Chapter Twenty
Class was interesting. She was grateful for the distraction; her mind needed a break from all the craziness of her new reality. She paid attention, answered questions, and after most of the class had emptied out, she approached the teacher.
“Professor Brown, I emailed you the next part of my dissertation last night. I wanted to be sure you got it.” Despite having him as a teacher for two years, Mia was always nervous talking to him. He was very stern and made it clear that the field she was entering required a sharp mind and control over one's emotions.
“Yes, Mia, I did.” He turned to look at her, his bag half-packed. “I have to ask, has something in your life drastically shifted?”
“What, why?” she asked, nerves building.
“Well, to be blunt, these are the best pages you've written,” he remarked, catching her eye. “We are almost there. You are what? Sixty-five pages in?”
Mia nodded. Her dissertation was almost done; she was ready to submit the damn thing and have it finished.
“Well, the new pages were impassioned, to say the least. You seemed to dive into an unfamiliar territory, as if your mind has recently been cracked open, and innovative ideas poured out.” He flipped to the pages she submitted. “Truly, I have not enjoyed reading a paper of this magnitude in a long time. So, I must know, what changed?” Mia bit her lip, unsure how to answer the question, knowing he would pull at her till she gave him enough to satisfy his need for the revelation.
“I met someone,” she admitted, picturing Aurelio and how she felt about everything while working last night. “And we had a fight.”
“Ah, yes. The heat of passion can be a very good motivator. Oftentimes, the emotion will reveal more about our hearts and souls than we realize.”
“Yes, absolutely.” Mia nodded, relief flooding her veins. She had several more pages she typed the prior night that she hadn't sent. She had to reserve some for days when her motivation was lacking.
“Well, next week, our page numbers will double, as you know. We only have six weeks left, and these dissertations have to be done and submitted no later than two weeks from the end of term.” Mia nodded again, feeling like she wasn’t as close as she thought. “Keep working. Maybe pick a fight with your beau again to get the juices flowing more.” Professor Brown smiled at her, gave her a wink, and grabbed his bag.
“Thanks, see you next week.” Mia headed to the door, thinking about the other juices that Aurelio could get flowing. She went to the cafe, phone in hand, ready to dial Aurelio, when it vibrated in her hand. Detective Daniels name flashed across the screen.
“Hello?” She answered, heading outside for some privacy.
“Hello, Mia. This is detective Daniels.” He responded. “Charles, if you please. Do you have a moment to chat?”
“Sure. Sorry I missed your call yesterday. I meant to call back but haven't had a minute.”
“Not to worry,” he assured, tone casual as always. “I just wanted to ask a question about your car.”
“My car?” she asked, thinking about Aurelio with the old girl. “What about my car?”
“Well, according to memory, you have a very unique car, correct?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She never considered the old metal VW Bug special, just old.
“I remember thinking it was quite unique, when we chatted.” He gave a small laugh. “I hadn’t seen metal bug in years, so I looked in the parking lot as we were leaving yesterday.” Mia swallowed hard. “I was surprised to not see it.”
“Yeah,” Mia paused, mind scrambling. “She’s an old girl. I fixed it up with my dad.” She paused, a plausible lie forming. “She was my first car, and I'll keep it for as long as she keeps running, but yesterday she was giving me trouble.”
“Hmm, I see.” Detective Daniels cleared his throat. “Is that why it was parked downtown, by the cherub fountain, yesterday afternoon for several hours?”
Mia's heart launched into her throat, tightening her vocal cords. The silence on the other end was heavy, anticipating the lie she knew he knew she was about to tell. Her eyes scanned the quad for anything to help create a reason to hang up. Finding nothing, outside or in, she drew in a deep breath.
“Mia?” Detective Daniels’ voice came through the line, prompting her to answer.
“Yeah, I'm here.” She shook herself from her trance, breathing deeply to calm herself. “Yeah, that's right, I was parked down there for a bit.” She tapped her foot, unable to sit still while thinking.
“Any particular reason why?” His tone was a little more serious, the allegations under the surface.
“Yes,” she said, drawing the picture of what happened in her mind to relay it accurately. “I went downtown yesterday, hoping to treat myself to a nice lunch. I found myself with an unexpected extra couple of hours before work,” she began, creating the memory, making herself believe it. “I parked and walked around, looking for a place I could go. Unfortunately, I realized they were all way out of my price range.” She nodded as she spoke, seeing herself walk alone down the sidewalk, her face a mix of disappointment and frustration. “I headed back to my car, but, as I said, the old girl was giving me some trouble. When I went to start her up, the old girl just did not want to work.”
“Uh-huh.” That was all she got from him, encouraging her to finish the tale. Pulling at the strings in her mind, she found the right detail to tie it all together. “I called my friend, Mac, to pick me up. He drove me to work, and then later, we went and picked up my car. He gave it a jump,” she finished quickly, hoping the story was enough to satiate him.
“I'm glad you weren't alone to pick it up. Where is it now?” he asked, and Mia honestly did not know.
“Mac has a friend that's a great mechanic, or at least, that’s what he told me. I let him take it this morning to get it looked at.”
“Where is this mechanic?” Detective Daniels inquired, like a dog with a bone. “Did Mac give you the address?”
“No, but I trust him. I told him to have the mechanic drop it off at the diner when it was done.”
“I thought you were at school?” he asked, his voice rising a little.
She slipped up, and he knew it. “I am, yes.” Her mind raced, trying to patch the hole she made.
“Then how are you getting to the diner to get your car back?” He was right there, scissors ready to cut down the web she was spinning. She had to be cautious. He had no real reason to think she was doing anything untoward. Not really. The college was a 10-minute drive if you went by highway. Walking was too much to ask him to believe. She bit her nail, coming up empty and then it clicked.
“Mac,” she told him evenly. “He's coming to get me in case the car isn't done before my shift.”
“Mac? The one who took your car to the mechanic?”
Her answer was totally plausible. “Yep, same one,” she said with a triumphant smile. “He works the same shift as me, so it works out. And the mechanic can take his time fixing her up.” She glanced at the time on her phone; it was almost two. “If that's it, I am at school and need to go.”
“Of course, thanks for chatting.” She heard the line click, and she could breathe, her eyes wide. What had she gotten herself into?
Aurelio answered on the third ring, his voice strained. “Hello, my beautiful girlfriend.”
“Where are you?” she asked, her nerves were still shot.
She heard him give a strained chuckle. “Under another beautiful girl.”
“What?”
He laughed. There was a clanging sound and then a “humph” from him. “I'm working on the old girl. What’s wrong?” She heard him shuffling around, his boots thumping as he moved.
“I still need to get a ride to work, but can you send Mac?”
“No,” he insisted. “I will come get you. Can I leave the old girl—?”
“Aurelio,” she interrupted. “Please send Mac.”
“Why?”
She could hear the turmoil behind his tone. “Please just have him come pick me up for our shift at the diner. When the old girl's done, bring her to the diner.” Mia needed him to just trust her. “I will explain later, but right now, I need him to come get me.”
“Fine, let me call him.” Without another word, Aurelio hung up.
She was hurt that he didn't say goodbye but could understand why he was upset. She sighed and grabbed her bag; the quad was filling up with more students. She went to a nice little sitting area where she could wait and calm her nerves. Her phone dinged.
Aurelio: He is on his way. I’m sorry I hung up. I trust you; just promise to fill me in?
Mia smiled, wanting to call him back to tell him everything, but she needed to focus. She may have created the first half of the story, but she had to make the second half true.
Mia: Of course. Sorry for not being able to explain right now. Thanks for fixing up the old girl! ??
Aurelio: My pleasure. She is an incredibly good patient.
A photo came through of Aurelio in his mechanic uniform with grease on his face and hands, holding a wrench. The Bug was propped up on the lift. Mia's heart swooned, wanting to plant a kiss on his face and body.
Aurelio: Shit, I gotta run. Boss is coming in. That’s never a good thing. Love you, beautiful.
Mia's head exploded; she was sure of it. Her whole body went numb as her eyes refused to leave the last text. As she stared at the screen, she heard her name being called, seemingly from far away. Hands landed on her shoulders, giving her a shake.
“Mia!” Mac was in front of her, his big blue eyes full of concern.
“Aurelio said he loves me,” she muttered.
Mac gave her a look. “Duh. Anyone could see that.”
“What?”[SS12]
“Mia, he took you on a job, and he waited all night to make up with you. The dude is literally blowing off the boss to fix your car!” Mac threw his arms in the air in exasperation.
“Holy shit.” That was all she could manage.
“The question is... do you love Aurelio?”
The question hung in the air between them, and Mia opted to ignore him the whole way to the diner. They walked in an hour early.
“Do you wanna eat before we clock in?” Mac asked, breaking the silence.
“Sure,” she answered, walking to the corner booth. Amy, who worked the mornings during the week, waved as she slid into her seat. Mia waved back, giving her a small smile. She didn't need to look at the menu, but she did anyway, placing the barrier between her and Mac. She knew she was being unfair; he hadn't asked the question to be mean or tricky. He cared about Aurelio; he didn't want her to break his heart. Mac cleared his throat, but Mia promptly ignored him, choosing to focus on the milkshake flavors she knew by heart.
“Mia. Please.”
Sighing, she lowered the menu, giving him a stern stare. “What?”
“You don't have to tell me how you feel about Aurelio, but he deserves to know.”
“Mac.” Her eyes softened; the wise kid had a good point. “I don't know how I feel.” She placed her elbows on the table, pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes behind her glasses. Her emotions were running wild; she was trying so hard to keep them in check and remain in control. She pulled her hands away from her face as Amy made her way over with two milkshakes on a tray and a plate of fries to share.
“Hey, guys!” Amy greeted, a bright smile on her face. She was cute, around the same age as Mac, with blonde curls circling her round face and eyes the color of the ocean after a storm. Amy was homeschooled by her mom, who felt a part-time job was good for understanding the world better. She smiled politely at Mia before her eyes moved to Mac, her smile turning more than friendly.
“He... hey, Amy,” Mac stammered. Both of them had goofy grins on their faces. Puppy love was heavy around the table.
“Thanks, Amy,” Mia interrupted, grabbing her peanut butter shake and a couple fries. “How was this morning?”
“Fine. I got here around nine. Flory has left already; there wasn’t enough going on for her to stay till four.”
“Are you working tonight, Mac?” Amy asked, shyly playing with the hem of her dress.
“Yeah, uh, me… and Mia, too.”
“Oh, cool.” Amy’s smile faltered a little as she looked from him to Mia and back again.
“Actually, Amy,” Mia said, sensing an opportunity. “I have so much schoolwork to do with my dissertation submission date right around the corner. Is there any chance you want my shift tonight?”
Her eyes seemed to light up a bit, her smile growing wide. Mac looked at Mia with fear in his eyes. She gave him a reassuring smile and turned to Amy.
“Oh, yeah! Of course!” she said happily, her face shining with glee as she eyed Mac. “I have to call my mom to let her know, but yeah, I would love to!”
“Great!” Mia exclaimed, feeling her own smile grow as she spotted Aurelio walking into the diner. He walked towards them, eyes focused on her. She could feel his gaze, like his hands on her body. She did the same; the photo of him in an orange jumpsuit and white tank could never hold a candle to how he looked in person. The suit was rolled up and tied at his waist, his biceps exposed. There was grease on his leg and across the white tank.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, moving to stand in front of her and kissing her tenderly. She sighed into the kiss; the relief of having him near was overwhelming. He calmed her mind, eased her worries, and brought a smile to her lips without saying a word. She pulled back, and Aurelio's hand rested lightly on her waist. She took a deep breath and admitted the truth.
“I love you.”
The words hung in the air like a cartoon; she could see them hanging between them, blinking like a neon sign. Aurelio took an involuntary step back, his smile falling slightly. After a second, he pressed himself against her, pressing his lips to hers as he held her to his body. Mia's eyes closed, lost in the moment. She opened her eyes as Aurelio pulled back; his face split into a smile wider than she had ever seen.
“I love you, too, beautiful.” He kissed her again as the words sank into her skin. She was struck by the realization that she did, in fact, love him; time be damned.
“That's the best hello I have ever received,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
“For now, at least,” Mia replied.
Amy blushed, and Mac groaned, “Ugh, it's like watching your parents. Amy, do you want my milkshake?” His hands were on his stomach, feigning nausea.
Mia rolled her eyes and turned to the door, ready to leave with Aurelio, when she saw Detective Daniels pull into the parking lot.
“Shit,” she swore, dropping Aurelio's hand and catching a glare from him. “Please play along, I will explain later.” She returned to the booth, and Mac sat up straight. “Sit next to Mac, Aurelio,” she instructed, shooing Amy away. “Go call your mom. Make sure you can cover.”
“Oh, okay, right,” Amy said, frowning as she walked back behind the counter.
“Mia,” Aurelio said, still standing. “What's going on?”
“Please just let me talk and play along with what I say. Sit with Mac.” Relenting, he did just that. Mia pushed some fries in front of him and took a sip from her shake as the doorbell jingled.
“Hi! Welcome to Bird’s Eye Diner; sit anywhere!” Amy's chipper voice called out.
Mia did not look up as she reached into her bag, pulling out her emergency money. “Here you go,” she said loudly to Aurelio, sliding the bills to him.
Thankfully, his back was to Detective Daniels as he gave her a big frown, pushing them back.
“Seriously, play along!” she hissed through her teeth.
His face turned stern, the face of the man she had seen giving orders when the cops raided the car show. He grabbed the money. “Thanks.”
Mia gave him a warm, friendly smile. She saw from the corner of her eye that Detective Daniels was heading towards her with a pleasant smile.
“Ah, Mia!” he called, reaching out a hand to shake hers.
She turned, feigning surprise, and grabbed his hand. “Detective Daniels!”
Aurelio's surprise slipped past his mask only for a second. He quickly regained his composure and turned to look at the detective.
“Charles, please,” Detective Daniels said to Mia, putting his hands on his hips and flashing his badge. Mac's eyes were wide, and Mia gave him a light kick under the table.
“Oh!” Mac cried out, rubbing his knee and eyeing Mia, who was avoiding his gaze.
“What brings you by?” she asked, knowing exactly why he was here.
“I missed my lunch break, and talking to you reminded me about the chili cheese fries here. I had to stop in,” he explained, not missing a beat, smile never faltering. “I saw the Bug outside. Is it all fixed?”
“Yes.” Mia nodded, gesturing to Aurelio as she spoke. “This is Mac's friend, the mechanic. He fixed her up for me; no more engine trouble.” She let her hand sit on the table. Aurelio, who nodded slowly, took up the story from her.
“Yeah, Mac brought her by, and I spent some time working her over, took her for a long drive, and gave her everything she needed.” Aurelio smiled, his innuendos not slipping by Mia, who gave him a kick under the table as well. He didn't even flinch.
“Great, good to hear. You must be Mac,” Detective Daniels added, turning his attention to the teenager, who may as well have been sweating bullets because of how nervous he looked.
“Yaa... Yeah... Yes, sir,” Mac stammered out, his face paler than a sheet. “That's me.” He gave a weak smile.
Detective Daniels smiled back before turning to Aurelio. “And what's your name, if I may ask?”
“Valen.” His gruff voice was a distraction to Mia. She closed her eyes for a moment and focused on the problem at hand.
“And you own a garage?”
“It was my dad's, but yeah.” Aurelio met the detective’s eyes, giving away nothing.
Detective Daniels’ smile faltered, eyeing the man in front of him. Then suddenly, he smiled, giving everyone a friendly little head nod. “Well, I'm off to clog my arteries with cheese. Have a wonderful day, guys.” He walked off to the counter and ordered food with Amy.
“Shit,” Mia whispered, mind reeling. “We have to go.”
Aurelio did not meet her gaze. “Mac,” he said, holding his hand out.
The kid reached into his pocket and took out his keys without hesitation. Aurelio stood, finally meeting Mia's eyes. She couldn't read anything there; the book of Aurelio was slammed closed. He nodded and walked out the door to Mac’s Challenger. She watched him leave toward the highway, gone in a heartbeat.
“Shit,” Mia muttered. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back against the wall behind her.
“What the fuck was that?” Mac hissed under his breath, waiting for an explanation. All she could do was shake her head and exit the booth. She patted his shoulder as she passed, and he nodded quietly.
Mia moved quietly to the door, hoping to sneak off without any more questions or confrontations, when Amy called out to her. “Mia! My mom said it's fine. I can stay and work your shift.”
Detective Daniels raised a brow at her, and she laughed lightly. “Thanks, Amy. The deadline for my dissertation is really stressing me out.” Mia’s smile was forced as she looked at Detective Daniels again; his eyes glinted with questions.
“Detective, oh, uhm, Charles.” Mia’s voice was shy.
“Yes, Mia?” he asked, his eyes were as curious as ever.
“This is a kind of awkward thing to ask, but...” She stepped closer, leaning in as if to share a secret. “...can you ask Oliver to stop watching me if I'm not under investigation?” Her face reflected fear and concern, playing up the damsel in distress role she knew Detective Daniels would try to protect.
His face became serious. Drawing in a breath, he nodded at her. “Of course,” he answered, opening his mouth and pausing before speaking again. “Has he done something that you think I should know about?”
Mia nodded sadly, letting her eyes fall to the floor as if she felt ashamed. “Well, you know I punched him, but did he tell you that he was on the stairs waiting for me when I did?” She raised her head, meeting his eyes, seeing the answer before he spoke.
“No.” His voice held a bit of anger in it. “He did not.”
“That's not the only time,” Mia added. Detective Daniels' brows furrowed as she continued, “He called me twice one night, leaving voicemails. The first one was fine, asking to meet up to talk about how he overreacted when I said I had a date.” She let the words sink in.
“And the second one?” he asked after a moment. Mia pulled her phone from her pocket and played the voicemail for him. After hearing Oliver's message, Detective Daniels crossed his arms, sighing deeply. “Well, I will speak with him and tell him he needs to back off. If he bothers you, call me. You have my number.”
Mia nodded and gave him a smile as he patted her arm reassuringly.
“Thank you so much. I just want to be neighbors.” She wrapped her arms around her body, holding herself.
Detective Daniels nodded. “Of course.” He turned back towards the counter. “Have a great day, Mia.”
She waved once more to Mac and Amy as she walked out the door to the Bug, reaching into her bag for the keys. That’s when she realized Aurelio never gave them back to her. “Shit!” she said loudly, stomping her foot. She moved to the driver's door and found them in the lock.
Aurelio must have slipped them in as he got into Mac's car. She hadn't seen him do it, but the car was parked in a way that no one inside would have. She felt relieved and turned the key. It didn't budge. She thought for sure he would have fixed that, but no. She tapped the key, sliding it in a little further, and it turned easily. She laughed; he had kept that for her. It was sweet. She climbed in, settling into the seat. The interior was clean, really clean. Like he had detailed every stitch in the leather. She turned the car on, and the engine quietly came to life with no hiccups. She started to head home, wanting to call Aurelio but needing space from the whole situation at the diner. On the highway, her mind wandered, so uncertain of what was happening with Aurelio.
As she thought about him, she spotted a grey Challenger in her rearview mirror. It pulled up next to her, and Aurelio leaned out slightly with a big smile to blow her a kiss. She laughed, relief flooding her as she pressed the pedal. The speed began to climb, sixty, sixty-five, seventy. The old girl had never gone that fast. She pushed it a little more, topping out at eighty-eight before the wheel almost shook off. Aurelio drove right beside her the whole time, his face bright with excitement. She could feel the adrenaline in her blood, her body tingled with it. The feeling took over, making her feel alive.
The car slowed to a stop in her usual parking space on the second floor of the parking garage. Aurelio took the one next to her; the Challenger's engine roared for a moment before there was utter silence. Before she even unbuckled, he was at the door, opening it for her. She smiled at him as the seat buckle slid across her chest slowly.
“Oh, how I envy that seatbelt,” he muttered as her hand slid into his. She kissed him, her hands wrapping around his neck, giddy with excitement and love.
“But the seatbelt only gets a brief moment with me,” Mia said, eyes darkening. “You can have as long as you want.” She kissed him again, loving the feel of his hands on her body.
“Mmhhhmm,” he moaned against her lips. “Okay, I feel better now.” He smiled, planting a kiss on her neck.
“Come on, let’s go inside.” She pulled him with her.
“Okay, okay. Eager, are we?” he laughed as they reached the bottom of the stairs and froze. “Shit.” He yanked Mia behind him, his hand holding her back so the concrete wall blocked her view of the building.
“What's wrong?” A minute passed. “Aurelio?” She tugged his hand impatiently.
“Hold on, please.” He did not look at her, eyes fixed on the road across from them toward the open cafe. Sighing, she sat on the steps, not knowing what else to do. After a few minutes, Aurelio relaxed a little, his shoulders settling, and his grip on her hand less urgent.
“Okay. We’re good,” he said, finally looking at her.
She glared at him, clearly upset with the turn of events. “What was that about?”
“One of the other heads in my… business was sniffing around the building. I caught sight of him; he didn't see us,” Aurelio said, his eyes betraying his nerves.
“Why are they here?” Mia asked, placing a hand on his chest, trying to calm him.
“Well, he probably heard that I have been hanging out around here and wanted to see why. If he can determine what I find so fascinating, he can try and take it from me.” She could tell he was still on high alert. “If they find you, figure out what you mean to me… Boss would pay big bucks to find something to keep me in the game.” Aurelio's gaze met hers.
“I won’t let you be put in danger.”
“And I won’t let myself be used as leverage.” She was furious at the very notion. “I'm not some scared little princess, Aurelio.”
He chuckled at her, nodding. “You're not, huh?” He gently put an arm around her, leading them across the street and into her building. Together, they climbed the stairs. Mia waited for the call or text that would pull him away from her. By the time they arrived at her door, she was practically shaking with nerves.
“You okay, beautiful?”
Mia nodded, rushing into the loft and setting everything down before gently sliding off her shoes. Aurelio was taking in the apartment. When he had been there earlier in the day, he was distracted. This time around, he walked around, carefully taking it all in. She felt like he was studying her, but instead of feeling uncomfortable like she had when Oliver did the same thing, she felt like she was opening up to him. She was letting him see the parts no one else got to see. Aurelio moved around the island, hands gently moving books as he read their titles, noting the scribbled pages sticking out of them. She held her breath, apprehensive of whether or not she would pass this inspection. He moved back towards the door, analyzing all the photos and notes she posted on it. His face shined with fascination as he examined it, reading the notes and connecting the pieces in his mind like she had when she added them to the board. The tattoos told his story; hers was on the door.
“Mia,” he said, still looking at the wall, gently touching picture after picture. His fingers rested on a photo. The picture wasn't anything special; it was just her dad and her working on the Bug when Mia was fifteen. Her dad was lying on a creeper, and Mia was handing him a tool. One of her brothers had snapped the candid, telling Mia to smile right before clicking the button. She looked awful; her skinny teen body lacked any curves, and her hair was in a messy bun wrapped in a red bandana. She had on a hand-me-down mechanic jumper from one of her brothers, the blue material covered with grease stains. She had turned just in time to see the camera with a large smile on her face. She remembered that day so well. She had been smiling the whole time. Her dad said the Bug was almost finished; they just had to give her a quick tune-up, and then she was all hers.
“Is that your dad?” Aurelio asked, finger hovering above the happy, smiling man. Mia's eyes filled with tears. She nodded, stepping closer. Over the last few years, she had avoided looking at that photo as much as possible. The loss of her first love was still too great. Her dad was a skinny guy, fit from all the work he had done in the scrap yard, with long, shaggy grey hair. He had been tall, maybe even taller than Aurelio.
“Mia...” He wrapped her in a hug, not saying a word, letting her cry on his shoulder. She let the tears flow; she had held them in for so long.
After several minutes, Mia looked up. Aurelio had closed his eyes, but when he opened them, the pain she felt was reflected in them.
“Aurelio,” she began. But he shushed her gently, placing a hand on her head to pull her in for a kiss on the forehead.
“It's ok, beautiful.” He sighed. “I know. If you want to talk about it, we can. If not, I'm just happy to have you in my arms.” She was grateful for his warmth, his loving embrace, and his understanding.
“I can talk about it,” she said finally, pulling back a little to pull the photo off the wall.
“My dad worked long hours at the scrapyard my whole life. Days would go by when we didn't see him because he was up so early and home so late. My mom left town when I was born; four kids were too much, and she didn't have a glamorous enough life with my dad or some bullshit,” Mia scoffed. She had never known her mom, and at this point in her life, she didn't care to.
“My brothers and I learned to help with whatever we could. Cooking, cleaning, and school. We worked together to help keep our little family going. We weren't dirt poor, but we had our struggles. My dad never let us want for anything; he did whatever he could to give us the life he thought we deserved. He went to every game, even if it meant working double or triple shifts to make up for lost time.” Mia smiled, remembering how proud he would be watching them play. When she caught a flyball during softball her freshman year, he had run onto the field and lifted her into the air.
“He sounds like an amazing dad,” Aurelio said, smiling.
“He was,” Mia agreed, her heart breaking a little more. The story of why he was in the past was still so raw in her chest.
“Well, we grew up, and my brothers worked in the scrapyard with him all through high school. My dad refused to let them stay there after graduation, pushing college on all of us. He promised there was enough money for us to go to school; we just had to tell him where we would be going. We couldn't believe it. How could he have saved enough money for three kids to go to school? My oldest brother, Melvin,[SS13] got a scholarship for baseball and got a full ride. He has a law degree, his own firm, and everything. Mikey wanted to be just like Dad but finally settled on being a hero. He has worked at the fire station in our hometown for the last five years, I think. Matty went to community college, got a degree in social work, and helps the kids around the state. They all live back home, happy to be close to where Dad is. But I needed to get out. After he passed, I had to leave. I packed up the old girl and took off.” Mia breathed deeply, knowing she had skipped a big part of the story. Aurelio, of course, could tell and was willing to wait for her to be ready to share it. His hands rested on her back as she held the picture close, inspecting her dad's face, keeping the memory of him as fresh as she could.
“My dad said college was a must; he wouldn't have us getting stuck like him, working ourselves to death for someone else. When Melvin got the scholarship, Dad was so relieved.” Her brother loved Florida, the sun, the girls, all of it. [SS14] “Mikey fought hard as graduation approached, refusing to stop helping my dad at the scrapyard. There was a fire one day, and he saved the owner and his wife from their house. Mikey got a taste for it and applied for the firefighter program right after graduation.” And he was good at it. Being a fireman was everything Mikey wanted; he loved the firehouse. [SS15]“Matty didn't know what he wanted. He had always been less motivated than the rest of us, but he wanted to give back to the community. He applied for community college and worked to help Dad pay for school. He works with DCF, helps kids in troubled situations, and finds fosters for them.” Her brothers were amazing men, all thanks to her dad's stern but loving hand. He had raised them right. She wished he could see that. “I was always the one to push, determined to be better, stronger, and faster than my brothers. My dad called me his ‘little spark plug.’” She laughed; it had been years since she had thought about that nickname.
“Sparks for the win, right?” Aurelio said, smiling at her. She giggled; it gave her a reprieve from the heavy emotions.
“Yeah, you're right. I applied for UCLA and got in, but with no scholarships. The bill was outrageous. My dad refused to let me take out a loan, and he said he would not have me go out into the world indebted. I deserved to be free from that kind of burden.” Mia's smile fell; the final turn in the tale was coming quick. “I had no idea; none of us did. Dad couldn't get a loan from any bank because he never built up credit, so he turned to loan sharks. Dad took their money and told me it was legit; that it was all squared away. How were we supposed to know anything different? None of us were at home anymore. He got in deep with them; the scrapyard was not making him enough to pay every month, and he started to fall behind. One day, they decided to visit him at the yard and gave him an ultimatum. He didn't like that. He told the sharks they would get the money, but they needed to back off. One of the lackeys decided to put my dad in his place and cracked him over the head with his gun. My dad collapsed and never woke up.” Mia finished the story, her voice going quiet as she reached the end. The truth of her dad's death hung around her.
“Cops arrested the poor kid. He was barely a year older than me. He confessed, and now he's sitting in jail, rotting away. The shark wasn't happy. Someone had to pay him back. He decided that person would be me, but my dad hadn't told him where I was, just that the money was for school. My brothers told me not to come home. It wasn't safe till the shark was taken care of.” Mia remembered her brother on the phone, his voice breaking as he told her to stay away.
“I stayed away. I missed Dad's funeral and my brother’s graduation. I haven't seen them since. We call and text sometimes, but I miss them so much.” Mia grabbed Aurelio, the photo crinkling in her hand as she held onto him. His arms wrapped around her, letting her grieve.
“What happened to the loan shark?” Aurelio asked, his face dark with worry. “Is he still a problem?”
“Yes and no,” she said. “He told my brothers that he wouldn't pursue me. I’m too small a fish in too far away of a pond for him. But if I come home, he said I'm fair game.” Mia sighed; she felt exiled after her dad's death. She hadn't just lost him; she had lost her whole world.
“I have listened. My brothers keep him away, and I stay here. They all promised to be at my graduation. No matter what, they will see me finally walk with my degree, but I don't know if they can.”
“Mia,” Aurelio started, his face determined. “I will do whatever I can to make it happen. I will drive there myself and get them if you want.”
Mia smiled, grateful for the gesture, but she needed to keep him out of it.
“Thank you, but it's okay. My brothers will find a way.” She winked at him, her eyes finally dry. “Sorry to bring things down so hard, but I feel, I don't know, free now that I have shared this with you.”
“Thank you.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “For letting me in.”
She kissed him back, her lips grazing his sweetly at first until the touch gave way to more. She melted into his arms as the kiss pushed past sweet, mixing with desire. She felt his lust grow against her thigh, driving her heart rate sky-high. Her tongue tangled with his, begging him to take her. Aurelio answered her unspoken call, lifting her off her feet and moving to the bed.
“Wait.” She placed a hand on his chest, forcing space between their lips.
“What's wrong?” Aurelio asked, concerned.
“Nothing, I just want to play out a fantasy I have, if you're willing.”
“Yes,” he growled, his voice growing deep.
Tilting her head, she motioned for him to head to the bathroom. His eyebrows rose, eyes filled with the same hunger as hers. He moved quickly, resuming the kiss and shutting the bathroom door after they crossed the threshold. Gently, he set her on her feet and waited, breath shallow. Turning away, Mia reached into the shower and turned on the hot water. Keeping her back to him, she began to undress, bending over to pull off her trousers, revealing the small piece of lace underneath.
Aurelio's breathing became heavy as he watched, transfixed by her movements. Hands reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor as she stepped out of her panties. Mia stepped into the shower, letting the water rain down upon her body.
“Are you coming in?” she asked, her voice filled with lust.
Without a word, he tore his clothing off. She stared at his boxer briefs, which were tight on his thighs, barely holding all of him in. Noticing her gaze, he raised a brow, sliding his thumbs into the waistband. The air around her felt hotter as she watched him.
“How's the water?” he asked, a hint of amusement laced with the want in his voice.
“Come in and find out,” she enticed, moving back so the steam obscured his view.
Aurelio's face fell a little as he pushed his boxers off, stepping out of them and into the shower. He pulled her to him. The water was warm on his skin as he began to kiss up the column of her throat, gathering her hair in his fist and pulling her head back. She moaned lightly as he nibbled her skin, leaving little love bites as he went. His erection pressed between her legs, making her own thighs moisten with desire. Aurelio pulled her nipple into his mouth, giving it a flick with his tongue.
“Oh God, Aurelio,” Mia breathed, her hands grabbing his throbbing cock and making him moan.
His eyes met her gaze, both silently asking the same thing. Mia moved first, sinking to her knees and taking his length into her mouth. She bobbed back and forth, tasting him.
“Fuck,” he groaned, dropping one hand to gently rest on her head, fingers tangled in her hair. His other hand was braced on the shower wall like he would collapse if he let go.
She hummed against his cock, pushing it as far into her mouth as she could. Her throat contracted, and a satisfying rumble escaped Aurelio's lips. He pulled free, lifted her up, and drove into her pussy in one swift motion. She cried out, her walls convulsing as he began to thrust. He wasted no time dragging her over the edge. His own orgasm was already on the cusp. They came, riding out the moment together as the water washed over them.
Aurelio reached around Mia to grab a bottle of soap and began washing her, turning her so the lather covered every inch of her skin. His hands washed away the day, the emotions, all of it. He touched her body, her breasts, the flat expanse of her stomach, and between her legs. He kneeled before her to wash away the residue of their lovemaking. She ran her fingers through his hair as she watched him worship every inch of her skin. He stood up again, lathering himself up. Mia put her hands over his, taking the soap. She mimicked his movements, taking her time to wash every part of him and leaving kisses along his skin as the water washed the suds away.
Neither wanted to leave the shower; the warm water around them kept them isolated in a little world where they could be alone and free from their worries and responsibilities. Sighing, Mia placed another kiss on Aurelio's chest and turned the water off. He smiled, slid the glass door open, and stepped out, holding a hand out for Mia to grab onto. There was an easiness between them, a comfortable quiet as they went to her couch; Aurelio dressed in just his boxers and Mia in a large T-shirt. '' Aurelio sat down, his arms open for her to sit with him. Mia settled into him; his warm chest and easy breathing relaxed her.
“I love this,” he said after a moment, placing a kiss on her head.
“Me, too. I am just afraid of what happens next.”
“What do you mean?” He watched her lie against his chest, her eyes unwillingly glancing up to look at him.
“Well, this is when your phone rings, and you have to leave. Or someone comes and interrupts us.”
Aurelio's chest rumbled with a chuckle. “No one is going to bother us tonight. I promise.”
“I don't want you to make promises you have no control over keeping,”
“You're right.” His hand gently rested under her chin. “I'm working on it.” He placed a kiss on her lips. “In fact, I should get on my knees right now and make it up to you.” He shifted, sliding himself out from under her and onto his knees.
Mia's heart kicked up a notch as his hands traced up her outer thighs. She let him position her where he wanted. Aurelio pushed her knees apart, and he licked his lips as his eyes traveled from her legs to the apex. Her breath hitched in her throat; the view was one she had never imagined. His hands pushed underneath her to grip her bare ass and pull her to the edge. He locked eyes with her, begging for permission. Mia swallowed hard; her body ached, and she gave a small nod.
Hands still holding her bottom, he leaned forward. The first thing she felt was his warm breath, the gentle flow of air across her pussy. A quick flick of his tongue across her labia made a soft moan escape her lips. He let his tongue move around her core, exploring her, tasting her. She couldn't help herself; she started to move, eager to pull him closer so he would give her the explosion her body desired.
Aurelio gripped tighter, holding her still. “Beautiful.” His mouth was wet. “'Sit still and let me enjoy you.” His words hummed along her thigh; his lips were so close to where she wanted them. She nodded more vigorously, and he gave her a wicked grin. “Good. Relax.”
He placed his face between her legs, tongue diving into her slit before flicking her clit. She held herself back, refusing to move while he worked her pussy into a frenzy. The sounds from Aurelio drove her higher; she loved every moment of his focus on her. One of his hands released her ass to slide a finger in deep as his tongue focused on her clit. He slid a second finger in, moving it slowly. She threw her head back, hands gripping the couch as she held herself there, unable to stop the moans escaping her mouth. Aurelio's head lifted to watch her in the throughs of ecstasy. His fingers worked steadily in and out, thumb moving over her clit.
“Scream,” he ordered, and Mia obeyed. As she cried out, cursing and yelling his name. He went back to eating her out, finishing her off to feel her cum over his tongue. Her walls clenched around his fingers until she calmed down. He gently kissed her thighs, letting his mouth linger near her entrance for a moment. He pulled back, resting on his heels, and watched Mia. Her whole body was hot and exhausted. He chuckled, pleased with himself as he stood and picked her up. He gently placed her on the bed, pulling the covers around her.
“Wait,” Mia called, reaching out to grab his hand. “Where are you going?”
Aurelio placed a kiss on her cheek. “I'm just going to wash real quick and grab a towel to clean you up.”
“Okay.” She nodded, eyes heavy with drowsiness. “Thanks.”
Aurelio walked into the bathroom. As the door closed, Mia heard him speak in a hushed voice. She tried to focus but was utterly spent, falling into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, she could feel Aurelio's hands around her, holding her close to his chest. She smiled at the warmth. Snuggling closer, Mia allowed herself to sink back into sleep, falling into blissful sweet dreams.