Chapter 48

Harvey pulled up in the driveway of Mia’s sister’s house. They had spent the past three hours committing each other’s bodies, reactions and scents to memory. That was better than talking about their inevitable demise. He turned his attention to her; Mia’s hair was damp from their shower as was his. Her hair spiralled down her shoulders; they were beginning to dry in patches turning her hair from pitch black to auburn. This phenomenon occurred in patches, the thicker parts of her hair taking the longest.
She was gazing out the windshield; her sister was sitting on the porch, looking back at them. Harvey didn’t worry about Amber seeing into the car, his tints were dark. This fact gave him the authority to lean closer to Mia, pushing her hair back simultaneously. She immediately responded to his touch, her eyes focusing on his hands, her bottom lip caught between both rows of teeth.

“I left a mark.” His breath gushed against her face. Her heart trembled; did he have to be so bold about it?

“What?” she retaliated, drawing back from him. Mia knew her love life was a raging fire. She was stuck between a man she despised with every bone in her body and a man she wanted to sleep her days away with. Yet, having someone point out that their presence was special to her felt too vulnerable. She didn’t want anyone reading or predicting her emotions.
Harvey’s fingers closed gradually at her shifting away from his touch. His hands leisurely falling to his lap, “On your neck.” He pointed from a far. As far as possible in the tiny enclosure. Mia’s eye’s widened as she gazed into the rear-view mirror, angling her body to see what he was talking about.
True enough, there was a darkish-reddish mark under her right ear. “Fuck.” She muttered under her breath. The swirling in her head subsided when she remembered the power of make-up for such inconveniences.

“I didn’t do it on purpose.” Harvey leaned on his side of the car, watching her reaction. He’d been caught up in ravishing her, of feeling the connection between them that he hadn’t been able to hold back.
He gazed at her again, her fingers pressing against the spot. He was worried about Gabriel seeing it. How would he react? Would he harm her?

“I know. “ Mia responded. “It’s honestly fine.” She pulled some hair in front of her shoulders to mask the mark.

*Talk about misreading a situation.* her subconscious, Lady Evil-Hour, as Mia had begun calling her due to her inopportune timing, snickered uncontrollably. She’d rolled to the floor, clutching her stomach as her body convulsed with waves and waves of laughter.
Mia rolled her eyes. Was there any way to redo the last minute or two? *If you want to reset time, why settle for a single minute?* Lady Evil-Hour wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eyes and glared at Mia as if she was the dumbest person on the face of the earth.

“Mia, look at me.” Harvey’s tone hardened. The force of it against her ears causing her body to do as it was told without consulting her brain.

*The equivalent of ‘yes, daddy’* Lady Evil-Hour was fanning herself with her hands, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. It was clear she had an affinity for being told what to do.

“The offer still stands.” The intensity in the car rose, spots of cold and hot tingling her neck and spine.
Mia swallowed past the feelings that rose up in her from his display of dominance. The powerful potency of his gaze cracking the walls protecting her decision. Mia shifted her attention away.

“I’ve already told you, I can’t.” she said softly. The skin around her neck was heating up, a possible attempt to smoke her soul out of her body? Was that a betrayal? Mind and body working together to illustrate their disapproval?
Harvey clenched his jaw and nodded. He had to come to terms with this. Every bone in his body was itching to step up for her. To do the things she needed regardless of her decision but he needed to learn to respect her, even if he knew it was the wrong the decision. She’d lost her fight against Gabriel but the universe was screaming that he’d be able to change the tides. Did she really not want him to try?

“How do we address each other in the future?” Mia rocked forward. It was getting increasingly difficult to stay still. Harvey cleared his throat, running his fingers through his hair.

“You plan on seeing me in the future?” he scrutinised her from the corner of his eyes. He was under the impression that this was the last time they’d lay eyes on one another.
Mia’s inhaled past the sharp jab in her chest. He was taking this better than she had expected. Was that fair of her to say? This was her resolve.

*Then why does it feel as though we are being rejected?* Lady Evil-Hour sank down in a field of flowers, her arms wrapped around her body as she breathed through the ordeal. The wind swishing about her body, the sound quieting her melancholy thoughts. Even she was affected.
“In the event that we do,” she replied with a hollow strength that was cracking away at the edges as she projected it. “I am still your sister’s teacher.” She reminded him.

He seemed to consider the question posed to him. He didn’t know why he was being the one to make this judgement. If true separation was what she wanted, as she claimed, the answer was easy. Harvey shifted in his seat resting his hands on the steering wheel. “As strangers.” He proclaimed definitively.

“I shall not make any trips to the school, not during your class hours.” He hoped this was an assurance to her. “I promise.” He unlocked her door from the controls on his side. The clicking sound was the equivalent of him shoving her out of his car. Mia nodded, staring at him for five more seconds, precisely five. She counted.

“Good bye.” She said, searching his eyes.

“It’s been…” he paused, his eyes roaming her entire form, “a pleasurable experience.”
Mia paused, his words making her cringe. Pleasurable…the word pulsed in her brain, the feel of it bringing a bitter taste into her mouth. She bit down on her tongue; there was no responding to him. She eased the door open and slid out of the car. She focused on a single point and made her way towards it; Amber.
She lifted her head high, chewing on the inside of her cheeks as an upsurge of conflicting emotions pressurised her body to shut down, her legs beginning to shake beneath her weight. Amber rose to her feet at the sight of Mia exiting the car, her expression morphing into a portrait of severity. Once Mia was in touching distance of Amber, she heard the faint sound of his car pulling off.
Mia turned around to catch a final glimpse of him, but he’d already cleared the street. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the empty road.

“I’ll fix you up.” Amber gazed at the red mark on Mia’s neck when she twisted about. She didn’t want to ask any questions. When Mia was ready she’d reveal the situation and from the blank canvas that was her face, Amber guessed now was not the time.

“Thank you.” Mia walked past her and into the house, Amber following closely behind. Nate had stepped out a few minutes before Mia arrived. They were craving dinner from a particular sushi place, unfortunately for them, there were no delivery options.

“I’ll get you a change of clothes as well,” Amber said as she ran upstairs. It would be suspicious if she went home in the same clothes and wet hair. The signs were too telling.

****

“How was your sister’s?” Gabriel lifted Amiyah up in his arms, taking the bags from Mia’s hands. He’d opened the door before she had the chance to pull out her keys. She’d stumbled backwards at the sight of him blocking their doorway.
Mia tip-toed and gazed through the available spaces to see inside the house, “Are you hiding something?” she frowned at him.
Gabriel shook his head, shifting Amiyah’s hair out of her face. “I was waiting for you both.” He moved from the entrance and she entered. He shoved the door closed behind them.

“Why?” Mia asked cautiously, her eyes frantically searching the room.

“I made dinner for us.” He smiled, the pupils in her eyes dilating from the intensity.

****
Harvey jammed the key into the door and turned. He slid through the door, locking up behind him and walking into the kitchen.

“Finally back?”

“Crap!” he roared, his mother sitting at the table, the seat beside her occupied by his father. He hadn’t expected anyone to be in here.

“You told me I was free to stay however long I wanted.” She shrugged, sending a fleeting gaze at her husband.