And we f**king shared something, God damn it. She had to have felt it.

I had to see her yesterday, if only for a few minutes. I couldn’t sleep anyway so I figured I’d make us both some breakfast. Mia used to eat breakfast with us all the time so I knew what she liked. I thought I could at least enjoy her company for an hour while she sat and ate next to me, but no. Apparently I was a bigger ass**le to her than I remembered. The thought of her starving herself over some dumbass comment I made infuriated me. She is holding on to a deeper hatred toward me than I realized. But her pushing me away isn’t going to stop me. I’m drawn to her, and not just because I want to be buried deep inside her at all times. It feels right being around her. Just f**king right. I want her. All of her. And I can be one relentless bastard when it comes to getting what I want. At least now she is aware of that.

My phone beeps on my nightstand and I grab it with my free hand, taking the other off my dick. It’s a good thing, actually. I’m about to rub myself raw if I don’t get a f**king grip. Other than the one I’ve had for the last hour.

Luke: Everyone’s going down to Rocky Point today. You in?

Luke is my best friend and has been since we met in the Academy. I’d usually be all for going to Rocky Point for the day with him. But I’m exhausted from another sleepless night of sexual activity, this time self-inflicted.

Me: Pass. I’m f**king exhausted.

Luke: Are you sure? I hear there’s some hot piece of ass staying with your sister and they’ll both be there. You know anything about that?

Fuck sleep.

Me: I’ll meet you there. And don’t call her that again.

Well, my mind is made up now. It really didn’t take much persuasion on Luke’s part. Or any at all. Where Mia goes, I’m going. I hop out of bed and begin rummaging through my drawers for my swim trunks. I don’t care that she most likely won’t want me there. I am f**king going.

My phone beeps again as I’m walking out the door to my truck.

Tessa: I must be delusional for giving you this information, or maybe I just have a soft spot for my big brother. We’re headed to Rocky Point today, and I think you should be there. I don’t think she’ll hate you forever, Ben. But if you make her cry, I’ll feed your dick to the gators.

Me: I’m already on my way. Don’t tell her I’m coming.

Tessa: Do you think I have a death wish?

She can’t hate me forever. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving myself to her if I have to. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve done things that I regret. But what Mia and I shared two nights ago wasn’t one of them. I just need to somehow make her see that for herself.

**

I didn’t see Tessa or Mia’s car when I parked in the grass at Rocky Point. And I was happy about that. I wanted to beat them here, that way Mia didn’t get to do anything without me. Even though I probably didn’t deserve it, I wanted all of her time. I was a greedy bastard when it came to her and I wasn’t ashamed of it. I wanted everything. Every smile, every orgasm, every f**king noise that came out of that pretty mouth. And I’d need as much time as she’d give me if I was going to make up for being such a shit to her when we were younger. She wasn’t going to let go of all the hate she had stored up for me easily. That hate ran deep.

Luke is seated at a picnic table with Reed, a friend of Tessa’s. I walk over to them, throwing my stuff down on the bench and keeping my eyes out for a familiar vehicle.

“Why do you have two towels, man?” Luke asks as he searches through my stuff. “Oh wait, does this have anything to do with that hot piece of ass?”

I pick up my towels and move them out of his reach. “What the f**k did I say about calling her that? Her name’s Mia, and that’s what you’ll call her. Nothing else. Got it?”

He holds his hand up, leaning away from me. “Sorry. Jesus.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I need to calm the hell down. I’ve never felt this anxious about seeing someone before. And for f**k’s sake, I just saw her yesterday. I scan the line of cars that head down the dirt path. No sign of them yet.

“This is the girl that used to live here, right?” Reed asks, moving to stand off the bench.

“Yeah,” I reply, not prying my eyes from the vehicles. “She moved to Georgia a while back and is here for the summer.” I still can’t believe it myself. This is the same girl that used to have sleepovers every weekend at my house with Tessa. I’d f**king kill for a sleepover with her now. A red jeep comes up over the small hill, and I suddenly find it difficult to take in a deep breath. “I’ll be right back,” I choke out with a shaky voice. Get it the f**k together, Kelly.

“Fuck that. I’m coming with you,” Luke states, getting to his feet.

We both walk toward the jeep as it pulls in between two other cars. As soon as Mia locks on to me through the windshield, her jaw drops open and those chocolate brown eyes widen. I can see her hands tightening on the wheel as she leans over, saying something to Tessa with a tight jaw.

“She looks thrilled to see you.” Luke laughs before walking over to Tessa’s door.

I ignore him and the look Mia is giving me and open her door for her. “Hey. I’m really glad you came.” I feel calmer now but my heart is still beating like I’ve just taken a shot of adrenaline. She is in a tank top, her bikini straps poking out, and tiny white shorts barely cover those legs that I want to be buried between. I pry my eyes off her lap to give her a smile.