tonight?
AJ
Stalker much?
Oliver
Please, A.
AJ
I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.
She’s been worried about you though. Be nice to her.
Oliver
I’m trying to be. Friends don’t let friends go on bad dates.
AJ
You don’t know it’s going to be a bad date.
Oliver
You and I both know it will be. Make sure she wears pants tonight.
Also I have a fight tonight. If you are done being mad at me.
AJ
I’ll be there.
I send one more text to Mia.
Oliver
Hope you enjoy your date, pretty girl. You have killer legs, I’d wear a dress to show them off.
She sends me a selfie of her flipping me off instantly. My insufferable girl. I’m positive she will wear pants even more now.
The Poolhouse is packed as always. But I feel a different kind of settled knowing that AJ is with me tonight instead of Eli.
My brothers are always ready to stand by my side, no matter what.
Being triplets means we share more than blood.
We are tethered in every sense. Our loyalty stands on unshakable ground.
Sometimes I hate that I feel like such a burden to them though.
Having AJ here means that they don’t feel like they have to hold anything together.
As if I summoned her, she walks through the door. “Hey,” she snips. “Where are the guys?”
“I told them you were going to be here.” I actually demanded them not to come, but she doesn’t need to know that.
It’s been a long time since we did this just the two of us.
Seeing her grow so much with her training and the notoriety that has come with Rory’s win has been so good.
But I miss my sad best friend that hates people as much as I do.
“I saw the guy you’re up against. Easy win.” She sits opposite of me and starts wrapping my hands. “It’s pointless to even fight him, really.” She stays focused on the wrap, methodically moving the fabric through my fingers.
“You know why I fight, A.” I let out easily. She’s probably the only other person that truly understands it. Fighting lets our souls breathe better. All the suffocating thoughts and disappointment that rampages our brains throughout the day, are battled in the lack of light in that cement hole.
“I just hate seeing you hurt. I could have helped if I was here.” Her voice trails off as she finishes the wrap.
“We always use your method. You’re here even when you aren’t.
” I assure her. Her head finally lifts, and her eyes lighten with the ease of the guilt she’s been carrying around.
“We’re all proud of you.” I tell her as she starts wrapping my other hand.
“Dad hasn’t even had to be at the gym because of how much of a badass you’ve been.
We never thought we would see him live a semi-retired life. ”
“Yeah. Where the fuck has he been? I tried to bring pizza over this week and he wasn’t home and he pretended his phone was dead while he was out, but it rang all the way.
So I know it wasn’t dead.” Her eyes narrow and she pulls the wrap a little too tight.
I have to stretch my fingers even wider to loosen it back up.
“No idea. I’ve been busy.” I play dumb. I know exactly where Dad was. He asked me to come with him, but I wasn’t in the mood to be questioned by all the old ladies again. He really thinks he’s going to beat her next week at Thanksgiving dinner and I can’t wait.
“Yeah. How is my best friend?” She velcros the end of the wrap, sitting up straighter.
“I’m great, thanks for asking.” I grin.
She pushes my shoulder and laughs. “Seriously. How is she? She’s been extra stressed lately. But she doesn’t want to talk about it. So I haven’t pushed it.” I watch her shoulders drop a little in defeat.
“I think she’s worried about having to see her family soon.” It’s the only thing that I know stresses her out. Mia takes on everything with a confidence I’ve never seen in anyone. It’s impressive and intimidating.
“I don’t know anything about her family. Her application didn’t list any family for references. Just old bosses. I’ve never even met anyone she’s related to. The only one she talks about is her grandma.”
“Gigi.” I nod my head before standing to stretch.
Rob will be coming in any minute to pull us out there.
“They have a joint birthday party the week after next. It’s like this huge party charity gala.
I have to wear a tux and everything. But she seems apprehensive about going.
I’m pretty sure grandma is the only reason she is going.
Hey, actually we should,” I turn around to face her but the look on her face has me worried. She looks terrified. “What?”
She stands up and looks up at me like she thinks I’ve lost my mind. “You’re going to wear a tux.”
“I’m going to wear a tux.” I repeat. “Like I was saying,” I try to continue but she puts her hand up to stop me.
“Do you even own a tux? Do you know what one even looks like?”
“Do you know what a dress looks like?” I raise an eyebrow and her mouth drops open.
Her lips twitch, fighting a smirk. “You really like her.”
I let her accusation rest between us. Because I do. I miss just being in the same room as her. I miss the way she makes herself laugh by whatever ridiculous thoughts are running through her head. I miss the smell of cherries. “I really do.”
“She’s at Mik’s. She’s wearing pants. I didn’t even have to try and convince her.
I walked in and she was cussing about having killer legs and she had every pair of pants on her bed.
” I can’t help the victorious smile that is spreading across my face.
“What did you do?” AJ clocks me immediately.
I shrug my shoulders because to be a step ahead of Mia Cassidy feels like winning a war. “You’re a brat. Whatever you did.”
“I learn from the best.” I look at her pointedly. Two bangs come from the other side of the door, letting us know it’s time to head out for the fight. “What I was trying to say before you kept interrupting me. Her birthday. We should throw her a party.”
AJ looks horrified before she throws her hands up saying, “I don’t do surprise parties. I would ruin it by even trying.”
She isn’t wrong. We are the worst pair to try and throw a party worthy of Mia. We both look at each other and I know the same thought comes to our minds at the same time because her whole face lights up just as mine does. Like a literal light bulb going off.
“Maxie.” We say together. He is the perfect one to throw her a party. They are basically the same person.
She nods excitedly as we head down the hallway. “She will love it!” She pushes her way through the door separating us from the crowd and her whole body lights up as the crowd roars. They love her here. I think a part of her misses fighting too.
We reach the corner of the pool easily, and before I can go down the ladder, Tucker pulls me to the side.
“We have you booked tomorrow night too. Just like you asked.” I nod once to him and make my way back to where AJ is holding herself up at the top of the ladder. I was hoping she didn’t see that.
“What did he want?”
I shut her questioning down. “Nothing.” The look on her face tells me she doesn’t believe me, but doesn’t want to argue with me right now. Thankfully, she doesn’t ask any more questions.