She clutched the robe tighter around her body and her lips quivered as she stared at her brother and Ash.
“I deserve a man who will stand up and fight for me, a man who will always have my back. Gabe did none of those things. We were planning to tell you about our relationship when you got back this week. Ironic isn’t it? I wonder how different things would have been if we’d been able to tell you on our terms instead of you bursting into his apartment like that. I guess I’ll never know now.”
Ash looked chagrined, and he grimaced. Jace just looked pissed.
She laughed bitterly. “I guess I’ll be looking for other employment now. Too bad, because I really enjoyed my job.”
“You can work for me,” Jace said tightly. “It’s what you should have done from the beginning.”
She shook her head vehemently. “Oh hell no. I’m not setting foot into HCM. I’m not going to torture myself on a daily basis by having to see Gabe.”
“What will you do then?” Ash asked gently.
Her lips thinned and bitterness crawled into her chest. “I don’t know right now. I guess I have plenty of time to figure it out.”
chapter thirty-nine
When Mia entered her apartment in just a robe with Ash and Jace both hovering protectively around her, Caroline hurried forward, a worried expression on her face.
“Mia? What happened? Are you all right?”
Mia hugged her friend and to her horror burst into tears, no longer able to maintain her composure.
Caroline held her fiercely and then lit into Ash and Jace, demanding to know what they’d done to her.
“Just make them go away, Caro,” Mia choked out. “I’m fine now that I’m with you.”
Caroline ushered her to the couch, helped her sit down, and then she stood glaring at Jace and Ash.
“You heard her. Out. I’ve got this now.”
Jace scowled and then went to the couch where Mia sat. He stared at her a long moment and then sighed as he pulled her into his arms.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I know this hurt you. Swear to God we didn’t intend anything. We had no idea you and Gabe were together. He’d texted me and said he had something important to discuss when I got back. That’s why I went by his apartment and let myself in. Ash and I both have key cards to get to his floor. Hell, I assumed it was business. He made it sound urgent, so we went over as soon as we hit town.”
Mia clung to her big brother and let her tears fall. Just as she’d done so many times growing up.
“I’m not angry at you,” she whispered. “I’m furious with him. If he doesn’t have the balls to stand up to you and Ash for me, then I don’t want him. I deserve better.”
Jace stroked his hand down her hair. “You do deserve better, baby girl. Gabe is—or was—my friend, but I don’t make any excuses for him. He does what the hell he wants with regard to women, and it’s his way or the highway.”
“And you’re so different?” Mia said accusingly as she pulled away.
Jace sighed and glanced back at Ash who looked just as uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to get into this with you,” Jace said gently. “It has no relevance to what happened tonight.”
Mia rolled her eyes. Typical guy sidestepping the issue. If it had been any other woman but her that Jace and Ash had walked in on, they would have left quietly, or who knows, they may have even stayed and watched. They wouldn’t have given that woman even a passing thought and would have likely patted Gabe on the back.
But it wasn’t just any woman. It was her. Jace’s sister and, for all practical purposes, Ash’s sister as well. Which meant all the rules were changed.
“You and Ash just go,” she said quietly. “Caro is here and I’ll be fine.”
Jace looked doubtfully between the two women. “I don’t want you to be alone, Mia.”
“She’s not alone,” Caroline said in exasperation. “Do you honestly think I’d leave her right now?”
“You have to work, though,” Ash said with a frown.
Mia shook her head. “For God’s sake. Do you think I’m going to slit my wrists or something? I’m pissed and upset but I’m not stupid or suicidal.”
“I’m going to come by and check on you tomorrow,” Jace said. “And you’re spending Thanksgiving with me and Ash. Understood? You aren’t going to mope around over Gabe.”
Mia sighed. “Whatever. Just go. I want to cry alone and not have you two hovering over me. This is embarrassing enough. I’ve had enough humiliation tonight to last a lifetime.”
Ash winced. “Yeah, I hear you.”