“Mya, please don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I frown.
“Care,” he says, sharper now. “Not like that. Not in that soft, worried tone that makes me think we’re… something. Because five minutes later you’ll remember you don’t want that and suddenly I’m the asshole who didn’t get the memo.”
The words knock the breath out of me.
“That’s not fair.”
He finally looks up at me, eyes tired and frustrated. “Isn’t it? Earlier you were the one pulling away.Again. Now, you’re checking on me like you didn’t just slam a door in my face.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what you want from me anymore.”
“I want you to be okay,” I whisper.
Worth exhales, rubbing a hand over his face as if exhausted by himself and me and everything in between.
“Just go home, Mya. I’ll be fine.”
There’s nothing left to say. So I nod and back away.
Instead of heading straight home, I drive across town to the community center gym, where cheer practice is wrapping up. The sun is dipping low, painting the parking lot in late-afternoon gold as kids spill out laughing.
Brianna spots the car, waves like she hasn’t seen me in months, and jogs over. I told Maggie I’d pick Bri up today, and the sight of her is like a balm to the ache in my chest.
“Hey, Mya!” she grins as she climbs in, tossing her bag to the back. Her cheeks are flushed.
“Hey, superstar,” I smile. “Good practice?”
She launches into a rundown of stunts, near disasters, and the girl who cried because someone messed up her TikTok, and somewhere between her dramatics and laughter, the heaviness of the day loosens.
Several minutes later, I pull into the driveway of Worth’s estate.
Inside, Maggie is at the stove, spoon in hand, adding one last pinch of salt to something that smells delicious.
“Hi, lovelies,” she chirps with a smile. “Perfect timing. Dinner’s just done. Though I won’t be staying tonight.”
I set my tote on the bench and toe off my shoes. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yes. I promised Worth’s mother I’d call her and help with the banquet hall plans for her next event.” She pats my arm as she passes. “You two will be fine.”
Before I can answer, Brianna skids into the kitchen in socks. There’s already a smudge of graphite on her fingers and a halo of baby hairs around her face from the ponytail she ditched after practice.
“It’s just you and me tonight, babe.” I lean down to bump her forehead to mine. “We’re flying solo.”
“How come?”
I keep my tone light. “Your dad is preparing for the custody case so he’ll be late.”
Bri nods once, eyes dropping to her socks. Her shoulders go a little square, and the skin at her throat tightens.
“Hey,” I say softly. “It’ll be okay.”
She flicks her gaze up, then away. “Yeah. I know.”
Maggie slips her cardigan over her shoulders and grabs her purse. “Call me if you need anything, girls.”
“Thanks, Maggie.” I see her out, then turn back to the kitchen. “All right, chef. Plates?”
While we eat dinner, I tell her about my coworkers’ bad habits and Bri counters with a story about a girl in math class who keeps drawing male genitalia on her binder. After, we clear the table together and slide the dishes into the dishwasher. Then we draw for an hour at the dining table.