Chapter Fourteen
Jake
A fter spending the whole morning and afternoon replaying Tuesday night in my head, I’m dying to know what’s going on in Mia’s head. Did she enjoy that night like I did? What’s she thinking? Feeling? Has her attitude toward me changed for the better? If so, how soon can I come clean to her about what’s in my heart?
Vance is still in the picture.
Not for long if he barely gives her the time of day. I mean, what guy doesn’t take his girl out on the weekends? Or at least spend time with her? Whatever the reason, he’s a real shitty boyfriend. I don’t know what kind of person Vance is, and I won’t pretend that I do, but if he truly cared for her, he’d spend as much time with her as possible. At least I would.
All the more reason to take this opportunity and convince her she belongs with me.
I’ll figure out what to do with Vance later. Right now, my main priority is finding information on Mia. I know women talk. I know Mia and Kami had lunch together. So what better person to get information from than from the person she’s more than likely to been confiding in?
“Oh, it’s the man with a plan. What can I do for you today?” Kami jokes, tucking her fist under her chin.
“How are you?”
“Spectacular.” Her sarcastic tone is obvious. “What about you?”
How do I ask this without her getting suspicious? I clear my throat. “I’ve got this…friend.”
She gasps dramatically. “You have friends besides Jonathan? I could have sworn he was the big spoon to your little.”
I frown. “Has Ian ever told you you’re a brat?”
“Loud and proud.” She grins. “So what about your friend?”
“Well, he likes one of your friends.”
“Who’s your friend?”
“Someone who works here, but you wouldn’t know him.”
“Okay. And which friend does he like?”
God, this is harder than I thought it was going to be. “Mia. He heard you two have lunch together, and he wanted me to ask you?—”
She bursts out laughing. “I have to stop you there. You look so miserable right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You want to know if Mia told me about your little dinner the other night.”
I groan to myself. “Yes.”
“She did.”
“And?”
“Careful there, Hall. You’re coming off a bit like a stalker asking me that question,” she teases.
I roll my eyes. No, I’m not. “Can’t a friend worry about another friend?”
“Let’s be honest. You want to be more than that.”
Now she’s just yanking my chain.
She softens. “There’s no need to coax information out of me. I know when a man is pursuing a woman. Ian did the exact same thing with me.”
“Can you tell me what she said?”
“If it means her happiness? Yes. But don’t fuck it up.”
“Not my plan.” I look around us to make sure no one is listening. “Did she say anything interesting?”
She laughs. “You’re so cute right now. I should take a picture.”
“Seriously, Kami?” She’s enjoying every minute of this.
She laughs. “I’m just messing with you. Yes, she did. And she had a lot to say.”
I perk up with excitement. “Tell me.”
“I can’t break girl code, but I can say you have her attention. And she really liked the dinner you arranged.”
Ian was right, playing the friendly, but not too friendly, card did the trick. There is something between us. She feels something for me, like I do for her. I just need more time to prove to her that we’re right together.
Hell, yeah.
“Did she say anything else?”
She hesitates. “Mia is a sea of emotions. She should be the one to tell you about them. All I can say is that she needs reassurance. Find some way to get her to lower her guard, and I think she’ll open up.”
Get her guard down? “How do I do that?”
“You’re the co-CEO of a major company. Use your imagination.”
Easier said than done. “I’ve tried to get her to open up. She’s a tough one to crack.”
“I agree with you on that. But at some point, you will get to her. Be patient, but tread carefully.”
“Would it be safe to say her boyfriend won’t be a problem?” The last thing I want is for her boyfriend to come barging in and trying to beat the shit out of me for hitting on his girl.
“Vance?” She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s serious, but I wouldn’t put her on the spot about him. I have a feeling, when it comes to Vance, everything will sort itself out.”
“I hope so.” He’s a thorn in my side I’m ready to pluck out.
“Wow. You are so jelly right now.” She laughs. “It’s adorable.”
I choose to ignore her poking. “I just know what I want.”
From the moment she turned seventeen, I’ve wanted Mia. Always. She’s who I’ve imagined myself with. Sure, I’ve occupied myself for many years with other women. But I spent time with them merely to pass the time and dull the ache I feel for Mia. I tried to turn off my desire and snuff out my longing. But my feelings stayed the same. Seeing her again for the first time in years proved it.
“When you said to tread carefully, what did you mean?”
“Be careful with Mia.” She pauses. “Her feelings about love and relationships are…complicated.”
“In what way?”
“When I said she and Vance probably aren’t serious, I don’t mean they’re incompatible.”
“Are you saying she’s dating him for the wrong reasons?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?” Why the riddles?
“Get her to talk to you, and I promise you’ll have your answers. Maybe not all right away, but she’ll tell you everything when she’s ready,” Kami assures.
Mia is one of the most wonderful people I know. She’s also the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’d be the luckiest man in the world to have her be mine.
I just have to get her to talk to me…somehow.