Cain

I tapped my fingers along the table at the restaurant and checked my watch again. I was early but since Mia was the one that invited me out, I expected her to at least be early.

I was hesitant to come when I first saw her text message, but I remembered her reaction to when I said no to the movie and I didn't feel like dealing with a headache tonight. I was hungry anyway and if she was on some random bullshit, at least there would be food.

I took a sip of the whiskey on the table and sighed as I looked around the busy restaurant. It was a popular place so I wasn't surprised that there were a lot of people, but I was surprised that Mia managed to get a table at one of the more secluded parts of the restaurant.

I looked up as I saw Mia approaching the table and she gave me a bright smile before sitting down across me. "You came."

"Did I have a choice?" I asked dryly.

She rolled her eyes and I sighed as I looked around in boredom. "Why am I here?"

"I made a choice," she said.

"A choice about what?"

"About who I want to be with," she said happily.

"Oh," I said quietly. The news should've made me happier than I was, but I was indifferent to it. If she wanted to be with me, I wasn't sure I would be able to give in. Especially when I started thinking about Iris a hundred times an hour.

I saw her this morning, yet I was dying to see her again. I quite enjoyed our little arguments over irrelevant things. I was so distracted that I didn't notice Mia reach out for my hand. "Cain," she began. "Do you love me?"

Yes...I think?

I didn't know what answer to give, but if I told her yes right now, it'd be because it was on instinct. Not because I truly meant it. If she had asked me that question a few days ago, I probably would've said yes because it felt right, but now it didn't.

It felt strange. Like I was betraying a side of me that would disagree with the confession of love. I watched as Mia frowned when I stayed quiet and I held back a malevolent smile. It must suck truly. I told her loved her thousands of times in the past without her saying it back, but now our roles were reversed. She had no right to ask if I loved her.

"Mia," a voice said.

We both turned our heads and my jaw clenched almost on instinct when I saw Abel standing with a bouquet of roses. He looked down at my hand which Mia was holding and I immediately pulled away.

"Jackson," Mia said as she stood up. She kissed him on the cheek and guided him to one of the chairs beside me. "Have a seat."

"What is he doing here?" Abel asked. "You told me to meet you because you wanted to get back together."

"She told me to meet her because she decided who she wanted to be with," I said as I slapped his shoulder. "Congratulations, it's you." I stood up from the chair to leave, but Mia shook her head quickly.

"No, wait!" She said. "I'm not done."

I rolled my eyes as I sat back down and Mia smiled at the both of us. "As you know, I love the both of you very much. I'm so sorry for everything I've put the both of you through while making this decision. You didn't deserve it."

I smiled slightly that she began taking accountability for her actions and I sat up as I listened. Even though she was choosing him, I was beyond proud of her growth. I knew it took a lot out of her to be able to even choose let alone do it in front of the both of us.

"So after much thought, I've made the decision to be with the both of you," she said nervously with a large smile.

It was only Mia who could manage to make me happy and then break my heart within the same second. It hurt enough that I thought she was choosing him, but her saying she was wanted the both of us, showed me the amount of respect she truly had for us.

None.

I've made the decision...who the fuck says that? I was still confused as to why she was the one who deserved it.

"What?" Abel said lowly as he set the flowers down.

"You both have qualities that I need and I can't lose either of you. I'd be crazy to give one of you up. I've done research on poly relationships and-"

"So you called us here to notify us?" I asked. "Not to give us a choice in the matter." It wasn't even an option. Not only was I not interested in sharing...he's my fucking brother.

"You both love me and I love the both of you," she defended. "Why choose when we could all be happy together?"

I shook my head slowly as I looked at her. I glanced at Abel who seemed a lot more distraught than me and I shook my head. I didn't want to care, but as he sat here, my brotherly instincts kicked in.

"Do you realize how fucking selfish you're being, Mia?" I asked. "He's been with you for three fucking years. He was about to marry you and now you want him to share you?"

Mia frowned as she was taken aback by my words and I rolled my eyes. "I wasn't sure how I felt about you a few minutes ago, but if this is the person you are, I don't want it." My heart pained as I said the words to her, but I controlled myself and continued.

"I'm done, Mia," I said as I stood up. "I don't want to even be friends with you until you can start thinking about the shit that you do."

I stood up from the table and a tear rolled down Mia's cheek. She must've sensed my seriousness because she looked away from me and took Abel's hand into hers. "Don't leave me, okay? I'm so sorry."

I almost walked away until I noticed that he was softening his composure because of her tears. I knew he was the forgiving type but there was no way he'd actually take her back, right?

He looked miserable as she continued spewing bullshit, but he looked at her like he still loved her. Which I understood, but Mia needed to learn a hard lesson about life. You can't walk over people and get whatever the fuck you want.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Abel said to her.

"No, Jackson," she said as she shook her head. "Please, I'm sorry. I'll marry you."

"No," he said as he slowly pulled his hands away from hers. "I'm tired of getting my heartbroken."

"I won't break it again," she promised desperately. "Please, we can leave and go somewhere else. I'll be a stay-at-home wife or something."

"You have to be a stay-at-home wife to not cheat on me?" He asked sadly with a small smile.

"That's not what I meant," she said. "I'll do anything. Don't you remember our promise, Jackson?"

Abel closed his eyes and nodded softly and I shook my head. Stupid, stupid, little brother.

I walked back to the table and pulled him up by his arm. "We're leaving," I said.

"No," Mia said as she tried to stop us.

"If you ever want a chance at anything from either of us, you'll fuck off," I snapped. She sobbed as she took a step back and she looked up at Abel

"Please," she whispered.

He looked away from her weakly and I felt proud at his strong stance. I knew if I wasn't here, he would've crumbled and done whatever she wanted. But luckily for him, I was. I practically dragged him out of the restaurant by his arm and when we were outside, I let go of him.

I rubbed my face and took the chance to look at him to see that he looked completely destroyed. Whatever spirit he held in him, even the one that annoyed the fuck out of me, was gone from his eyes.

After everything, my father told me and just seeing him like this...I couldn't help myself anymore. I pulled his head onto my shoulder and hugged him tightly. A hug that would tell him all the apologies that I couldn't utter. Hopefully, one that would make up for all the ones I missed after all of these years.

It took him a while, but he finally hugged me back just as tightly as I did and he cried into my shoulder. I blinked away my own tears threatening to spill at the bitter reunion and I held my breath. Both of us couldn't be crying right now, so I'd be the emotional well for him to cry into for now.

I thought that the reason he was breaking down was because of Mia and what she had done. But u was proven horribly wrong when he spoke up.

"Life has been hard without you."

꧁꧂

Author's Note
The way I'm sobbing right now isn't even funny😭

What the hell was Mia thinking tho bruh?😭 I'm so freaking dead. She wanted to pull a Cleo😂
It's not funny but it's funny. In the process though, she's managed to break Cain AND Abel's hearts😔
Bright side is the brothers are reunited💕
Lmk your thoughts ✨