AllFreeNovel
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"Do you want to walk around before we grab a bite to eat?" I ask, hoping to prolong our time together.
She grins over at me. "Sure."
We stroll down the main street of the small town, taking in the charming storefronts and colorful murals that line the sidewalks. The air is fresh and crisp, a welcome change from the artificial humidity of Vegas.
Mia seems to relax as we walk, her shoulders lowering and her gait slowing to match my own. I can't help but admire her beauty in the natural light; there's a certain glow that emanates from her that's not present when we're indoors, a radiance that makes my heart skip a beat.
"Hey, look at that," she says suddenly, pointing to a bookstore across the street.
I follow her gaze and see a sign with the word "USED" scrawled across it in bold letters. "Want to check it out?"
Mia nods eagerly, and we cross the street to investigate. Inside, the shelves are packed with all sorts of literature, from dusty old classics to contemporary bestsellers. I watch as Mia runs her fingers over the spines, scanning titles with interest.
"Anything catch your eye?" I ask casually.
She pulls out a worn copy of To Kill a Mockingbird and hands it to me with a small smile. "My favorite."
I nod appreciatively, tucking it under my arm. "A classic girl, huh?"
She smiles sheepishly. "Yeah."
Suddenly, a loud growl echoes through the store, and Mia's hand flies to her stomach. "I guess I'm hungry," she admits with a laugh.
"Right on cue," I tease, leading her out of the store and towards the cozy little restaurant I picked out ahead of time.
As we take our seats inside the warm, dimly-lit restaurant, I can't help but feel grateful for this brief moment of peace amidst the chaos of our lives. Mia's eyes sparkle in the candlelight as we chat about everything and nothing over plates of hearty pasta and glasses of red wine.
I catch myself stealing glances at Mia, admiring how the natural light filters through her hair and highlights the freckles on her nose. It's a subtle reminder that she's not just a pawn in some dangerous game, but a real person with genuine emotions and interests.
"Tell me about yourself," she insists, pouring yet another glass of wine.
I hesitate, suddenly realizing that I haven't really talked much about myself since we first met. "What do you want to know?" I ask, taking a sip of my wine.
"Anything," she replies with a shrug. "Your past, your hobbies, your dreams."
I take a deep breath, feeling a vulnerability I haven't felt in years. But something about the way Mia is looking at me, with genuine interest and curiosity, makes me want to open up.
"Well, I grew up in a small town in Texas," I begin. "My parents were both working-class. My dad was a mechanic and my mom worked at a diner. I was the first in my family to go to college."
Mia listens intently as I share more about my childhood and my journey to where I am today. It feels cathartic to let out some of my past experiences and thoughts that I've kept locked inside for so long.
"I've always wanted to go into law enforcement, and-" I put myself off, biting my tongue.
Don't forget who you are, idiot, I scold myself.
Mia reaches across the table and grabs my hand. "It's okay. We don't always end up where we thought we would as children." She smiles gently, gesturing around us. "I mean, I never thought I would be here with a handsome man buying me dinner and books to read."
I lean forward slightly. "So, you think I'm handsome?"
She rolls her eyes and shoots back, "As if you don't already know."
I chuckle, feeling a warmth spread throughout my chest at her words. "Well, you're not too bad yourself," I say, feeling the alcohol loosen my tongue.
Mia smiles shyly before taking another sip of her wine. We fall into a comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in our own thoughts.
"Do you ever think about leaving this life behind?" Mia asks suddenly, breaking the quiet.
I stare at her, surprised by the gravity of her question. "What do you mean?" I ask cautiously.
