Miles Thompson

AVA

“I am so sorry the place is a complete disaster,” Riley said, groaning loudly as I followed her through the front door of her house.

I stepped inside and immediately stopped, my eyes widening. The living room looked like a hurricane had hit it. Red plastic cups were littered everywhere, empty pizza boxes were tossed on the carpet, and the faint smell of stale alcohol hung heavily in the air.

“I explicitly told that dickhead that I was having my friends over for a very important meeting today,” Riley continued, her voice dripping with pure anger. “And he still left the place looking like a landfill.”

She was talking about her older brother, Miles.

“Oh. Well, no wonder,” I said, letting out a soft chuckle to break the tension. I bent down and picked up a crushed pizza box from the floor, trying to be helpful. “When did he even get back from his trip?”

“Tuesday. And honestly? I want him gone already,” Riley snapped, tossing her hands in the air.

“Hey, you should relax a little,” I said softly, trying to calm her down. I didn't want her entire day to be ruined. “He probably learned his lesson from last time. We can just call this… a slight mess-up.”

Riley stopped walking and turned to look at me, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “You are always sticking up for him, Ava.”

My stomach did a nervous flip, but I quickly forced an exaggerated gasp, placing a hand over my chest. “What?! Are you crazy? You know I hate him just as much as you do!”

“Well, you definitely should!” Riley said.

She walked over to the coffee table and picked up a small, shiny square packet. My eyes locked onto it, and my throat went completely dry. It was an empty condom wrapper. Riley raised it up in the air, her face twisting into pure disgust. My face matched hers perfectly, but deep down, a strange, uncomfortable knot tightened in my stomach.

“Did he throw a massive house party last night or what?” I asked, my voice sounding a bit more annoyed than I intended.

“He did. And the worst part is that he is still upstairs sleeping like a baby,” Riley said, her temper flaring. She turned toward the staircase and yelled at the top of her lungs, “Miles!”

There was absolutely no response. The house remained completely silent.

“I stayed at Victoria’s place last night,” Riley muttered, rubbing her temples. “I honestly cannot believe he actually went ahead with that stupid party after I told him not to.”

“Well, that was your very first mistake,” I said, shaking my head. “Leaving a house like this in the hands of Miles Thompson is just asking for trouble. When are your parents coming back, anyway?”

“This Saturday,” she said grumpily, crossing her arms. “And I am so telling mum.”

“You absolutely should,” I encouraged her, nodding my head.

Riley sighed, looking exhausted. “Please, can you do me a huge favor and go drag him out of bed? Let me go take all this trash to the bins outside.” Before I could even answer, she was already heading out toward the backyard, carrying a pile of garbage.

I stood alone in the hallway, staring up the stairs. I knew Riley’s house like it was my own. We had been best friends for over six years, through every single high and low life could throw at us. I spent more time at her place than I did at school. But right now, I really wished I was anywhere else.

Miles and I never worked well together. We never had a normal conversation. Every time we were in the same room, it resulted in a petty argument, or he would simply slam a door in my face.

Mentally groaning, I started walking up the stairs. I moved slowly, carefully stepping around the red cups littered on the steps. My heart began to beat a little faster against my ribs as I approached his bedroom door at the end of the hall. I hated how much power he had over my nerves.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. I knocked once. Then twice.

Nothing. No sound from inside.

I reached out, my fingers wrapping around the cold doorknob. To my surprise, the door wasn't locked. It clicked open easily.

“Miles?” I whispered, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Riley and I had a strict, number-one rule: we were never, under any circumstances, allowed inside Miles's room. It was his private sanctuary. But right now, I didn't give a single shit. I just wanted to get him downstairs so I could leave.

I took another step into the dimly lit room, but my foot suddenly came into contact with something incredibly hard.

“Ow!” I screamed inwardly, biting my bottom lip to keep from making noise. I looked down at the floor to see what I had tripped over.

It was a pair of extremely high, sexy stiletto heels.

Heels?

My breath caught in my throat. I looked around the messy floor, and my heart sank. Scattered across the carpet was a pair of lace panties, a bright blue bra, and a tight red dress.

Suddenly, the blankets on the massive bed started to shift. The person under the covers began to move, turning around slowly. I held my breath, fully expecting to see Miles’s messy dark hair.

Instead, a girl turned around, letting a long mane of blonde hair spill out over the pillows. She looked groggy and completely dazed.

My chest tightened. If she was in his bed, then where was—

“Harper?”