26. Ian
Chapter 26
Ian
I ’m nervous for Mia to meet my parents, not so much my brother, but my parents… they’re going to love Mia and if this thing actually ends between us, they’re going to be heartbroken.
If? If this thing ends? Why am I thinking if instead of when? I know exactly why and I’m not ready to admit it yet.
“Do I look okay?” Mia asks as she enters my home office.
I come around my desk and take both her hands in mine. “You look amazing.”
“Your personal shopper’s got game. Everything fits perfectly, as if someone made them just for me.
I smile at her enthusiasm. “Come sit down. I want to give you the lowdown on my family before they get here.” I lead her over to the black leather couch in my office.
“Okay.” She sounds nervous.
“So, my parents were high school sweethearts.”
“That’s so sweet.”
I smile at the thought. “Yeah, it is. And they’re nauseatingly loving to each other.”
“Stop it. That’s nice.” She pushes against my shoulder and I’m loving how comfortable she’s becoming around me.
“You say nice, Sawyer and I think vomiting. Potato, Pot-a-to.” I laugh. “Either way, they started Gallo Enterprises when they first graduated from college.”
“What does Gallo Enterprises do?”
“A lot of different things, from medical devices to farming equipment. Both Sawyer and I learned our work ethic and our dedication to helping non-profits and giving back. We are all blessed, and they taught us how that hard work and helping those who need it can make you a more successful man.”
“I can see that in you. Your parents did good and you're lucky to have them.” Mia says and suddenly I remember that Mia doesn’t know what it’s like to have such loving parents or a family.
I nod. “I am and I’m sorry you’ve never known that kind of love and support.”
She smiles, “Potato, Pot-a-to.”
“Touche. Anyway, you need to be warned that both my parents are huggers, and Mom is going to ask you a million questions. Answer them, don’t answer them. It’s up to you.”
“Okay.”
“And you should know that Sawyer knows about our deal.”
She looks shocked. “He does? How?”
“Actually, it was his idea.” I’m not sure how she’ll feel about this, but I want to be completely open and honest with her about my brother. “Also, he’s a bit of a playboy, so if you want to steer clear of him, it won’t hurt my feelings in the slightest.” I give her a sarcastic smile. “Really. I’m okay with that.”
Mia places her hand on my knee. “You don’t have to worry about your brother and me. I’m a one fake engagement at a time kind of girl.” She laughs and for some reason, that statement pisses me off a bit, but I hide it. She doesn’t need to know that part.
“Okay. Good. If you need anything or need to just get away for a moment, because my family can be a bit much all at once, then don’t hesitate to leave… I mean go upstairs or outside. I don’t mean leave, leave…”
“I know what you meant. Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if I need my space, but I’m actually looking forward to meeting your family.”
“You are?” I wrinkle my forehead. “Why?”
“Yeah. It’ll be fun.”
The doorbell rings right then. “Well, ready or not, here they come.”
“Ian? You in here?” my mother calls out, letting herself, Dad, and my brother into the house.
“In here. Coming.” I take Mia’s hand and lead her towards the great room, but stop short just before leaving my office. Turning around, I cradle her head in both of my hands and lean it to kiss her, hesitating slightly to see if she’ll protest. When she doesn’t, I kiss her gently. As I’m pulling away, Mia leans more into our kiss and I don’t know what that means, but mother is calling in the other room. I pull back more from Mia and look directly in her eye. “Me too.”
She nods and then fixes her lipstick.
Taking her hand again, I lead us out into the great room. “Hi Mom. Dad.” I release Mia’s hand and pull my mother into a hug and then kiss her on the cheek.
“Son.” My father shakes my hand and pulls me into a hug.
“What? I get no love?” Sawyer asks as he picks cheese cubes from the snack platter Paula left out as hors d’oeuvres.
“Not as long as you’re eating all the food, you don’t.” I chastise him and then take Mia’s hand again. “Everyone, this is Mia McIntosh. My fiancé.” Hearing her name and title makes me happy inside and, again, I’m not ready to admit why to myself.
Mom comes over with both arms open wide. “Finally, we meet. Welcome to the family, Mia.” Mom pulls her into a hug as Dad approaches.
“Nice to meet you, Mia.” He hugs both Mom and Mia at the same time, as Mom hasn’t let her go.
“Mia, that’s my mother Cynthia Gallo and my father, Lukas Gallo. That lump over there,” I point to Sawyer as he keeps eating all the cheese cubes, “Is my little brother, Sawyer.”
“Not so little anymore, brother.” He replies as he tosses a cube of cheese at me and then waives at Mia. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you. You as well.” Mia replies as my parents finally let her out of their arms, but mom drags Mia over to the couch by the hand.
“Mia. Tell us everything about you. I’ve purposefully avoided anything about you online because I want to hear the truth straight from you. Those bastard reporters make up stories just to get people to click on their links. It’s abhorrent.” Mom shakes as if she’s got a chill.
Mia sits next to Mom and Dad sits on the couch opposite them. “Well, some of what they say online is true. I grew up in foster care and I am from Knoxville. The rest of what they’re saying is all trash.”
Mom looks over at dad and taps the coffee table in front of her. “See Lukas, I knew I was going to love her.” She turns back to Mia. “Tell us, how did you end up in Hibiscus Harbor?”
“One day I closed my eyes and pointed to the map and found this little slice of heaven.” She smiles at both of my parents, and they eat it up. I can tell immediately that they both love her. They may not be the only ones. Man, I’m fucked.
Mom continues to inundate Mia with questions when Sawyer walks next to me as I’m pouring everyone a glass of red wine. “Everything working out okay?” he whispers next to me.
I nod as I look up as both my parents and Mia laugh at something Mia said. “Yeah.”
After a few moments, Sawyer looks at me, “Oh shit.”
I turn to him, thinking something’s wrong with the wine or the food, but instead I see Sawyer pop another cheese cube in his smiling mouth. “What’s wrong with you? Have you suddenly become a mouse or something?”
He raises his eyebrows, grabs yet another cheese cube, and points to me. “Nope, but you, my friend, are in love. It’s written all over your face. Does Mia know?”
“What? No, I’m not.” I’m barely able to admit it to myself; I’ll be damned if I’m going to admit it to him.
“Oh, yes, you are.” He laughs at me. “Deny it all you want, brother. You’ve fallen and you’ve fallen hard .”
I hand him his wine glass and one for Dad. “Make yourself useful and give this to Dad.” We both walk over to Mia and my parents, and I hand out glasses of wine to Mom and Mia.
“A toast.” Dad raises his glass. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings.” We all repeat and take a sip.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sawyer with a smirk on his face, and I just want to toss the rest of my wine at him.
Dinner went better than I expected, although I could have done without the rehashing of every embarrassing thing I’ve ever done. Well, at least Mia was getting a good laugh out of it all.
“It’s getting late, sweetheart. We should leave the lovebirds alone.” Dad says to Mom as he taps his watch.
Mom gives a sad look. “I know. I’m just so happy that my little boy has finally found love and is getting married.” She says as she grabs my cheeks and kisses each one of them.
“Okay, Mom. Enough with the embarrassing moments, okay?” I try to pry her off of me.
“Never.” She kisses my forehead like I’m a little kid. I suppose I am in her eyes.
“Okay, okay. I’m going, but one more thing before we leave.” Mom says and takes mine and Mia’s hand. “I will not hear a thing about it, but we are throwing you an engagement party and it’s already scheduled…” Mom raises her voice as I try to tell her no. I should know better. When Cynthia Gallo has her mind set on something, no one can deter her. Not even her family.
I look at Mia, and smile as she nods in approval. “Okay, fine, Mother. When is this engagement party?”
She smiles because she knew she would win. “Next Friday night, here. I’ve already hired a party planner, and she’s already hired a chef, so Paula will be a guest and not staff. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I say to my mother. She’s loved Paula since the day I hired her. I’ve always thought that if Paula was twenty years younger, or I was twenty years older, she would have pushed the two of us together.
“Good. Now, we can leave, Lukas.” Mom announces and both my brother and father follow her to the door like good little soldiers.
“Good night, you two.” Mom pulls both Mia and I into an embrace. “Welcome to the family, Mia.” I hear Mom whisper in Mia’s ear.
“Thank you. Good night and thank you for coming.” Mia replies.
Mom looks at me. “You’ve done good, kid.” She cups my cheek.
“Good night, Mother.” I tell her as I shake my brother's and father’s hands. “You, too.”
“Night.” Sawyer says and then calls over his shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Mia.”
“You, too, Sawyer.”
“Good night, Mia.” Dad says as he follows my family out the door.
I turn to Mia and look at her, and she looks exhausted. “Are you okay? Were they too much?”
She shakes her head and smiles. “Not at all. Your family is great. I’m just…” she hesitates as I take her hand and lead her back into the kitchen.
“You’re just what?”
Mia hesitates and then looks at me. “I’m just sorry that they’ll get hurt in all of this. Maybe I should have been bitchy so they would hate me and be glad when we call this all off.”
My heart drops at the mention of this all being over. I’ve found I really enjoy having Mia around and in my home. It never felt like a home until she moved in a few days ago.
I shake my head. “Let’s not worry about that right now, okay?”
Mia nods, “Okay.”
“Are you still up for our date?” I ask, hoping she won’t cancel on me. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.
“Of course. Is it starting now?”
“Actually, I have a few things to get ready first. Can I come up and get you when I’m ready?”
She laughs and smiles. “Of course, Mr. Gallo. You may come and call for me in my quarters.” She says as if she’s royalty.
And in my mind, she’s my queen.