Chapter Twenty-Five
Not knowing where to go, Mia decided to head to the airport and park. Her brothers wouldn’t land for at least another four hours, but she needed to be in a crowded place. She needed people around so she would feel less vulnerable.
Parking in the lot, she pulled out her phone. Twelve-fifteen. The sun was shining, and a couple walked by with a little white dog as she left her car. They nodded and smiled at Mia as she passed them, a normal and nonanxiety producing interaction.
Despite herself, she found herself typing to Aurelio. She typed quickly, erasing and rewriting her message again and again. Finally, after five rewrites, she sent a simple I miss you to him and waited. Only a moment passed before her phone rang in her hand.
“Hello, beautiful.” His voice called gently, calming her nerves instantly. “Hoe you feeling?”
“Awful,” she sighed. Aurelio gave a chuckle, and she frowned.
“Missing me that much?” He thought she was being sarcastic. “I miss you, too.”
“No, Aurelio. That’s not it.” She cleared her throat and took a breath.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His rising concern only managed to deepen his voice. “Where’s Mac?”
“Mac left.” Confusion crossed her features. “I thought you called him?”
“No,” Aurelio basically growled into the phone. “That kid is so dead.” She heard a draw slam closed, tools clattering in the background.
“No, it’s fine.” She said quickly. “I’m at the airport.”
“Why?” Panic registered in his voice.
“My brothers are flying in today,” Mia explained.
“Oh, shit.” Aurelio said, his nervousness making his voice tighter, which Mia found utterly amusing.
“Are you nervous?” she teased, a feeling of ease settling into her as they spoke.
“No,” he said quickly, too quickly. “Just surprised. But in a good way.”
“Sure.” She let the word draw out, sarcasm dripping from it. She gave a soft laugh. “They will be staying with me, so I don’t need Mac to hover around.”
“Well, Mac’s not just there to protect you,” Aurelio admitted. “I want him out of trouble while I finish this shit.”
Mia nodded. Of course. Aurelio wanted Mac out, too, and since he couldn’t pay to get him out anymore, he was keeping the teen away from it all so he could just shuffle out with Aurelio.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where he went.” She said, shoulders sagging slightly.
“It’s fine; it’s not your problem, really.” Aurelio said. A sigh passed through; disappointment lingered at the thought of the teen disobeying. All Aurelio wanted, Mia thought, was to keep him safe.
“Well…” Her mind was torn with how much to share. “Oliver knows your name,” she said quickly; he needed to know that at least.
“Fuck.” Aurelio said. “If he tells Daniels, they have my whole name.”
“I don’t think he will,” Mia murmured quietly. “Oliver is off the rails.”
“What do you mean?” Aurelio asked, his voice going deeper than she had heard in a long time. “What happened?”
Mia had to tell him; the command in his voice was clear. She wouldn’t get away with half-truths or omissions. She explained what happened right after Mac fled her loft. Aurelio grunted and snarled as she spoke; she could mentally see his face contort in anger.
“I’m going to kill him.” Aurelio said as she finished explaining the confrontation. She wasn’t sure if he meant Oliver or Mac. “If he puts so much as one foot in your direction, he is a dead man.”
“Aurelio, please don’t do anything rash.” Mia pleaded. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you. You must focus on getting out.” She felt him groan as much as she heard it.
“Oh, I’m getting out,” he said. “And then I’m taking you as far away from that asshole as possible.”
“I would very much like that,” Mia sighed into the phone. “But, until then, my brothers will be here till after graduation.”
“Good; tell them about him.” Aurelio said. “Make sure they know what a lowlife he is.” Aurelio had the right idea; it was something Mia had already intended to do. She knew her brothers would not take kindly to idle threats.
“I will.” She paused, biting her lip. “I also have to tell them about you,” She added, and Aurelio exhaled deeply.
“Ughhh. I know you do. Are they gonna kill me?” he asked.
Mia laughed at the concern in his voice.
“No, I love you. They would never do anything to hurt me and you dying would kill me.”
“Oh, beautiful,” Aurelio whispered. “It would kill me, too.”
“I wish you were here, picking them up and meeting them.” She picked at her shirt, his shirt.
“I would love nothing more, but…” He didn’t need to say it. Mia already knew.
“I know. I’m sorry. I know it only makes it harder when I say things like that.” She pinched the shirt between her fingers, the scent on it there but fading.
“It does, but still, it’s nice to know how much you want me to be a part of your life.” He spoke quietly.
“Stupid,” she said, giving a small laugh “you are my life now.” The truth was so hard to realize, but Aurelio was her everything. Life without him would be grey and colorless, pointless, and full of pain.
“Beautiful, I don’t know how I ever lived before you.” His words hit her right in the heart, the spark lighting her up inside.
“I love you,” she said simply; the words were not deep enough to express how she felt, but they were the only ones that came even a little close.
“I love you, too.” He said, the words small but holding so much. He cleared his throat, breaking the building tension.
“By the way,” he said, his mood shifting to something lighter. “I bought a nice suit for your ceremony.”
“Wow, okay. I don’t even have a dress yet.” Mia hadn’t even thought about shopping for one, and graduation was almost a week away. “Shit. what color is the suit?”
“Here, I’ll send you a picture from the fitting.”
Mia raised her brows at that.
“Fitting? What is going on?” She shook her head and gave a laugh.
“Ha-ha,” Aurelio laughed back. “I have to look my best for the most beautiful graduate. Hold on.”
She heard his fingers tap the screen, and then her phone gave a little chime. She pulled the device from her ear and clicked the messages. There he was in a dark grey suit that hugged his muscles. It was fancy. He had one hand in a pocket, casually standing on a little stand as a man with a measuring tape stood next to him. He looked so handsome.
“Wow.” That was all she could manage. “You look ready to get married.”
“Maybe I’ll wear it at our wedding then,” he answered.
Mia’s heart was working overtime.
“Nope, no wedding talk.” Mia said, her mind reeling at how casually he mentioned it. Aurelio chuckled. “You need to propose properly before you can mention that word.” She said.
“So, if I did, would you say yes?” his voice was light.
“The only way to know is to ask.” She replied. “And if you ask over the phone, I am just going to hang up,” Mia added quickly.
Another round of laughter filled the line.
“Good to know.” He breathed deeply. “I wouldn’t dream of not being able to see you say yes while on my knees before you.” The image he conjured left Mia with her thighs clenched. There was a pause before he spoke again.
“I have to go, beautiful.” He said quietly, the air shifting. “The last job is in a couple of hours. I won’t be able to reach out till Monday, maybe Tuesday.” Mia felt the tension in her shoulders return.
“I know,” she said sadly. “Glad this is it, though.”
“Me, too.” They let the silence linger, knowing “goodbye” waited on both their tongues.
“Aurelio?” she said quietly. “Be safe.”
“I’ll do my best.” He gave her a small chuckle. Mia refused to say goodbye, instead she settled for something he knew he would love.
“Drive fast.”
“Always, beautiful.”