22. Mia

CHAPTER 22

Mia

T he event is a success. At least as far as I know. I never participated in Bikes and Beers when I used to live in Maple Ridge, and this is the first time I've ever organized the event. But based on Jones's calm demeanor and the constant smile on his face, I'll take it as a win.

The vibe of the event continues into the night. From the looks of how packed the park is, it seems as if the entire town of Maple Ridge is here. The live band plays from a makeshift stage, kids run around playing and eating popsicles, and adults sit and visit with one another, drink beer, and dance.

Jones has offered to settle things up with the charity trustee which allows me time to finally relax with our friends. I'm exhausted. Even the hairs on my head are exhausted.

Cammie has laid out blankets on the grass and I plop myself down and don't plan on getting back up until Jones offers to carry me. Just when I sit, the live band begins playing a cover of Jolene and Nico drags Rosie out to dance with him.

"C'mon, Mav, let's dance," Cammie says to Maverick.

He rubs at the back of his neck and his gaze shifts back and forth between her and the crowd dancing. "How about, instead, I go get you two ladies a drink?"

Cammie pouts and he presses a kiss to the top of her head. "You know I'm not much of a dancer, Sunshine."

She nods. "Okay, fine, you're off the hook this time. But only because me and my girl Mia need to have ourselves a little chat."

It's the familiar quote we girls have been saying for years. It's the one Jones and Cammie's grandma Nettie and Rosie's grandma Gigi used to say to each other.

But I'm too tired to have a chat. Especially if it has anything to do with Jones or my plans for the future.

"Damn, would you look at the butt on him?" Cammie squeals and I can't help but look.

She's not wrong. Maverick has the body most girls fantasize about. The one that's described in every fictional romance book. He's tall, dark, and handsome. The perfect book boyfriend.

Only he's not Jones.

I exhale a deep sigh and fling myself backward, lying flat on the blanket. Cammie joins me, snuggling in next to me. She sings out some of the lyrics, "Please don't take my man," and she giggles.

I smile and even though I don't turn my face toward her, I can feel her smiling next to me. There's just a hint of a breeze in the air and I don't know how, but it carries the scent of Colorado. Of Maple Ridge. Of home.

Every single body part throbs but, in this moment, I'm content. I'm tempted to shut my eyes, but the sky is boasting a million twinkling stars.

"It's beautiful," I whisper.

"Yeah," she agrees. "No matter how many times I've seen it, it still never ceases to amaze me."

"I wish I could stay lying here all night," I mumble.

I feel her facing me again, this time I do turn my head. Her blue eyes search me and it looks like a million things are going on in that head of hers, but maybe she's too afraid to say them out loud.

Fear etches at me now, too.

"So why don't you?" she finally asks.

I pinch my brows together. "Why don't I what? Sleep here?" I snort a laugh. "I'm pretty sure Jones isn't gonna go for that."

But Cammie shakes her head, and a crease appears on her forehead. "No. Why don't you stay? In Maple Ridge?"

"Cams," I say on an exhaled sigh, while I turn my face to the sky again, and regret twists in my gut. "This has been the best summer. But that's all it can be…a summer. I have to get back to my life in Connecticut."

"What life? That friends-with-benefits situation? And you've hardly heard from any of your friends over there. I mean, how good of friends can they be if they've barely contacted you all summer?"

My eyes water. She's not wrong. But the reality doesn't make it hurt any less.

"I'm sorry. That was a shitty thing to say. What I really meant to say is, we all love you and want you to stay. Please, just stay."

I sniff. "I can't keep starting my life over."

Suddenly Maverick is towering over us with a beer in each hand. "Wasn't sure what to get you, Mia, so hope you like this one."

I sit up and snatch it from him. "Thanks. As long as it's got alcohol, I'm not picky."

Maverick glances back and forth between me and Cammie. In my mind, I'm praying he doesn't question what conversation he just walked into.

From behind me, I feel the sturdiness of a body press against me. One that's familiar and solid. Jones wraps his arms around me, and I dissolve against him, my lashes fluttering.

With him, it's easy. We don't have to talk about the future. Because we had a plan to begin with. He's not asking me to stay and I'm not telling him I want to stay. Even if deep down; I do.

Deeper-deeper down, I know I can't.

I don't have the strength to pick up my life in Connecticut and start again here. Not when things here aren't secure either. What happens if Jones and I get into a fight? Or worse—I get pregnant again and we lose the baby…again? I'm so afraid Jones and I won't survive another devastation.

My guess is that we won't. It's best if we end things on good terms this time. We'll get the goodbye we never got but both deserved.

"You okay?" Jones whispers in my ear from behind me.

I nod.

"Good." He kisses my cheek.

Mom approaches with Dad in his wheelchair-bike. "We're gonna take off, sweetie. Your dad is tired so I should get him home."

"I'm not tired," he grumbles and flips his wrist at her.

"Okay, fine. I'm tired," she says.

"I'm proud of you, Dad. You looked great on that bike today," I say, bending to kiss him on the cheek, but he grips my arm and holds me.

"I'm p-p-proud of you ."

My insides warm and I can't help it, tears spring to my eyes. "Thanks, Daddy." I haven't called him daddy in a long time. But it felt right. And I think he sensed it was appropriate at this moment too.

Without letting me go, he whispers, "I need you to d-do me a favor."

I sniff. "Anything."

His stare locks on mine, and it holds my attention. "Don't sell Jones sh-short. That one has a lot of potential. He's a g-good man, sweetie."

A tear slips out and my throat aches. Somehow Dad's blessing alleviates the aged unease I've unknowingly held onto. Unable to speak or even find the words to say, I nod, and he gives my arm a squeeze before releasing me.

Watching them head into the darkened night, I wipe the tears off my cheeks. Jones comes up behind me, tethering his arms around my waist and I suck in a breath.

"Hey, Peaches, wanna get out of here?"

"Yes, please. I'm exhausted."

He kisses me on the neck. "Hopefully not too exhausted. You still owe me that reward."

I spin in his arms. "Never too exhausted for you."

By the time the event is cleaned up and we get back to The Pines, it's late. But we race up the stairs to his apartment like we're a couple of kids. Young, dumb, and horny.

Jones hooks his Bluetooth speaker up to his phone and chooses Zach Bryan just for me. We stand before one another and strip each other slowly while we stare in reverence. He's beautiful. Muscles taut, dick already hard and ready. My mouth waters as I drink him in. I try to imagine he's admiring my naked body just as much.

I drag my hands up muscled abs, spreading them over his bare chest, feeling his warmth beneath my palms and an ache builds between my thighs. The small flower tattoo catches my attention. I've seen it so many times now this summer. It no longer causes my heart to race or makes me feel too much. It's somehow already become a part of him. I trace my finger over it and he shivers at my touch.

Jones spreads kisses up one of my arms. "How is it that you can look more beautiful, more stunning each and every time I see you naked?"

My stupid lips pull into a cheesy smile.

"And how is it that your dick is ready to go as soon as I get naked?" I snort a laugh.

"Peaches, my dick is ready to go before you get naked."

"Good. Why don't you put it to use," I challenge.

"You don't have to tell me twice." He puts a finger on my shoulder and twirls me around. "Get on the bed. It's time for my reward."

"Jones," I drag out his name teasingly. "Just being with me should be reward enough."

"What I have in mind will be a reward for both of us."

Anticipation thrums in my chest. "Yeah?"

"Oh yeah. Now scoot." He slaps my bare ass and I jump. This playful side of him that he only shows to me is such a turn on. I'm ready to do whatever he asks. Drop to my knees, bend over the footboard, fuck my own fingers while he watches.

Anything.

"Spread those legs for me, Peaches. Grab your feet and push those knees to your ears. I want to bury my cock so deep in your pussy it hits your G-spot every time I thrust into you."

"Oh," I find myself saying, elation thrumming through me while I clamber across the bed on my hands and knees.

"On second thought," he interrupts, cinching his hands around my waist from behind. "I find myself suddenly enchanted by this view right here." He hauls my ass into him, his cock like steel as it makes contact. I gasp. He rams into me a few times before he slaps my backside, the sound ringing in the quiet room.

A tiny shriek escapes my throat. "Jones!"

"All those years you thought you were a good girl, taking it soft and easy. But who knew, deep down, there was a bad girl waiting to break free. A bad girl who likes it rough."

I peer over my shoulder at him. "Guess I was waiting for you to set me free."

His blue-grey eyes darken, and it ignites a fire in my depths. "On your back," he demands, low and husky.

Without hesitation, I flip around to my back, my heart hammering in my chest while I anticipate what's next.

He lowers himself to his knees and crawls closer to me, snatching my hands and bringing them to my feet. "Pull them higher, just like I said."

When I'm in the position he wants, he positions himself in front of me on his knees, determination and lust flaring in his eyes. My eager need for him aches in my core. No matter how many times Jones and I have fucked this summer, I'm desperate for him to be inside me.

He splays his palm out on my stomach like he's bracing himself. My heart hammers in my chest with anticipation. Taking his cock in his other hand, he sweeps the head of it across my wet entrance, and a delicious shiver races through my body.

I inhale a quiet gasp.

"You love that don't you? Such a naughty pussy, loves being teased."

He does it again, back, and forth and I can't speak. Only nod while I bite down on my lower lip.

Finally, he's sliding inside me, tortuously slow, like he's taunting me. But I soon know why, in this position, he fills me full. He reaches parts of me I thought were unreachable. After only a few thrusts, a vibration begins in my core and travels throughout my entire body. I reach out for his arm, tether my hand around the taut muscle and he groans while he watches the pleasure wash over me in waves.

"Jones," I cry out in a whisper.

"Don't worry, I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to take care of this needy fucking cunt. I'm going to make you dissolve into a million pieces and you'll still be begging for more." With each sentence, he dives into me, like he's trying to make good on his promise.

He could promise to give me the whole fucking galaxy on a silver platter, and I'd believe him.

"Please," I plead in a desperate whisper.

"That's it, Peaches. Beg. Beg me to finish you off."

"Please, Jones, please fucking make me come," I whimper.

At last, he does. We come together and it's so mind-blowing phenomenal, it's practically spiritual.

He drops on top of me, and we dissolve after such a triumphant finale. I reach my hands around to his back where the skin is warm and deliciously clammy. Our chests rise and fall like they're battling one another for breath.

When he lifts his chin to look at me, a smile pulls at his lips, and he chuckles. "That was amazing. Better than amazing."

"Seriously, for a second there I thought I was gonna cry it felt so good." I laugh, almost embarrassed to say the words out loud.

His vision dances over mine. "That might be the best compliment you've ever given me."

He lowers his lips to mine and kisses me. It's soft and quick but sensual. My stupid brain has a moment of relapse. Where I imagine a life like this. Of nights spent with Jones. But I quickly shove those ridiculous thoughts away.

Jones rests his head on my chest where my heart is finally starting to slow. I brush his hair back before pushing my fingers through it. He traces my arm with his fingertips, causing a shiver to rush through my body.

I focus on the moment. So I can remember it after I'm gone. But mostly because I'm certain my life will never be better than it is at this moment.