Chapter 35 #3
I know how protective my sister can be. We get that trait honestly and straight from our father.
She’s likely questioning how much of an adverse effect this has had on my life, what being a part of Andi’s story will mean for my future, and the career I’ve worked so hard to obtain.
I haven’t come out and blatantly confessed that we’re involved romantically, but my sister knows me.
She’s well aware that I wouldn’t risk everything if my feelings didn’t exceed a simple, run-of-the-mill crush.
She rapidly taps her pointer finger and thumb together, a nervous tell that she wants to say something, but she’s worried about how it’ll be perceived.
“Just spit it out, Mia,” I tell her calmly, tempering my desire to be defensive.
“And the man she was sleeping half-naked in your bed with? The child she’s carrying?” She raises her eyebrow, daring me to refute what she walked in on and saw with her own two eyes.
I debate how much to tell her, but truthfully, I’ve barely gotten used to the idea of sharing Andi, and we’ve yet to even discuss it with Col and Dayton.
It doesn’t feel right to divulge our business when we haven’t agreed, as a group, how we’d like to go about that.
For the time being, I think it’s best I keep things vague.
“I’m in love with Andi, and my feelings for her aren’t contingent on whether or not she reciprocates, or even if she feels that way for someone else.
And the baby isn’t up for discussion. That’s as much as I’m willing to share on the matter.
For now,” I state, watching as Mia opens and closes her mouth several times, at a loss for words.
“Fair enough,” she eventually responds.
“Besides catching you up to speed on my life, there’s actually another reason I wanted us to meet today,” I hedge.
“Of course there is,” Mia jests, rolling her eyes at the fact I’ve lured her to lunch under false pretenses, though she isn’t innocent herself, considering she hopped on a plane with the intent to insert herself in my life.
Well, congrats, big sis. Consider yourself inserted.
“Do you still have that attorney connection in Biloxi?” I question quietly.
“As in my ex-boyfriend? Is that the connection you’re referring to?” Mia deadpans, clearly uninterested in revisiting such a sore topic.
Before I can respond, the chime above the door sounds, alerting us to a group of new arrivals.
I peg them the second they walk inside, having seen them around town quite a bit over recent days.
The group of social media journalists doesn’t bother softening their voices out of consideration for other customers.
They continue bantering back and forth, scanning the room for a place to sit that’ll accommodate their rather large party.
I dip my head low, not wanting them to spot me.
No one’s pegged me as someone noteworthy to the case, but it’s only a matter of time.
“Sem inglês?*,” I voice adamantly.
“Você sabe que um deles pode ser fluente em português, n?o é?*?” Mia questions drolly.
“é um risco que estou disposto a correr?*,” I whisper begrudgingly, because I’d prefer not to risk it at all, but I desperately need Mia to contact her ex as soon as possible.
“Olha, eu sei que estou pedindo muito e, se eu tivesse outra op??o, n?o te incomodaria com isso. Mas Belmont Astor é indiscutivelmente um dos melhores advogados de todo o Mississippi, e Andi precisa do melhor. Só passa meu número para ele, Mia. é só isso?*,” I plead.
Her lips press together in frustration, but she only vacillates for a second before pulling out her phone and shooting off a text.
“Thank you,” I mouth sincerely, standing to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Are you staying in town a while?”
“I suppose I don’t have much of a choice if Bel’s getting involved.
” Mia rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s nervous at the prospect of seeing her ex again.
They ended rather explosively, so I can’t imagine she’s thrilled with me at the moment.
“He’ll likely demand I speak with him before he agrees to help.
” I cringe, feeling awful that I’ve put her in this position.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, but she waves off my apology, stating it isn’t necessary. “Come to Thanksgiving dinner next week. We’d love to have you.”
“Sure. Just send me the timeline, and I’ll make it work.”
“Great.” I squeeze her one last time, grateful we had a few minutes to catch up, despite the circumstances.
“Where’re you running off to so eagerly?” she jokes, likely thinking it’s Andi I’m rushing back to, and though I can’t wait to have her within touching distance again, I have an errand that needs tending to first.
“I’ve recently learned there’s a little boy who’s rather fond of toy balls, so I’m headed out to buy every type I can find,” I answer, smiling widely while walking backward toward the exit.
Mia grins, shaking her head in wonder, the sudden shift in my lifestyle throwing her for a loop.
She has no idea how drastically of a change there’s been, my entire outlook on relationships and their traditional makeup being seen through a new lens.
I dread telling my parents that their son is in love with a woman whose heart belongs not only to me, but three others, too.
I’ll be prolonging that conversation for as long as possible.
*?Holy shit, I love you so much.
*?No English
*?You know that one of them might be fluent in Portuguese, right?
*?It's a risk I'm willing to take
*?Look, I know I'm asking a lot, and if I had another option, I wouldn't bother you with this. But Belmont Astor is arguably one of the best lawyers in all of Mississippi, and Andi needs the best. Just give him my number, Mia. That's all.