2

Mia

Ever since I left the bar that night, I’ve been doing my best to avoid Max. Not that it would matter to him. My absence wouldn’t change a thing, he already had Harper, and all I could do was try to focus on myself.

I wished I could kill this obsession I had for him. I wished I could go days without seeing him and not feel like I was missing air but my heart never listened. It betrayed me every time.

Growing up in the orphanage, all I ever wanted was to be seen. My whole life, no matter how hard I tried, I was never chosen. I watched kids come and go…adopted, given new families. And me? I stayed behind growing older and unwanted.

Max changed that, he made me feel seen. He was the only one who ever looked at me like I mattered. He made me believe I deserved something good in life. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t love me back. Just like my heart chose him, his had chosen someone else.

So I stayed, I was there for him whenever he needed me but deep down I wished he would open his eyes and see Harper for what she really was. I just hoped it wouldn’t be too late when he finally did.

Life went on with my usual routine, studying in the day, working shifts at the bar at night. It wasn’t easy growing up alone, but I had learned to take care of myself. That was my life.

“Hey, Bruno!” I greeted as I passed the counter. He was busy serving drinks, but he gave me a nod as I headed inside to change into my uniform.

By the time I finished, there was a knock on the door. I hurried to open it. Bruno leaned against the wall, smirking.

“Your boyfriend’s here,” he teased, pointing toward the bar.

I followed his finger and froze. Max had just walked in, scanning the room like he was looking for me. The second his eyes found me, I looked away.

“He is not my boyfriend!” I snapped, rolling my eyes. Bruno just laughed. He had teased me too many times about the way I looked at Max, but I was tired of denying the obvious.

“Mia, I need to speak with you,” Max’s voice came serious. My heart jumped even as I tried to stay calm.

“I have nothing to say. Let go of me!” I protested when he grabbed my wrist, dragging me out of the bar before I could resist. His strength overpowered me easily…I was small compared to him.

Outside, I yanked my hand free. “What’s wrong with you?” I snapped.

“What’s wrong with me? You’ve been ignoring my calls and texts,” he shot back, frustration in his tone.

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been busy. Why are you here, Max?”

“After everything you said at the bar, I never expected you to be here or are you here again to show me some pity because I have no one?”

He ran his fingers through his messy red-brown hair, licking his bottom lip the way he always did when he was nervous. The sight made my stomach flip, and my mind wandered to places it shouldn’t. Focus, Mia.

I should be angry at him not the other way around.

“Look, I’m sorry for everything I said at the bar. I only said it to convince Harper. You know how difficult she can be,” he said quickly.

And just like that, I understood. He was here because of her. It was always about her. I was just his safe place when Harper broke him.

“I’m sorry! ” he apologized again and I can't be mad at him for long, I just can't, no matter how hard I try to hate him sometimes. He really had me wrapped around his finger.

“So… you two are back together now?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

He nodded. “But I still need your help to win her back.”

I laughed bitterly. “My help? I’m not interfering. I’m tired of being blamed for hitting on someone else’s boyfriend.”

“Please, Mia. You know how much I love her,” he begged, eyes pleading in that way I hated and loved at the same time.

“Can’t you see she doesn’t care about you?” I burst out angrily before I could stop myself. “She’s engaged to someone else. Why can’t you accept she doesn’t love…”

“She only got engaged because her dad forced her,” he cut me off, desperation lacing his words. “She loves me. I just need you to come with me.”

I shook my head. There was no way I could support something I knew would break him. I opened my mouth to refuse, but then he caught my hands in his, rubbing his thumb gently across my skin.

His green eyes locked onto mine, pleading. “Please.”

That one word. That one look. And I was gone, my resistance melted away.

“Fine,” I whispered, hating myself for giving in.

His whole face lit up with relief. “We’ll meet tomorrow. I'll pick you up…you should get back to work.”

And just like that, he turned and left before I could say anything more.

That’s all I had ever been to Maxello, his comfort, the one he leaned on… but never the one he chose.