Thirteen
MIA
I’m sitting in my car staring outside his house.
His mom’s house. That he doesn’t like people to be at but here I am, waiting to go inside because I lost the deal and he invited me here.
I knew that he would find a way to ruin my date.
I didn’t anticipate his confidence in how the night would end with him taking me home but I should have.
That dinner was important and I nearly threw it out the window as soon as his smug ass sat across from me.
He knew what he was doing and I let him.
When the waitress dropped off the cherry margarita I almost sent it back just out of spite but I was desperate for it.
Plus the waitress would have lit me on fire with her glare if she could.
They definitely had some kind of history but I don’t care.
Every time I stole a glance his way, he was already staring at me. And that made me feel a certain way.
He took me home in Eli’s car and called me out for not wearing jeans so we couldn’t ride his bike.
I will never admit it to him, but I regret not doing what he asked.
I love riding on the back of that damn bike.
When he dropped me off, I kissed his collarbone.
I’m pretty sure he was waiting for it because he wore a shirt that had a wide collar and was already pushed slightly to the side when I turned around.
He texted me this morning and told me that we could work in the kitchen with backsplash and replacing the sink and hollowing out the cabinets.
Which sounds like a lot of work for most people but to me, it sounds like a day full of creation.
A lot of people didn’t like open cabinets, but I have an entire inspo board dedicated to them.
I think it helps the space look more inviting but also less cluttered at the same time.
And it shows life in the kitchen. Life isn’t perfect, it’s lived. Our homes should also reflect that.
He told me to just come in through the front door when I got here. But it feels weird to just enter through the front door. That’s why I’ve been outside, contemplating the simplest thing and making it complicated.
AJ
Are you sitting in your car? He won’t bite.
Mia
Are you checking my location? I’m so proud of you!
AJ
Go inside.
Mia
You’re hot when you’re bossy.
AJ
Don’t be weird.
Mia
Love you!
My phone starts vibrating and I smile at the name on the screen. My favorite person is calling.
“Hey Gigi!” My grandmother is probably the brightest and kindest soul on the planet, making it impossible to not love her.
Although my mother does her best to try, she fails.
Gigi is radiant in everything she does and people feel honored to even walk on the same floor as her.
I don’t know why my parents try so hard to discredit everything she built by building bigger.
“How’s my favorite granddaughter?” Her melodic voice always settles me.
“I’m your only granddaughter.”
“Accurate point, dear. How is my favorite girl?” I can feel the smile through her words.
“About to go work on a remodel project actually.” Gigi was the only one to ever encourage my chaotic hunger to create new things, until I started working at West Haven.
Every person in my life has always quieted my ideas or dismissed them.
Now I am surrounded by people who listen.
Eddie never tells me no. I think because AJ never tells me no.
And the guys, as much trouble as they like to pretend to cause, are always down to help me.
I fit in here, more than I have anywhere else.
“How lovely! What are the plans?” Her interest is all genuine.
She taught me how to do a lot of things.
Remodeling being one of them. She also taught me which dress to wear to which event so I will always command attention but also respect.
Gigi is the type of woman that defines walking the line in every situation.
“Today it is just a simple kitchen refresh. You should see the house though. It’s absolutely beautiful.
The type of home you want to put in a capsule.
You can feel the love in the walls.” I can’t stop my mind from going back to the night that Oliver brought me back here and how I drug my fingertips along the walls.
There is something especially loud about a home that held so much love.
This is his mom’s home and there was a weight residing in my chest about making any changes to it.
I send him the remodeling ideas mainly just to see how long it takes for me to annoy him.
I never thought he would actually want to do it.
“There are so many of those homes that just get forgotten.” She hums. “Is this one in your little hideaway town?” She sounds like she is working. I can hear papers being shuffled.
“I’m not hiding.” I remind her. “They know where I am.” I hate bringing up my parents. “I love it here though.” My eyes find the pictures of me and AJ and Maxwell on my dash. My storm cloud and sunshine.
“Your parents are the densest people I have the misfortune of being surrounded by. It’s exhausting.
” A chuckle escapes me at her words. “How are your jobs going? I do wish you wouldn’t overwork yourself.
Life is too precious to not enjoy it.” If it was up to my grandmother, I would be traveling the world and experiencing everything possible.
“Says the woman sitting in her office working as we speak. Shouldn’t you be retired?”
“Retiring would leave the assets to your father. I’m not ready to do that.
I can still do good work.” I can hear her huff on the other end.
“Don’t ignore my questions. I miss you, the least you can do is oblige my request for updates.
” I can hear the squeak in her old leather chair that has sat in her office since I can remember.
She refuses to replace it because she said that it’s seen her through every big moment in her career.
“Coffee shop is going great. I barely work there to be honest. I enjoy learning the latte art though and testing out new flavors.” Last week I learned how to make a group of flowers and I got so excited I spilled it over the rim of the cup.
“A rose chai latte would be wonderful right now…” She interrupts softly.
“I’ll make sure to bring you some of your favorite chai leaves the next time I come visit.” I promise her. She likes the tea leaves from this very small shop in town.
“Which will be soon, don’t you dare think about not coming to our birthday gala.
” I can hear the warning in her voice. We have done a shared birthday event for the past few years and she always goes all out.
Full black tie event, decorated with the most breathtaking art with all bids going to a charity of each of our choosing.
“What's the theme this year?”
“Bleeding heart.” She says proudly. “Imagine all the different shades of red and black.” Red has always been her favorite color. Naturally it became mine as well. “How is the marketing and management job you love so much? What’s the name of the place?”
“West Haven.” I smile just thinking about the West men and how easy it is for them to create a safe place for everyone who walks through that door.
“It’s perfect. Eddie really gives me all the creative freedom I ask for.
AJ never doubts me. And the triplets…” I squeeze my eyes shut to try and not give anything away to her.
She would smell it a mile away that I had a crush on one of the brothers.
She was the one that pointed out my crush on Adam growing up.
I never told her why he and I split up, it would break her heart.
“The triplets are sweet and supportive.”
“And your investment?”
My phone vibrates again. I pull my phone away from my ear to read the text that came though.
AJ
Get your ass out of that car.
My smile grows big. “I got to go, Gigi. I love you bunches.”
“Love you bunches, my sweet girl.” She hangs up.
Mia
Don’t yell at me.
AJ
You told me to yell at you if you didn’t go inside. Make up your mind.
Mia
You’re not wrong. Thank you.
I take a deep breath, readying myself. I can be in close quarters and not want to kiss him. Or think about the way his hands feel on my skin. How he manages to bruise without marks. How I feel it for days after. I can do this.
Making my way out of my car, I walk up the pathway to the front porch.
No plants or decorations on the porch, but it is clean and open.
I ignore his instructions of just walking in and knock instead.
No answer, so I wait a few minutes and then knock again.
Still no answer but I can hear faint music coming from inside.
I knock again. I let out a frustrated sigh before turning the handle to open the door.
“Keeping your front door unlocked is very unbothered queen of you, Oliver!” I yell out across the open floors. The kitchen is to my right, I take a peek inside and see a pile of products and equipment for the work today. “Ol!” I yell out again.
I push my way past the kitchen and through a long hallway.
I know if I take a left at the end, I will end up in his bedroom.
That’s a hard no. I turn around to inspect the other part of the house when I notice a door I didn’t notice that night.
And then the music reaches my ears again.
I open it to be met with stairs. Curiosity never leads to boredom.
I hit the bottom of the staircase and I regret my decision to never want to be bored. Boring is safe. Walking in on Oliver shadowboxing in his basement shirtless and dripping sweat is not safe.