Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Forever

Luke nods, giving us a wide smile. "Will do. Y'all go and enjoy your day. See ya around, Y/N."

Once we're down the sidewalk and away from the garage Lizzie lightly elbows me in the side. "So who's Sophie? I don't think you've mentioned her at all."

I let my arm drop from around her waist and instead move to entwine our fingers together, shrugging a shoulder. "She and I used to be friends, like Luke said. I mean we were close when we were little, since our families were so close, but when we got into high school we stopped hanging out as much. But it wasn't like we fell out or anything. We just moved on from our friendship? Does that make sense? We still used to talk sometimes in class or something, but I wouldn't have called us best friends or anything."

The brunette gives my hand a light squeeze before gently tugging me closer and resting her head on my shoulder. "It makes sense. And I was just making sure she wasn't another ex-girlfriend I'd need to worry about."

I can't help but snort, shaking my head as I lead us towards our next stop; the tattoo shop. "No. It was never like that. Sophie is about as straight as they come, and you've never even met any of my ex-girlfriends before."

"I've met Mia."

My stomach clenches uncomfortably at the sound of the other woman's name. I haven't heard so much as a peep out of her since our meeting at the coffee shop, and only know that she's still living in LA thanks to what Skylar tells me. It kinda stung, honestly, because we were genuinely good friends before it all got complicated, and I never wanted to hurt her. "I never dated her. She doesn't count."

"But you had sex with her."

"Having sex with someone doesn't mean you're in a relationship with someone, Liz. Mia and I never dated."

A few moments of silence pass between us, and I purposefully allow my feet to slow just a bit, especially for this topic of conversation. I know it's all still a little bit of a sore spot for Lizzie, but we talked about it after our time apart and I know we've both moved past it, but I feel like there's something more the brunette wants to add.

"Why didn't you?"

And there it is.

Hesitating, I glance over at the brunette, finding nothing but honest curiosity in her features. I'm not sure how much of the story I should tell her, mostly because everything that happened between Mia and I weren't the smartest decisions I'd made.

"I...I don't know. We were friends, even after that first time after we both got super drunk. We never let it affect our friendship. And after the divorce it was a way for me to blow off steam, and I guess I felt more comfortable being with someone I'd been with before. I guess I'm trying to say it was easier for me, because I'd always thought of Mia as my friend and nothing more, so when I was so angry and hurt at what my marriage turned into and it was easier to dive into casual sex with someone familiar rather than a complete stranger."

"Did she tell you that she wanted it to be more than just casual?"

Wincing, because I remember that particular conversation very well, I nod. "She did. Twice. The first time, at the beginning of the summer before she moved, she wanted to stay and told me that she loved me. But I told her I didn't feel the same, and that I wanted us to stay as friends. I promised myself that I would never let it happen again after that, but..."

Lizzie's hand squeezes mine once again, and the silence that passes between us isn't like our usual ones. Because Lizzie and I both know that the last time I let anything happen between Mia and I had been after we'd met. "It happened again."

Swallowing back the sudden lump that's formed in the back of my throat, I nod again before chancing a glance over at my girlfriend, who's staring down at the ground like the broken concrete is the most enticing thing in the whole world. "I only did it because I was scared."