“Come here.” Hooking an arm around her waist, I pulled her into me, her back to my chest.
“What are you doing?”
“Spooning. Friends can spoon, can’t they?” My hand rested against her stomach as I breathed her in.
“Yeah,” she chuckled softly. “Friends can spoon.”
“Night, Mya.”
“Night, Asher.”
Silence enveloped us and it wasn’t long before Mya’s breathing evened out. I was tired too, but I didn’t want to sleep. Not yet. I wanted to soak up her being here, in my arms. She might have needed the friend label for now, but as I lay there, listening to her little snores, I made a silent promise to myself.
One day Mya would call me more than just ‘friend’.
I woke to an empty bed. Limbs heavy with the lingering trace of sleep, I pushed up onto one elbow. “Mya?”
Nothing.
Rolling over, I fumbled on the nightstand and grabbed my cell phone. My heart sank at the text message on the screen.
* * *
Mya: Sorry I bailed. Needed to get back… I’ll see you soon though xo
* * *
Me: You ran.
* * *
Mya: I didn’t, I promise. I just… I need time. You said you could give that to me.
* * *
I wanted to tell her to stop fighting it, but I didn’t want to push her away. It was bad enough she’d snuck out on me this morning.
* * *
Me: I won’t let you run, Mya…
* * *
Mya: I’ll see you soon, okay?
* * *
Me: Yeah, whatever.
* * *
I threw my cell down on the bed and flopped back against the pillows. Last night had felt like a breakthrough. Mya had finally let down her walls enough for me to clamber over the side. But I should have known it was only temporary. She was too hung up on her ex, on all the reasons we couldn’t work. I didn’t want to be second string… not again.
I’d watched Flick fall hopelessly in love with my best friend. The first girl I’d ever felt something real for, even though I’d known any hope of us was doomed from the start. Mya was different though. Sure, there were obstacles but nothing worth having came easy.
I was prepared to fight for her.
But I couldn’t be the only one willing to go all in.