Chapter 2 2

Colton's POV

The weight of the gym bag in Colton's hand was a welcome distraction. He dropped it onto the bench in the corner of the private gym and tugged his shirt over his head, the familiar scent of sweat and rubber filling his senses. The routine was automatic: lace up the gloves, tape his hands, and get to work.

The punching bag swung wildly as he landed blow after blow, each strike releasing a piece of the frustration simmering beneath his skin. He should've been focusing on his company, on the countless responsibilities waiting for him at the office. Instead, his mind kept circling back to Mia.

Her smile had been forced last night. The way she avoided his gaze told him everything he needed to know. She was pulling away, and it was driving him insane.

A sharp jab sent the bag spinning, and he caught it with both hands to steady it. His chest heaved with the effort, but the restless energy wouldn't dissipate.

"You're going to kill that thing one day," said a familiar voice.

Colton glanced over his shoulder to see his younger brother, Caleb, leaning against the doorframe with a smug grin.

"Maybe I will," Colton replied, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

"Trouble in paradise?" Caleb's tone was light, but his gaze was probing. He always had a knack for seeing through Colton's walls.

Colton tossed the gloves onto the bench and grabbed a towel. "What do you want, Caleb?"

"Just checking in. You've been brooding more than usual." Caleb stepped into the room, his expression shifting to something more serious. "It's about Mia, isn't it?"

The mention of her name sent a flicker of irritation through Colton. He hated how transparent he was when it came to her.

"She's fine," Colton said curtly, avoiding his brother's gaze.

"Sure she is." Caleb crossed his arms, studying him. "And you're fine too, right? Because you're just friends who happen to sleep together."

Colton's jaw tightened. He didn't need this lecture, not now.

"Drop it, Caleb."

His brother let out a low whistle. "You're a mess, man. Just tell her how you feel before you screw this up."

Colton didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed his bag and headed for the showers, Caleb's words echoing in his mind.

Mia's POV

The hum of the espresso machine filled the air as Mia wiped down the counter for the third time. The café was unusually quiet for a Monday morning, giving her too much time to think.

Her coworker, Layla, popped her head out from the back room, her dark curls bouncing as she grinned. "Earth to Mia. You've been scrubbing that counter for ten minutes."

Mia forced a laugh. "Just trying to keep busy."

"Right," Layla said, arching an eyebrow. "Is this about Colton?"

The sound of his name made Mia's stomach twist. "Why would it be about him?"

"Because you've been staring off into space all morning, and you only do that when it's Colton-related." Layla leaned against the counter, her expression equal parts curious and concerned.

Mia sighed, setting the cloth aside. "It's nothing. Just... complicated."

"Complicated how?"

"It's nothing, Layla. Really."

Her friend didn't look convinced, but she let it drop. Mia appreciated it. She wasn't ready to talk about the mess she'd made of her feelings.

The bell above the door jingled, and Mia glanced up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Colton walk in.

Of course, he looked effortlessly handsome in his tailored suit and dark overcoat, his hair still slightly damp from a recent shower. He spotted her immediately, a slow smile tugging at his lips.

"Morning, Hart," he said, his voice warm and familiar.

Mia swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the counter. "Hey, Colton. What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd grab a coffee before heading into the office." He leaned on the counter, his hazel eyes locked on hers. "Figured you'd be here."

Her pulse quickened under his gaze. "You could've gone to any coffee shop."

"Yeah, but they don't have you."

The casual flirtation sent a spark through her, but she quickly tamped it down. He didn't mean it the way she wanted him to.

She turned to the espresso machine, focusing on making his usual order. The silence between them felt heavier than it should have.

"Mia," Colton said softly, his voice closer now.

She glanced over her shoulder and found him standing just a foot away, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

"What's going on with you?" he asked. "You've been different lately."

Her hands stilled on the machine. She couldn't meet his eyes, couldn't let him see the truth.

"Nothing's going on," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

"I don't believe you."

The frustration in his tone made her chest ache. She wanted to tell him, to lay everything bare, but fear held her back.

Instead, she handed him his coffee and forced a smile. "Here you go. On the house."

Colton frowned, clearly unsatisfied with her response. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm not letting this go, Mia." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "We're going to talk about this."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked out, leaving her heart pounding in his wake.

Colton's POV

The coffee sat untouched on Colton's desk, the steam curling into the air like a taunt. He couldn't focus on the stack of contracts in front of him, couldn't shake the image of Mia's forced smile from his mind.

She was hiding something.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. Caleb's words from earlier rang in his ears: Just tell her how you feel before you screw this up.

It wasn't that simple. If he told Mia the truth-if he admitted that she was the one thing he couldn't get out of his head-everything would change. And if she didn't feel the same...

He couldn't lose her.

But he couldn't keep going like this either.

Colton stood abruptly, grabbing his coat. He didn't know what he was going to say, but he knew he couldn't sit here any longer.

Mia's POV

The knock on her apartment door came just as Mia was settling onto the couch with a bowl of ice cream. She frowned, setting the bowl aside and padding to the door in her socks.

When she opened it and saw Colton standing there, her breath caught.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His hazel eyes searched hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mia folded her arms, trying to guard herself against the storm she saw brewing in his gaze. "About what?"

"You know what." He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space. "Something's been off with you, Mia. I want to know why."

Her throat tightened. She couldn't do this. Not now, not like this.

"I told you, I'm fine," she said, her voice wavering.

"No, you're not." His frustration was palpable, but so was the concern. "You're pulling away, and I want to know why."

Mia looked away, her hands trembling. "I can't do this, Colton."

"Do what?"

"This... us."

The silence that followed was deafening. When she finally looked up, his expression was unreadable.

"Mia..." His voice was softer now, his eyes searching hers. "What are you saying?"

She swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I can't keep pretending this is just physical. It's not. Not for me."

The confession hung in the air, raw and vulnerable.

Colton didn't move, didn't speak. Then, slowly, he reached out and cupped her face in his hands.

"You think I don't feel it too?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mia's breath hitched, her heart hammering in her chest. "What?"

"I've been fighting it, Mia. Fighting *you*. But I can't anymore." His lips crashed against hers, and for the first time in weeks, everything felt right.