𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄 ╰┈➤ 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐋 / 𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄

𝟘𝟘𝟜

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Mia sat on the edge of the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, the soft glow of the apartment's dim lights casting long shadows across the room. Her heart still pounded from the fight, the feeling of Jake's hands on her, and the fury in Logan's eyes when he'd taken Jake down. She hadn't realized she was trembling until Wade plopped down next to her, casually wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Relax, cupcake. The freak show's over for now." He gave her a wink, though his arm was a protective weight around her. "You're safe."

Logan stood a few feet away, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest as his sharp gaze flicked between them. His jaw was clenched tight, barely containing the anger that still simmered under his skin. He hadn't said much since they'd left the diner, but his presence alone was heavy—almost suffocating.

Mia was grateful for both of them, but the tension in the air between Wade and Logan was becoming impossible to ignore. Wade kept cracking his jokes, trying to lighten the mood, while Logan's silence spoke volumes.

"You alright, darlin'?" Logan finally asked, his voice gruff but soft enough that it sent a wave of warmth through Mia. His eyes softened when he looked at her, concern evident beneath the stoic exterior.

Mia nodded, her lips parted to speak, but Wade cut in before she could get a word out. "Of course she's alright. She's sitting next to me, safe and sound, breathing in the scent of victory—and my aftershave. You're welcome, by the way."

Logan's eyes narrowed, the weight of his stare shifting to Wade. "You think this is a joke, Wilson?" he growled, his tone sharp enough to cut through the air. "What happened back there wasn't something to laugh about."

Wade shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I'm not laughing. I'm celebrating. We beat the crap out of a sleazy ex-boyfriend—something I'm sure our dear Mia here is very grateful for." He shot her a grin, but it was forced, hiding his own unease at the situation. "Aren't you, sweetheart?"

Mia winced. The last thing she wanted was to be the center of a fight between the two of them. But it was clear Logan and Wade were circling each other like predators, and she was caught in the middle.

Logan pushed off the wall and took a step forward, his expression hardening. "This isn't about scoring points or being a damn hero, Wade. This is about making sure she's safe. Jake's not done—guys like him never are. And you're sitting there acting like everything's fine."

Wade's grin faded as he stood up from the couch, facing Logan. His playful demeanor slipped, replaced with something colder. "Don't pretend like you care more than I do, Wolverine. I've been looking after her for a while now. Where were you, huh? You think you can just show up, act like the tough guy, and she's suddenly yours to protect?"

The room went still, the tension between them crackling like electricity. Mia's heart raced, her pulse loud in her ears. She stood up slowly, wedging herself between the two men, her hands raised.

"Stop it," she whispered, but her voice trembled.

Logan's eyes softened again when they landed on her, but there was a storm brewing beneath the surface. His voice lowered, but the intensity remained. "I don't want to see you get hurt again, Mia. I've seen guys like Jake before. I know what they're capable of."

Mia swallowed, her heart twisting at his words. Logan's protectiveness was different—deeper, almost primal. And that terrified her because it was the same intensity she'd seen in his eyes when he tore through Jake without hesitation. She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her felt safe with Logan, even if it came with a wild unpredictability.

Wade, on the other hand, had been there since the beginning. He was always there to make her laugh, to keep things light when the world felt too heavy. But right now, his usual humor felt like a mask.

"I don't need either of you fighting over me," Mia said, her voice quiet but firm. "I just need this all to stop."

Logan clenched his fists, but before he could respond, Wade spoke, his tone taking a sudden shift. "You know, I think you're missing the point here, Mia." He glanced at Logan before looking back at her. "We're not just fighting about Jake. We're fighting about you. Because whether you want to admit it or not, this—" he motioned between her, himself, and Logan "—this is messy."

Mia's breath hitched. She didn't know what to say, because Wade wasn't wrong. There was something tangled between the three of them, something she hadn't been able to face.

Logan took a step closer, his voice rougher now, more raw. "He's right," Logan admitted, his eyes locking onto hers. "It's messy. But that doesn't change the fact that I—"

The words caught in his throat, and Mia could see the struggle in his expression. Logan wasn't the kind of guy to lay everything out there, but she could feel it, the weight of his feelings pressing against her like a physical force.

Wade huffed, crossing his arms again, clearly annoyed that Logan had said anything. "Oh, great. Cue the brooding confession. I didn't sign up for a soap opera."

"Shut up, Wilson," Logan snapped, but there was no bite behind his words. His focus remained on Mia. "I'm not good with this kinda thing. But I care about you, Mia. More than I probably should."

Mia blinked, the air catching in her throat. Logan's words hit her hard, unraveling everything she'd been trying to keep together. But before she could even process what he'd said, Wade cut in again, his tone light but the underlying edge impossible to miss.

"Well, isn't this just precious," Wade said, rolling his eyes. "Look, Logan may be all gruff and protective, but I'm the guy who's been here, who's made you laugh when things sucked, who's—"

"You're still making this a joke, Wade," Logan growled.

"I'm trying to lighten the mood!" Wade shot back. "But if you want me to get real for a second, then fine. I like her too. A lot. And I'm not going to just sit back and let you swoop in with your big, hairy, brooding act and think she's going to fall into your arms like some damsel in distress."

Mia's face flushed as she looked between the two of them, her mind racing. The weight of both their confessions hit her like a tidal wave, and for the first time, she realized just how complicated everything had become.

But before she could say anything, Wade clapped his hands, forcing a grin. "Alright, enough of the emotional shit. How about we order pizza, get drunk, and pretend this conversation never happened?"

Logan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Wade."

"Yeah, well, neither am I," Wade replied, giving Mia a wink. "Besides, someone's gotta protect my cupcake from big bad guys. And trust me, sweetheart, I take that job very seriously."

Mia exhaled, feeling the pressure building between them once more. The tension, the emotions, the unspoken words—it was all too much. And she had no idea where to go from here.

 Mia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Wade, Logan... I need to be honest with both of you."

Logan's gaze snapped to her own while Wade's stance faltered, expecting the worst.

"I love you both," Mia said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't plan for this to happen, but it did. I care about you both in different ways, but it's real. And I don't know how to handle that."

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