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“Just?” I murmured, bending my head to kiss her throat.
“Nothing,” she said with a needy little sigh. “I don’t even remember what I was saying.”
Smirking, I looked up at her. “You ready for bed now?”
“Definitely.”
???
After our econ class the next day, we had lunch with Lyla on campus before I drove Mia to work. Once she was inside, I headed for the gym.
This week, I was refereeing at an Underground fight, and since it was two of the meanest fighters I’d ever seen, I needed to be on top of my game.
Walking in, I tossed my hand up at the guy behind the front desk. After scanning my membership badge, I went to the locker room. I had a locker full of workout gear and even a change of clothes in case I ever needed it.
Pulling out my running shoes and a pair of workout shorts, I changed and was just tying my shoe when my phone went off. Seeing Mia’s dad’s name on the screen, I frowned and picked it up.
“Sir?” I greeted.
“Barrick, how are you, son?”
“I’m good, sir. How are you?”
There was a pause on his end, as if he didn’t know how to answer me. Releasing a pent-up breath, he muttered, “I feel like shit. This whole thing with Mia is still driving me crazy. We used to talk all the time. Now I’m lucky if she picks up the phone when I call her. How the fuck did you get her to forgive you so easily?”
“It wasn’t easy,” I told him truthfully. “That week she wouldn’t even talk to me was the worst in my life.”
“But she did forgive you.”
“Yeah, she did.” I grabbed a hair tie out of my locker and pulled my hair into a knot at the back of my head. “Just give her time, sir. She will forgive you too.”
“I hope so.” With a grunt, he changed the subject. “My wife said this morning that you and your cousin will be joining us for Christmas. She also informed me that I needed to ask you what you were getting our girl so we didn’t happen to get the same thing by mistake.”
“I doubt you would get her the same thing,” I told him evasively.
“I still have to tell Emmie something, or she’s going to make me call you until I get an answer, boy.”
“Jewelry.”
He muttered a curse. “That tells me nothing, Barrick. I just saw a pair of earrings I know Mia would like yesterday, so I need specifics.”
“A ring. I’m getting her a goddamn ring,” I bit out and waited for his explosion.
I’d been searching for the perfect ring since Mia and I got back together. From the moment she said she loved me out loud, I knew I had to make her mine in every sense of the word. Before I met her, just the thought of marriage made me break out in a cold sweat. Now, just thinking of never getting to call Mia my wife terrified me.
A charged silence followed, but when he spoke again, it wasn’t to scream obscenities at me as I would have expected. “Right, so I can buy her those earrings I saw after all.”
“You’re…okay with me giving her a ring?” I asked hesitantly. “You don’t think it’s too soon or that she’s too young?”
“You make her happy. And I know she loves you. When I do get her to talk to me, she can’t shut up about you. Time and age mean nothing. But if I can make a suggestion?”
My brows lifted. “Of course.”
“Give it to her at the party we have every Christmas Eve. Everyone who loves her will be there, and I know it would make it more special for her.”
“If you think that will make her happy, then I’ll do it.” I scratched at my jaw, feeling unsure all of a sudden. I fucking hated that feeling. “Sir…I’m sorry I didn’t ask your permission. It’s just, I thought maybe you already gave it when—”
“I did,” he assured me, his voice suddenly sounding choked. “I gave you permission a long time ago, Barrick.”
