13. Mia
Mia
With my eyes closed, I press snooze on my alarm with zero remorse. I refuse to get up. I don’t know why I’m so exhausted, but I’ve had zero energy for two days. I can’t tell if I’m getting sick or just tired from making sure every detail of Callie and Will’s engagement party goes perfectly.
“Mia, honey.” Adam’s voice tries to pull me from my sleep. “You’ve snoozed your alarm three times.”
I have, and I’ll do it again.
“Five more minutes,” I grumble, rolling away from him.
Adam finally got back from Spring Training two days ago. The moment his plane landed, he was at my door. I managed some energy for the welcome home sex, but that was it.
Adam hasn’t cared that I’m not in the mood, he’s been into the party planning as much as I have.
The bed dips with Adam’s weight as he lies back down next to me. “Are you okay, baby? Maybe you should stay home and rest for a while.”
“I can’t stay home.” I roll over, still never opening my eyes and snuggling deeper into his warmth. “We have the party today—I just need a few more minutes. My body feels heavy, but it’ll go away.”
“Mia—”
“Shh.” I blindly reach up and put my hand over his mouth. “Five more minutes, please.”
Adam doesn’t argue. His hand brushes softly through my hair as he holds me close.
Maybe that’s why getting out of bed has been so hard.
The man’s practically a furnace, and he smells so good.
Even if he does get up at the crack of dawn, his presence lingers.
I’m not sure I’ve ever actually slept this good in a long time, so it begs the question again of, why am I so freaking tired?
My five minutes turns into fifteen, but then my extremely late, must get my ass up, alarm goes off. I finally muster the strength to roll out of bed.
“I’ll heat up your breakfast and bring it up,” Adam says as I stretch.
“Thank you. I’m going to try and not lie back down.” The warm bed is taunting me. Begging, actually, for me to crawl back under the covers.
Adam tilts his head as he studies me. I can tell I’m worrying him, so maybe I should tone it down a bit for today. I want him to focus on his sister getting engaged and the party after.
Stepping into him, I wrap my arm around his waist. “I promise, I’m fine, but if it will make you feel better, I’ll take tomorrow off.”
“You could take today and tomorrow.”
“No, not today. I have a party to throw for a very serious client.”
Adam huffs a weak laugh. He cups my face. “There’s nothing I can say that would convince you to stay home and sleep, is there?”
“No, it’d be a waste of your breath for sure.”
Adam tilts his head back with a deep breath, then kisses my forehead. “Okay, go get ready. I’ll bring up your food, and I’m taking you to work.”
“Adam—”
“Mia, I’m taking you.”
I can’t stop my eye roll at his bossiness. Even though I really like this man taking care of me, my independent reflexes are still sharp.
Adam gives me a quick kiss, then heads downstairs.
Making my way to the bathroom, I quickly come to the conclusion that it’s a bare-minimum day because why am I getting out of breath from simply putting my hair up in a ponytail?
I munch on some of the toast and bacon Adam brings me while I finish getting ready.
Despite how good they look, I take one bite of the eggs and cannot bring myself to take another.
I swear I loved them last time…maybe he did something different.
I know he said cooking wasn’t exactly his forte but there hasn’t been anything I’ve disliked so far.
Scanning my shoes, I’m tempted to reach for my loafers, but that may tip everyone off that I don’t feel like myself, so I opt for kitten heels. Which honestly, could still look like a call for help, but better than no heel at all.
Making it downstairs, I can tell from the way Adam’s doing a full scan of my body that my fear is right. My knee-jerk reaction is to immediately point out how cute the shoes are with the little bow and how perfectly they match my burgundy skirt, but decide that will only make it worse.
“You ready, honey?”
I let out a breath. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Adam rests his hand on my thigh for the drive, and every few minutes I can feel his hand tense. I swear he’s physically trying to hold himself back from turning the car around and bringing me back home.
When we get in front of Winedown, Adam goes to get out of the car but I stop him.
“Adam, I promise, I’m fine. You have to be at the stadium in less than an hour, and you haven’t even been home since you got back.”
“Baby, you don’t feel good. Let me—”
“No,” I cut him off, then give him a quick kiss. “We both know that if you come in there with me, neither of us are going to want you to leave. I promise, I’m okay. I’ll text you updates as things get set up, okay?”
Adam lets out a breath. “Alright, but I want updates about you first, then the party.”
“Okay, babe.”
Gathering up my stuff, I reach for the door handle, but this time Adam stops me. “Wait, one more thing.”
His hands find my face, and he pulls me back for a deep kiss. His tongue glides softly against mine, sending a shiver down my spine. Maybe this is the medicine I need.
Our kiss slows and he places a few more small ones to my lips before meeting my eyes. “I mean it, text me if you start to feel worse.”
“I will. Now, go, you have a game and your sister has a life-changing decision coming her way.”
Adam finally gives me somewhat of a laugh. “Will’s already panicking that she’ll say no.”
“Well, go help get his mind off that nonsense. I’ll get this place ready for when she says yes.”
This time, when I reach for the door, Adam doesn’t stop me. He does, however, watch me walk in before he pulls off.
I knew coming in later would mean that the lunch rush would be starting, but what I didn’t anticipate was being so on the go from the moment I walked in.
I barely made it to my office before Stacy, our new bartender, called about her car battery dying. She said she’d still planned on coming in for the party, but I had to jump on the upstairs bar for the duration of the rush.
My mind was so split between the things I needed to get done for the party and making drinks that I fucked up several things that are usually a piece of cake for me.
I know I want this night to go perfectly for Adam, but it feels like things are falling out of my head. I couldn’t remember multiple drink orders and had to write them down on a notepad. I grabbed the wrong liquor several times, then had to pour it out and start over.
By the time the rush starts to slow, my morale is low, and the exhaustion has only gotten worse. Maybe I am getting sick?
Ripping my notepad to a clean page, I quickly try to write down everything I need to do to get ready for the party because clearly I’m not on my A-game today.
“Holy shit,” I hear Jensen’s voice and finally look up from my paper. She and Lucie take seats at the bar. “Dios mio, is Mia Wright sweating?”
This insane urge to cry takes over me, and I shove it down. What is actually happening to me right now?
“It’s been a day. What are you guys doing here?” I check the time on my phone. It’s just after three. “Jen, I thought you were coming to set up at four? The health inspector—”
“Adam sent us early,” Jensen cuts me off.
“Said you weren’t responding to his texts and you weren’t feeling well. Here, drink this.” Lucie reaches into her bag and sets a bottle of water on the bar top.
I shake my head with a fragile laugh. “Of course he sent you.” I don’t reach for the water, even though I probably should, but take out my phone instead to reply to Adam.
Tell me how you’re feeling baby.
Sorry, I had to run the bar upstairs. Long story that doesn’t matter now, but your reinforcements are here. I’m fine, quit worrying about me.
“He also told us to pick up this.” Jensen sets a Spilled Tea matcha next to the water.
“Bless that man.”
That drink I actually pick right up. The first sip doesn’t hit like it usually does, but it appears I’m simply having an off day today. I probably am getting sick—it’s just hitting me very slowly.
I let out a breath. “Okay, I’m going to tell them to lock the doors and turn the sign off so we have plenty of time for the people here now to finish and get cleared out. Then I have to get stuff rolling for this party.”
Jensen hops off her stool. “I’ll handle that and let everyone downstairs know. You take five minutes.”
“I don’t exactly have five minutes to spare here, Jen.” I used them all up this morning with my snooze button.
“You do now. Luce and I are here to help. She just can’t do any extreme lifting with her two little peas in a pod.”
Lucie runs a hand over her stomach. “I don’t know…I think it’s still two different pods since they’re fraternal.”
My nosiness beats out all of my exhaustion and party hyperfixation. “Sorry, but I have to ask, is that not a crazy feeling—having two babies in there?”
Lucie laughs. “Oh, yeah, if I think about it too long, it honestly freaks me out a little. But oddly, I love it at the same time. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Hmm, I could see that. I love the idea of having kids, but the craziest part is I can actually visualize a little now too. All I’ve ever really seen clearly has been my career and business moves. But now there’s Adam and the idea of having a family with him sounds so perfect.
Us moving into the townhouse my grandfather left me. Kids after a few years of being married. Our little family cheering him on from the stands.
“So, we have a few hours. What can we do to help?” Lucie puts her hands on the bar as she stands up. “Everyone’s been babying me on what I can do while pregnant, but I’m hoping you won’t, so hit me with a task.”
“I appreciate the offer, but…” My words trail off when I notice Lucie’s face souring. “Alright, I need to start cleaning up here. I’ll start behind the bar, if you want to start sweeping the floor? We’ll mop after the busboys come up to move the tables.”
“Perfect, where’s the broom?”
“There’s a small cupboard back behind you in that corner. There should be one in there.”