Amiss

Chapter 10 - Trey

"So, are you free Friday night? Maybe we can catch up?" Mia asks while slipping her t-shirt on. Luckily her face is hidden by her top, so she doesn't see the grimace I'm slow to hide. Fuck no.

"I think I'm free..." my lips twitch into a smile that feels so forced as I fail to think of an excuse not to see her. I don't mean to be an asshole, but I'm just angry and disappointed at myself for getting into this messed up situation. I can blame alcohol and loneliness, but I was still a willing participant through it all.

I roll off the bed and stagger to the chest of drawers, sliding on a fresh pair of jocks and track pants. My stomach churns, and not only because I'm hungover again. Unbeknownst to her, I spent the night pretending she was someone else. This is so fucked up. My self-loathing is running in overdrive.

"I'm looking forward to it, handsome." Mia's sickly sweet voice coos worsening the rolling of my guts. I spy her pants crumpled on the carpet. Stooping to collect them, I hand them over. She murmurs her thanks before leaning up to kiss me. I peck her back briefly as guilt gnaws away at my insides. Don't throw up, Trey.

"I wish we could have another round now, but I need to get to work." Mia pouts before shimmying into her tight jeans. Thank fuck she has work. There's no way I could make it through a round sober. Unable to manage a reply, I nod my head dully.

Mia gathers up her handbag, and I escort her to the front door, eager to see the back of her. We step out onto the chilly porch as I fumble to get a cigarette out of a fresh pack.

"See you later, Trey," Mia purrs before pecking my cheek.

"Bye, Mia." A strong sense of relief courses through me the further Mia walks away. Lighting up my smoke, I get the inexplicable feeling that someone's watching me. Looking down the street, I see Ava hesitating by my neighbour's letterbox. She's cradling what I imagine is a container of food for me to her chest. Her presence wafts over me like a burst of fresh air. There is no comparison to her beauty.

"Hey, Ava," I call out and take those unnecessary steps onto the street, so I'm closer to her. It's only when my bare feet tread a puddle that I realise I'm shoeless and shirtless, of course, but her presence has me too elated to care.

"Hi Trey," she mutters stiffly, making me almost want to shiver at her iciness. Or is that the puddle.

"So, how are you?"

"Fine," Ava huffs out before scowling at the pavement. Ok, so it's definitely not the puddle. That's when I realise her problem; the reason for her coldness makes me want to smile wide. Even though she has a boyfriend, is she's fucking jealous?

"I'm good," I tell her, even though that's a blatant lie. "So, are you heading to Uni?" She nods as I take a drag of my smoke.

"Class starts at 9, but I came to drop off your clothes and some leftovers..." she trails off and looks like she is reconsidering giving me anything ever again. I need to rein back my teasing.

"You're an Angel. Thank you for thinking of me," I smile down at her, noticing how my endearment makes her flinch. "You should come in for a coffee," She looks up at me with hostility in her eyes, seeming dead set on rejecting my offer. "Come on, you cooked me an amazing feed; let me at least make you a coffee?" I watch as she relaxes ever so slightly.

"All right, but only so you won't catch a cold," she grumbles before we amble inside, heading to the kitchen. I flick on the kettle as she places the soup container in the fridge. She opens the bag of clothes and hands me back my freshly laundered jumper before leaving the rest on the counter.

"I'm cold just looking at you," she explains, and I conceal my smirk as I pull it over my head. I don't know how but she's even made my washed clothes smell nice like her.