Chapter Twenty-One
Sunday, January 8
Dallas, TX
Jake
T he morning sunlight seeps into my room, waking me up. For a second, I think it’s like any other day. Then I notice someone in my arms.
Mia
I look down at her sleeping form. So peaceful, beautiful, the way her body curls next to mine.
Last night might as well have been the best night of my existence. Every kiss, touch, and caress was out of this world. Burying myself inside her over and over again was like heaven. She is my heaven. And I never want to give that up. All this time I’ve spent apart from her, and that’s what I was missing?
As mind blown about our connection as I feel right now, there are still a lot of unanswered questions before I even think about putting a ring on her finger. What’s going to happen now? Who will she choose? What does the sex mean to her? Are we an item, or was she just trying me on for size before her boyfriend gets back? It isn’t him that I give a fuck about. I give a shit about Mia. I always have.
From what I can remember about her past relationships, she was always in until one of them called it quits. She’s loyal and committed to making things work. But that was when she was a teen. Is she still that same person? Given the fact we’ve slept together and she has a boyfriend, maybe not. But what if Kami is right? What if Vance and her aren’t that serious? Jeez, wouldn’t I love for that to be the truth? What happens now can either go well or end very badly.
But I have to come clean to her too.
I’ve lied and manipulated her to get what I want. I don’t feel guilty about that. What I feel guilty about is not claiming my territory in the first place. I know now I love this woman, and I refuse to let her go. I intend to spend every waking moment telling her that.
What about Jonathan?
That’s my only issue now. Telling Jonathan how I feel about his younger sister is one thing. To tell him that I’ve been slowly seducing her since the moment he left for vacation would have him flip his shit.
One problem at a time, though.
I take a deep but quiet sigh. That’s right. I still have more time to think things through. He comes home in a few days. Hopefully by the time he’s off the plane and in Dallas again, I’ll know what to do. No matter what I say, it won’t be good news from his perspective. All I can do is just come out and say… I’m in love with her and have been in love with her.
I volt out of bed, donning my sweatpants. What better way to make her feel loved and cherished than breakfast in bed?
I sneak out of the bedroom. Before I leave the room, I look over at her once again. The urge to slide back into bed and do all the unholy things we did last night is all too tempting. But sex can’t do all the talking for me. Sex can’t tell her what I need to say. Sex would only delay the inevitable conversation that needs to happen if I want any future with her.
She has to know I want more than sex.
I walk into the kitchen to see my phone right where I left it. The device continues to charge on the island. To let Mia keep sleeping, I silence my phone.
After that, I gather eggs and bacon and manage to find some pancake mix. I’ve just gotten out a pan and placed it on the stove when I hear a vibrating noise.
I look over my now-glowing phone.
Who could be calling me on a Sunday?
I grab my cell to look at the collar ID.
Jonathan?
Of all the calls I could’ve received, why is he calling? Is something wrong? Did something happen? Or did he just now listen to my voicemail? Jeez, if that’s it, looks like I’ll have to get my story straight sooner than I thought.
Grabbing my phone, I walk out the front door so Mia can’t hear. After about the third ring, and I shut the door behind me and accept the call.
“He lives,” I joke.
I hear a chuckle on the other end. “Hey, man. How are you doing?”
“Good. Just got up, actually.”
“Really? What time is it there?”
“Almost eight.”
“That’s right. I keep forgetting there’s a time change on my end.”
Whatever he’s calling about, I don’t think it’s just to chitchat. “To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?”
“Well…” He laughs awkwardly. “A couple of things. I got your voicemail, and I’m all ears.”
“I don’t really want to talk about this over the phone.” Something doesn’t feel right about not telling him to his face.
“Totally get it. We can talk when Kiera and I get back.”
“Oh yeah, what time is your flight then?”
“Actually, we’ve just landed at Love Field.”
I freeze. What does he mean he just landed at Love Field? Please tell me that’s an expression for sex on the beach or something. “Don’t tell me you cut your vacation short because of my voicemail.”
“It wasn’t just that. It’s Kiera. She isn’t doing well.”
“Kiera?” In the background, I can hear someone vomiting.
“Oh, god, I feel like shit.” I hear an exhausted feminine voice in the background.
“You’re doing a great job, babe. Just close the paper bag and keep breathing,” I hear Jonathan comforts her.
“When did she get sick? What happened?”
“Kiera seems to have caught a bug a few days ago and has been vomiting off and on ever since.”
“Shit, that’s sounds horrible. Anything I can do to help?”
“That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. I would have called sooner, but it was late and we didn’t want to wake you. We decided to come home early, and the earliest flight we could get was close to midnight. Could you come pick us up at the airport? Our plane just arrived at the tarmac.”
“Sure thing, man. What gate are you coming into?”
After exchanging information with Jonathan, I quickly shove all the food back where I found it. I then walk quietly back into my room. Mia is still right where I left her, fast asleep. Her bare shoulder is visible. Her hands scrunch up the comforter close to her face. Her hair cascades across the pillow.
My reality has come early. Earlier than I wanted. There’s still so much I have to make her see, make her hear. Will all of what I’ve done be for nothing in a matter of just one confession? I wish today wasn’t the day I could lose my job, my best friend, and the love of my life all at once. Maybe then I could be a bit more secure in the knowledge that Mia loves me despite what Jonathan thinks. But I don’t know that yet. I don’t know what’s going on in that gorgeous head of hers. For now, I burn this image of her in my bed—naked, asleep, and satisfied—to memory.
Forcing myself to walk away, I grab a T-shirt from the laundry room and put on my shoes next to the front door.
Before I leave, I grab a notepad and pen to write a short note. When I’m done, I rip the piece of paper from the notepad, grab a piece of tape, and tape my note on the inside of my door. I might not be here when she wakes up, but she’ll know I was thinking of her and intend on coming back.
Twenty minutes later, I pull into a parking spot at the airport. The airport is as empty as if it were deserted as I make my way down to their gate. I only have to wait a few minutes before I recognize Jonathan and his sickly pale bride-to-be. Wow, when he said she wasn’t feeling well he wasn’t kidding.
“Welcome home, guys,” I greet them.
“Hey, man.” Jonathan and I briefly hug, patting each other’s backs.
“How’s the invalid?” I take my focus back to Kiera. I’d hug her, but I don’t think that would be wise.
“I feel like shit.” Kiera’s face turns slightly green. “Where’s the closest bathroom?”
“You need to vomit again, sweetheart?” Jonathan drops the luggage in his hands, turning his focus to Kiera.
She takes deep breaths. “I think I’ll be fine. Just get me home.”
I interject. “Down the hall and it should be to your right just past the chapel.”
I barely finish the sentence before she starts running in that direction by herself.
“I hope she makes it,” I say to Jonathan as we both watch her sprint down the corridor.
“Me, too,” he replies, grabbing the luggage again. “Has any luggage come out of the baggage claim yet?”
I shake my head. “Not that I’ve seen.
We both sit down at some chairs nearby. I notice how tan Jonathan is. “Spent a lot of time in the sun?”
“More than I was expecting in all honesty.”
“So you…shook some sheets?” I wink at my best friend.
He laughs. “A gentleman doesn’t tell.
And that is why I respect him. “But seriously. You guys had a good time?”
“It was nice. I admit going on vacation, or at least spending more time away from work, is something she and I should do more often.”
“I’m glad she suggested it.”
He shakes his head. “Oh, no. I knew that idea had you written all over it.”
I scoff, trying to hide that truth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No need to hide it. Kiera told me you two were talking about it.”
Of course she’d tell him. No surprise there since they seem to tell each other everything.
“How’s everything been on your end?” Jonathan asks.
“Well, you’d be happy to know KH Industries didn’t burn down while you were gone. No issues in terms of projects. It was more work than I’m used to but not too bad.”
“Good. Good.” He clears his throat. “Like we talked about, I listened to your voicemail. Everything okay? It seemed pretty urgent.”
I sigh. “It’s something…I should have told you a long time ago.”
Jonathan leans back, seemingly cautious. “Did you get a woman pregnant or something?”
“No, nothing like that. Though, it is about a woman.”
“Are you thinking about settling down?” Jonathan leans forward again. “Who is she?”
“She’s…someone you know, and who we’ve known for a long time.”
“Why all the suspense, Hall?”
I want to tell myself it’s for him, but I’m starting to think it’s more for me. Somewhere deep down I think if I can delay this news, he can at least feel normal for just a bit longer. But I know that doesn’t help anything either.
“Because I’m not sure how you’ll react.” Who am I kidding? I know damn well how he’ll react. “I’m in love with Mia. And I’ve been in love with her for a while. I’ve wanted to tell you for years, but I wasn’t sure how to say it. Especially when you were so adamant that no one in our friend group should pursue her.”
There is—what feels like—a long silence between us. Should I brace for the angry expression, murderous eyes, and punch in the face, gut, and balls? I might as well.
Eventually, he slowly nods as though processing this information.
I continue. “Until she got back from college, until she was an adult, I’d kept my distance. And the last thing I want is for this to ruin our friendship?—”
Jonathan interrupts. “I knew.”
He what? “Y-you knew?”
He nods. “I’ve known for years. And I knew well before she left for college. It wasn’t hard to notice your glances at each other.” He chuckles. “I didn’t like it at first, but as time went on, I saw how you still protected her even when you couldn’t have her. I respect and thank you for that.”
Is this an illusion, or is this all real? “Why didn’t you say something?”
He shrugs. “Honestly? I was waiting for you to tell me. I knew you’d be scared shitless, like you are now, and waited for you to make a move. I didn’t want to out you like that, man.”
“So you’re okay with me pursuing her?”
“More than okay.” He smiles. “Those rules I made then were for a teenager so she wouldn’t find herself heartbroken and in trouble. But those days are long over. If you want her, go get her. You’re my best friend. If I could trust anyone to take care of her, it’s you. I know you’ll treat her the way she deserves to be treated.”
I pause. I know now those rules were null and void a long time ago. “Do you think I have a shot?”
“Saying you have just ‘a shot’ would be an understatement. You’ve been her crush for a long time. She’s never said anything, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have eyes.”
All this time, I’ve been wondering what this conversation would be like. Who knew all I had to do was say something. I’d only thought about the worst possible scenario, rightfully so, only to find out he knew and was okay with it since she became an adult.
“Then do I have your blessing to ask her to marry me?” I tease.
Although, the thought of Mia in a white dress and bouquet of flowers in her hands while making her way to me gets me excited. And then the thought of her barefoot and pregnant with my babies comes to mind. Putting those two thoughts together has me hard as hell.
But I can’t get ahead of myself. There’s still one more part of the equation I have to take care of.
“Baby steps, man. Make your relationship with my sister official first. Then we’ll talk about a blessing.”
I laugh. “Will do. Thanks, brother.”