33. Mia
Chapter 33
Mia
L ast night, Ian drew me a bath in what any normal person would call a swimming pool, but to him, it’s called a bathtub. He threw some bath salts in the water that helped soothe my aching muscles, and he even lit some scented candles. It was magical. But the most magical part was when he climbed in with me.
This morning, before my game, Ian told me he has to leave for New York tomorrow morning to sign the deal with Sutherland Park Manufacturing. Part of me is sad because he just got home and now, he has to leave again and the other part of me is worried that once that deal is closed, whatever is happening between us will end. That was part of the deal; to be his fake fiancé until the deal was done. As of tomorrow, will all of this be over?
The more I think about how I’m feeling about Ian, the more scared I become. I know I have abandonment issues; years of television therapy has taught me that. But this is the first time in my entire life where I think I may actually be in love with someone. This feeling is nothing like what I had for James all those years. Nothing. Not even close.
What if Ian doesn’t really like me and he’s just saying all these things just to make sure I follow through with our arrangement? He’s got more money than anyone. Why would he want to be with a foster kid from Knoxville when he could literally have anyone in the world? He could buy the perfect woman; hell, he bought me.
But my rational side pops her head out and tells me that if he wasn’t feeling the way he says he is, then he wouldn’t be spending time with me every chance he can get; telling me things; kissing and holding me the way he does. I wish that side of me had a bigger voice than my insecure voice does.
It was nice to see Kate all smiles at the game this morning. She even brought her boyfriend, Hudson, with her. He was wearing a pink shirt that said, ‘Bad News Babe Boyfriend’. I swear he was the loudest one in the stands cheering us on. It didn’t help, though. We still lost, but we had a good time and, in the end, that’s all that matters. Maybe next week we’ll have better luck when we play the Stuart Stingrays. Maybe.
Ian is working in his office at the country club and couldn’t come to the game because he had some work stuff he had to finish in order to close the Sutherland deal tomorrow, but promised to be at next week’s game. We agreed to meet at the fundraiser at Hoopla’s later this afternoon. If I’m honest, I’m kind of jealous of Kate and her boyfriend.
If Ian and I keep dating after this deal closes tomorrow, and I’m really hoping we do, how much time am I really going to get from him? Like this weekend, he got home last night, is working all day today, and is jetting off again tomorrow morning. Would we even be able to have a real relationship with his schedule the way it is? Would the relationship only live on the phone and through text messages? Would I end up being resentful because I’ll be alone a lot of the time? Would we eventually become strangers and drift apart? These are all questions I need to work out in my head if we want to keep dating.
If .
“Ready to go?” Laura asks as I exit the empty house after showering and changing from this morning’s game.
“Yep.” I notice the look on Laura’s face, and she doesn’t look happy. “Are you okay?”
She straightens up, “Yes. Why?”
Over the last few days, I’ve spent a lot of time having Laura by my side and in that time, I’ve learned she prefers me to be here at the house or inside my shop. She looked like a nervous wreck when I went to Palm Beach Bridal the other day. Today, she looks even worse.
“Laura, you looked stressed. Is there something I should know about?”
She shakes her head. “No, ma’am, but I’m not a big fan of open areas and where we’re going to is wide open. Please carry this panic button,” she hands me what looks like a key fob for a car, “and if I tell you to do something, please don’t hesitate… just do it. Okay?”
I take the key fob from her and put it in my front pocket. “Would you feel more comfortable if I skipped the fundraiser?”
She ushers me into the back of the SUV. “Yes, but that’s not an option.” She smiles at me, trying to make light of the situation. “You want to go to this function. It’s my job to make that happen. Just, please, use the button if you feel anything out of the ordinary. We’ve got a team at the site, and they’ll be watching you and listening for the alert if you push that button. Deal?”
“Deal.” I assure her.
“Thank you.” Laura looks a bit more relieved, but not completely at ease.
Would this security business also be part of my life with Ian?
I’m not sure I’d want that.
Apparently, word got out that Ian and I might be at the fundraiser and a lot of press have shown up. There are cameras everywhere at the entrance to the parking lot. We get through all of them as security isn’t letting any of them into the actual event. Thankfully. This should be about Kate and her bagel shop and not about us.
“Hey there, stranger.” Sawyer says as he approaches me with a giant smile as he pulls me into a hug.
“Hi yourself. Have you seen Ian, yet? Is he here?” I hug him back but looking around to see if I see Ian.
“Nope. Not yet.” He leads me by the elbow farther into the event. “Let’s go over here.”
“Why?”
“Telephoto lenses.” He nods towards the parking lot gates.
“Ah. Good thinking.”
“Not my first rodeo.”
“That’s got to suck for you and your family. I mean, I’ve only been exposed to it for a few days and I’m already over it.”
Sawyer hands me a bottle of water from a vendor, “I suppose, but Ian and I have been in the public eye our entire life. We’re just used to it, I guess. Besides, not much you can do about it. People will do what they want. And right now—a picture of ‘America’s Royal Couple’,” he uses air quotes, “is what everyone wants.” He shrugs and laughs.
“What are you talking about?”
He laughs, “Apparently, you haven’t been online lately.” He pulls out his phone and swipes open a few social media pages and shows me. “Seems you and my dear brother are now royalty.”
My mouth drops open as I see page after page and article after article about us with hashtags about how in love we are and how happy we look. “My, what an interview can do for your internet presence.” I mumble as I take his phone out of his hands and start scrolling. “How am I a hashtag?” I ask with disgust in my voice to no one in particular.
People are writing articles about our wedding, eagerly anticipating it, speculating about my dress, expressing their desire to be invited, and even discussing how many kids we will have. That’s just not right. Don’t these people have anything better to do? In less than twenty-four hours, people went from wanting my head on a stick to planning the rest of my life with Ian and calling us royalty. Unbelievable.
“I see you’ve shown my girl her royal status,” Ian says as he slides up next to me and puts his arm around my waist. “Hi, sweetness.” He kisses the side of my head.
“Hi.” I answer distractedly. “Have you seen this shit?” I hold up Sawyer’s phone. “Just a few days ago, everyone wanted my head on a platter. Now I’m a hashtag?”
Sawyer holds up his water. “Here’s to the king and queen.” He laughs at his stupid joke.
I’m not finding him hilarious right now. No wonder Laura looks like she’s aged ten years in the last few days. How can anyone keep up with this shit?
Ian takes his brother’s phone out of my hands and gives it back to Sawyer. “Don’t worry about it. At least they’re not trying to burn you at the stake anymore, right?”
“No. These people need a life.”
“These people live for this shit. They hate their shitty lives, so they like to live vicariously through others. Just ignore it.” Sawyer says as he finishes the rest of the water in his bottle.
“Not helping.” Ian scolds him and then turns to me. “Look, Mia. People are going to say and do what they want to do and the only thing you can do is live your life how you want to live it. It doesn’t matter what others are saying.”
“But do you like that they say these things about you? About us?”
I watch a dark cloud come over Ian’s face, but he quickly wipes it away as he grabs his own bottle of water. July in Florida is hot and humid. Something I’m trying to get used to.
“Mia, no, of course not. I’d rather people not care about what I’m wearing, who I’m dating, where am I going, or any other trivial thing about me. But the fact of the matter is, they do. It’s part of the job.”
I shake my head. “Not a job I’d ever want.”
I look around at all the booths with crafts, food, and items for sale when a huge guy walks up and slaps both Ian and Sawyer on the shoulders, “What’s up, brothers? Haven’t seen you two in a few weeks.”
All three of them shake hands as I stand there feeling pissed about being called royalty. Really, Mia. You just need to get over it. There are worse things to be upset about.
“This is Mia, my fiancé.” Ian introduces me.
I shake this giant’s hand. “Hi.”
“Hi. I’m Declan.”
“Nice to meet you, Declan.”
I watch as Declan sees someone just past me and his brow wrinkles. Turning to see what he’s looking at; all I see is a mob of people wandering through the event. Most of them are making their way to the stage where someone is talking over a microphone, but I can’t hear them from way over here.
“See something you like?” Sawyer loudly whispers to Declan, who just ignores him.
“Want to go watch the show?” Ian asks me as I turn to face him. He pushes some of my hair out of my face and behind my ears. “Are you okay?”
I nod, “It’s just a lot, Ian.”
He pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead. “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry about it all.”
With our arms around each other, suddenly the surrounding noise dissipates, and it feels like we’re in our own little bubble where it’s just him and me.
I just wish it could be like this all the time.
This heat and humidity is really getting to me, so I decide that since Ian is hanging out with his friends, that I should go sit down in the air conditioning of Hooplas.
“Hey. I’m going to go inside for a few minutes.” I whisper to him as he’s listening to one of his many friends tell another story.
He turns to me, “Are you okay? Do you need something? Want me to come with you?” He’s searching all over me to make sure I’m okay and my heart melts even more for him.
“I’m fine. Stay with your friends. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I reassure him.
He nods and I can feel his eyes watching me make my way over to the entrance to the bar.
As I pull open the door, the ice-cold air conditioning hits my face and skin, making me have goosebumps up and down my arms. It feels amazing.
“I’ll wait out here. Let me know if you need anything.” Laura says as she stands next to the door to the bar.
“Okay. Thanks.”
It’s dark in here as the festivities are all occurring outside and the bar is closed, which means it’s also quiet, thankfully. I had no idea how loud it was getting out there. Maybe the heat makes everything louder? I do not know if that’s even possible, but whatever. It’s dark, quiet, and cool inside here, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.
I find a booth in the back of the restaurant section where one of the air vents is blowing full blast onto the bench seat and I sit down underneath it. The booth's backs are so tall that once I sit down, I can’t see anyone coming or going. I’m sure Laura would have something to say about that, but right now, it’s heaven. She’s outside protecting me, anyways.
I pull out my phone to ease the boredom and start scrolling the different social media platforms. A few of them link to some news articles about how Ian and I are the new ‘it’ couple and that everyone wants to be us. I just shake my head at the ridiculousness of it all. No one would have wanted to be me six weeks ago—or even two weeks ago—so why they’d want to be me now amazes me.
Sure, all the money is nice, and Ian has an amazing home and extravagant lifestyle, but in the end, that’s not what matters in life. Having someone to come home to, that’s on your side no matter what, and that loves and cares about you—that’s what is most important in this life. It’s something that I’ve craved for my entire life.
Suddenly, the front door to Hooplas opens and the light brightens up the restaurant as someone walks in. I watch as the light fades away again as the doors close behind whomever walked in.
“Oh, my god. Did you see what she’s wearing?” I can hear one girl say and I recognize her voice. It’s Mackenzie. Will this woman ever go away?
“I know. Targ-et special.” Another one says, making the store name sound French.
“I don’t get what’s up with her hair, ya know? Like, use a brush or something, am I right? I feel like I’m right.” A third girl says.
“It is so hot outside, my make-up is melting, and I haven’t even been able to talk to Ian alone yet. He’s been attached to her and all his friends since he got here. And yes, Aurora, you are right. Her hair is atrocious.” Mackenzie says, and I realize they’re talking about me.
I play with the ends of my hair that are hanging down. What’s wrong with my hair? I think it looks cute today, and I’m pretty sure Ian’s personal shopper didn’t buy this outfit at any discount store.
When I hear Ian’s name mentioned, I sink farther down in my seat. Not that they even know I’m back here. Nevertheless, I don’t want them to see me. Plus, it’s not nice to eavesdrop, but I can’t help myself.
“Have you seen this shit online? America’s Royal Couple? More like the Prince and the Pauper,” the third girl says.
“I don’t think that’s the right story title,” the second girl corrects her friend.
“Whatever, you know what I mean. That hoe bag has got to be doing this for the money.” The third girl bites back at her.
“Of course she is, and Ian will get bored, like he always does, and then kick her to the curb. Again, like he always does.” Mackenzie boasts.
“And you’ll be waiting in the wings to come over and make him feel better.” The second friend singsongs like it’s a fact and it makes my heart drop to my knees.
“You know I will. I mean, fuck, I’m the obvious choice.” Mackenzie boasts again as she laughs. “Hell, our families are practically attached at the hip and we grew up together. Why he’s slumming it with her, I’ll never understand, but as long as he gets it out of his system… that’s all I care about.”
“Obvious choice for slut of the year? Yes, Mackenzie, you are the obvious choice.” Sawyer’s voice booms from behind the bar. I had no idea he was even in here.
“Sawyer Gallo.” One of the girls, I can’t tell which one at this point, singsongs sweetly to him. “How nice to see you here. You are a saint for helping that poor woman whose shop was burglarized.”
“First, it wasn’t burglarized; it was vandalized. Get your story straight. And I’ll give you a thousand dollars right now if you can tell me her name. I’ll take just her first name if you can remember it.” He says, but none of them answers him. “That’s what I thought. Now, just to be clear, Aurora, Mackenzie, and Zara — my brother is marrying Mia McIntosh. They are in love. I’ve never seen my brother in love until he met Mia. She will be my sister-in-law and none of us care—no one cares, actually—if the three of you don’t get it. So, take your little asses out of this bar and go.”
“Awe, sweetie, we meant nothing by that. It’s the heat. It’s getting to me.”
“Don’t touch me, Mackenzie. Just leave.”
“But…”
“Leave before I make an announcement on stage about your little tirade.”
Suddenly, the tone of her voice isn’t sickly sweet anymore, but vicious. “You’re an asshole, Sawyer Gallo. Do you know that?”
“I do. Not the first time I’ve been told that. Now, get the fuck out.”
I hear the front door open and close. “You okay back there?” He calls from over the top of the booth next to where I’m sitting. His face pops over the back of the bench seat.
I nod to him. Apparently, he knew I was back here. “Yes, of course. They don’t bother me.” I try to convince him.
Sawyer studies me, so I school my facial features. I don’t want him to see that I’m about to burst into tears.