Heart Me

Chapter 32

Nate's POV

The late afternoon sun hung high, casting long shadows over the beach as Tristan and I paddled back to shore. The conversation we’d just had kept replaying in my mind. Tristan’s interest in Mia was unexpected, but maybe it was exactly what she needed—someone to love her the way she yearned to be loved. I hoped he’d be the one to heal her wounds, the ones I couldn’t reach.

After docking the canoe, we pulled it up onto the sand. Tristan shook the water from his hair, his carefree grin reflecting the sunlight. It was hard not to admire his spirit, the way he approached life with such ease.

"Thanks for the advice, man. I think I'll give it a shot tonight," Tristan said, slinging his towel over his shoulder.

I forced a smile. "Good luck. Just remember what I said—treat her gently."

He nodded, and with a final wave, he headed off towards the cabins, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The waves lapped softly at the shore, a rhythmic sound that usually brought me peace, but today, my mind was far from calm.

Mia was a complex puzzle, one I thought I had figured out years ago. We’d been inseparable as kids, our bond solidified by countless shared memories. But then, things changed. She changed. Mia’s feelings for me evolved into something more intense, something that went beyond friendship. And in my attempt to not hurt her, I agreed to give us a chance, hoping that maybe I could learn to love her in the same way.

But it didn’t work out. Our relationship was a mess of confusion and misplaced emotions. I could still vividly remember that night—the party, the alcohol, and then the betrayal. Mia had been drunk, too drunk, and so had Clarke. But they weren’t just anyone; they were the two people I trusted the most. And they broke that trust in the worst way possible.

When Mia told me what happened, she insisted Clarke had taken advantage of her. She even reported it to her parents, who were understandably furious. But for me, the damage was already done. I couldn’t erase the image of someone else being intimate with the girl I thought I loved. It wasn’t just betrayal; it was a wound that cut deeper than I could express. And what hurt the most was that it was with Clarke, my best friend.

I tried to forgive Mia, to move past it, but every time I looked at her, I was reminded of what happened. And yet, I couldn’t fully let her go. I knew Mia’s past, her struggles, her pain. Her mother’s emotional instability had forced Mia to grow up too fast, to be the caretaker when she needed one herself. She was damaged, but I understood her. And maybe that’s why I stayed—because I knew that without me, she might spiral further.

As I walked up the beach, the salty breeze ruffling my hair, I thought about Tristan’s interest in Mia. He had no idea what he was getting into, and I wasn’t sure if I should warn him or let him find out on his own. Mia could be sweet, caring even, but she had a dark side, one that she tried to hide but couldn’t always control. She did things out of pettiness, sometimes without thinking of the consequences. It was her defense mechanism, a way to protect herself from getting hurt. But in the process, she hurt others.

Maybe that’s why I was so protective of her, despite everything. Because I knew the real Mia, the one hidden beneath the layers of defense and mistrust. I just hoped Tristan would understand that side of her too. He deserved to know what he was signing up for.

But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him everything. I didn’t want to scare him away, especially if there was a chance that Mia could find happiness with him. And maybe, just maybe, if she found that happiness, she could finally let go of the pain that had haunted her for so long.

Kayla's POV

The late afternoon sun was still warm on my skin as I splashed around in the shallow water with Grace and Evie. The sea breeze tangled my hair, and I laughed as Evie playfully splashed more water over my head.