Chapter 23
happy birthday, mia
DOMINIC
October
The instant Mia climbs into my passenger seat, the air shifts. Just the sight of her makes my heart pang. I’m failing her time and time again with all this Remi bullshit. I want to fix it.
She presses her backpack to her chest and focuses on the view outside the windshield. My grip on the steering wheel tightens. I hate how indifferent she is.
“You good?” I ask, throwing the car into drive.
She shrugs. “Yeah.”
The distance she’s put between us doesn’t surprise me, but it still stings.
For the first mile or two, the only sound is the low rumble of the engine. Guilt has been gnawing at me since the bonfire, but with her right here beside me, it hits harder.
“About Remi…” I drum my fingers on the wheel and inhale, collecting my thoughts.
Her jaw tenses, but she doesn’t turn my way.
“You’re right. I should’ve set boundaries a long time ago.” I lower my voice. “I should’ve made it clear we were over for good. I haven’t wanted her around for a very long time, but I didn’t have the guts to tell her. That’s on me.”
Mia doesn’t respond. She doesn’t even look at me.
I clear my throat, but the lump there remains. “I’m not proud of how I handled this situation, and I hate that my actions have given you a reason to doubt me.”
Finally, she shifts in her seat, assessing me. “I want to trust you, Dom, but there’s no way I could ever trust her. Not when she texts you, not when she comes to the shop, not when she touches you and you don’t tell her to stop.”
My gut burns with regret. “I understand. I really do. I’m fucking mad at myself for not realizing all that sooner.”
She presses her lips together, her expression still guarded. She still doesn’t believe me, and with all the shit I put her through, I can’t blame her.
Rather than drop her at the front of her building, I pull into the parking lot and turn to face her fully. The morning sun makes her hair shine and her blue eyes stand out. She’s upset, but she’s never looked more beautiful.
“I can’t change my past,” I say, “but I’m dead set on changing my future. There’s no place for Remi in my life, and I’ll make sure she understands that.” I lick my lips. “I started by blocking her number.”
She nods, and maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I swear, there’s a hint of a smile on her lips. “Thanks for the ride,” she says quietly. Then, she leans over the console and plants a kiss on my cheek. “See you at home.”
“See you, babe,” I tell her as she climbs out of my car.
It’s the tiniest step, but at least it’s in the right direction.
Me:
I have a surprise for you. Come to the shop at 5:10
Mia:
Ohhhh, I love surprises
Me:
You’re gonna love this one
Mia:
If it involves your in my then I’m sure I will
Me:
Since when does my dick remind you of an eggplant? And what’s with the hamster?
Mia:
It’s a kitten
Me:
No explanation for the eggplant?
Mia:
See you at 5:10
“I’m gonna head out,” Dad says, stopping at my side. “Don’t forget, it’s Mia’s birthday. Monica left work early so she could surprise her with dinner.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. “I’ll be there. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.” He assesses the black Ford Mustang GT Fastback I’ve been working on for the last couple of weeks. “Think she’s gonna like it?”
I smile. “Here’s hoping. Matt told me it was her dream car, so…”
Matt didn’t tell me shit, I remembered her talking about it years ago, but my dad doesn’t need to know how close his stepdaughter and I have gotten.
“See you at home then.” He pats my shoulder and strolls toward the exit.
With a sigh, I go back to work. The car is ready, but I want it to be perfect, so I continue adding a few final touches before she gets here. After I wash my hands and shuck off my coveralls, I check the time. I finished with two minutes to spare.
I let out a breath of relief, so fucking glad I’m the only one who’s still here.
The last three weeks have been a whirlwind, making it nearly impossible for Mia and me to find time to see each other.
Maybe if we weren’t keeping it a secret—from everyone but Miles, Chiara and Jeff now—it’d be easier, but we’re not there yet.
At the sound of footsteps on the sidewalk, I lean against the hood of the car and wait. Mia steps inside and scans the space. When her eyes catch mine, her face lights up, and she darts across the bay. I wait where I am, drinking her in.
She’s as gorgeous as ever, wearing black leather shorts with an oversized dark green sweater and black ankle boots.
My cock throbs as her bare legs come into view.
Her hair is in a high ponytail with two braids on top of her head.
Her makeup is minimal, just her signature black eyeliner and some red on her lips.
“Hey.” She stops in front of me.
I curl my arm around her waist, pulling her against my chest. “Hey,” I murmur, my mouth a breath from hers. “Happy Birthday, Mia.”
She pops up onto her tiptoes and gives me a slow, sweet kiss. The scent of her perfume mixes perfectly with the taste of chocolate on her tongue.
I tug on her ponytail, making her arch her back, and drag my lips down her throat, sucking hard at the base, leaving yet another hickey.
“Dominic,” she moans.
“God, I missed you,” I murmur into the delicate column of her throat.
“I missed you too.” She drags her nails over my scalp.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Usually, the garage smells like motor oil and metal, but now, it’s full of her scent, my mind overwhelmed with her presence.
“So, where’s my surprise? Or did you invite me here to look at the cars you’re working on? I’m fine with either option, by the way.”
“Of course there’s a surprise.” I kiss her forehead and grasp her arms, backing her up a step. Then, I take a step to the side and hold out an arm. “What do you think about this?”
She frowns, taking in the sleek black car, and after a moment, her jaw drops.
“You’re kidding me,” she mumbles, glancing between me and the car.
I shake my head. “It’s yours.”
“What?” She brings both hands to her mouth.
“Dad bought it for you, but Miles and I fixed it up.”
Her breathing has picked up, each breath coming shallower than the last. “This is my dream car. How is that even possible?”
I step beside her and loop an arm around her waist. With two fingers, I turn her head so she’s looking at me. “You used to talk to my dad about it when you were a kid. I remembered it and told him, and he found it for you.”
“Did you have it painted? Because it looks new.”
“Nah. We just polished it up.”
“I can’t believe you did this.”
“Dad’s been saying for a while that you need a car for school. So, why not your dream car?”
“Dom, this is perfect. Thank you so much.” She glances at the car again. “You’re so good at what you do.”
“Miles helped me.” I lick my lips, suddenly apprehensive about sharing this next part. “Remember how you told me I’d find a new dream?”
She nods, a smile tipping her lips.
I clear my throat. “I think I have. I’ve been working on convincing my dad to help Miles and me open a custom motorcycle shop. We’ve been busting our asses here, and Dad sees that, so he’s finally agreed to back us.”
“Oh my God!” She throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “But we agreed to build one from scratch first, a full custom bike as an example, something we can use to promote the business.”
She tears up a little, her smile wobbly. “I’m so happy for you—and so fucking proud.”
I chuckle. “Don’t get too excited yet. We have a lot to figure out. Design work, paint, graphics—”
“I can help.”
“What do you mean?”
She grins. “My game design program includes a lot of graphic design. I can help with renderings and artwork, all of it.”
My throat constricts as I take her in, and a mix of emotions swirls through me: happiness, joy, endearment, love.
My heart stutters. Love? I’ve never been in love before. This can’t be it, right?
Voice thick, I say, “Guess I’ll have to keep you around, Little Mayhem.”
The space between us disappears, and our lips collide in a hot, languid kiss. She threads her fingers through my hair, pressing closer, looking for more, needing more.
I slide my hands from her waist to her ass, guiding her thighs around my hips. In two strides, I’m standing at the hood of the car, lowering her onto it gently. Without breaking the kiss, I start massaging her tits through her sweater.
“God, I’m fucking obsessed with you,” I confess.
She throws her head back, exposing her throat. Like a siren, she calls to me, pulls me in. Curled over her, I put my mouth on her skin, kissing, biting, marking…I want everyone to know she’s mine.
A sound across the bay startles me. It’s just a small click, but it’s out of place.
Yanking back, I search the area near the door, and when my attention lands on a head of red hair, my heart drops. Remi. Her face is a mask of anger and pain, her brows pulled down and her chin trembling. She’s holding up her phone, aiming it at us.
“I knew it,” she mumbles. “I fucking hate you.”
Before I can even open my mouth, she’s gone.
I look down at Mia, blood whooshing in my ears. Fuck. There’s no way Remi will keep this quiet.
Stepping back, I help Mia off the hood. As she fixes her clothes and then her hair, I’m rooted to the spot, in a stupor. I wet my bottom lip then clench my jaw. Fucking Remi. The thought disappears from my mind just as quickly as it comes.
We can’t go back in time. All we can do is control the fallout.
I hold my hand out to Mia, and she takes it, entwining her fingers with mine.
“Let’s go home,” I say.
She nods, and we head out of the shop. It’s time to face reality.
The house is in chaos as we step inside. Monica rushes out of the living room, eyes blazing, Matt and Dad on her heels.
“Seriously?” Monica yells. Her voice is sharp, cutting. She shoves Matt’s phone in Mia’s face. “You’re only nineteen, and you’re sneaking around with—”
“With whom, Mom?” Mia snaps, crossing her arms. “With the guy who’s lived in your home for years? A guy you’ve known forever? Why is it so bad? Why does it even matter?”
“Why does it even matter? Do you hear yourself?” She glares at Mia with such ferocity, it makes me ball my fists. “He is your stepbrother! We are a family! Do you have any idea what people would think if they knew? They’d think we’re sick!”
“I don’t give a flying fuck what people think about me. My life is not their concern.”
Heart pounding, I try to chime in, to back Mia up, but they don’t let me get a word in. Matt stops in front of me, his face a mask of fury.
“How could you?” he grits out, his tone full of malice. “She’s my little sister, you asshole!”
“Fuck this.” I grit my teeth and step up to him. “How could I? Because I care about her. Do you really think I’d risk your friendship and our family’s happiness if she didn’t mean everything to me?”
Matt frowns, jaw tight. “You should’ve told me.”
“And what would you have done if I did? Would you have approved if I’d talked to you beforehand?”
I’m met with silence. Yeah, that’s what I thought. We both know he would’ve lost his shit.
“I can’t do this right now,” Mia mutters.
Our eyes lock, and a wave of tenderness I’ve never felt before washes over me. It kills me to see her so upset. I hate that I’m the reason for Monica’s anger. Mia stands on her tiptoes and presses her lips to my cheek.
“Thank you for today,” she says quietly. “Talk later?”
I nod, and with a small smile, she’s gone, darting up the stairs.
Monica follows, hot on her heels. Fuck. Matt hesitates, glancing at me and then at his mom.
“I’m not done with you,” he finally says, stepping into me. “We need to talk, but right now…Mia needs me more. Mom’s not going to let this go.”
With that, he hurries upstairs.
Head in my hands, I focus on breathing. It’s hard; the air in the foyer is thick and venomous. Feeling as though I’m suffocating, I drop my hands and step out onto the porch.
Dad joins me a few seconds later, and when he doesn’t speak right away, I light up a cigarette and take a drag. Then, I hold the pack out to him. He pulls one out as well.
We stand on the porch side by side, smoking. For several minutes, he doesn’t speak, but I know it’s coming. That’s how my dad’s always been.
“You love her?” he asks.
My throat tightens, making it impossible to speak, but he doesn’t need a response. He’s always been able to read me.
A humorless laugh escapes his lips. “Of course. How could you not?” He turns to face me, and I mirror him. “She’s worth it? Because this will complicate things. For everyone, but especially you two.”
Without hesitation, I nod. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Dad nods and puts his heavy hand on my shoulder. “Then don’t fuck it up, son.”