AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your boyfriend called.”
Mia gulped. She’d wanted to wait and read Jeff’s text messages when she got home. She hadn’t wanted to interrupt last night’s bliss by reading a “let’s get together so I can return your clothes” message. “He’s not my boyfriend anymore, remember?”
“What did he say?”
For some reason Blaine’s prying into her personal life irked her, especially given his own elusiveness. “I didn’t read it. Or listen to the voice mail.”
Blaine held her phone out. She took it from him. “Check it.”
She put both hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me? You’re like double-o seven, all man of mystery, and you want me to tell you who I’m communicating with?”
He ran both hands through his hair. “You’re right. You’re—listen, Mia, I’m sorry. I don’t know what my problem is. I really, really like you. More than I’ve liked anyone in a long time.”
Mia breathed a sigh of relief. She put her arms around his neck. “What’s the matter, if that’s the case?” He ran his hands over her body, naked under his tee shirt. He cupped her bottom in both hands, and then slid up to her breasts. She leaned into his fingers.
He let go. “The problem—the problem… I’m not staying in town much longer.”
She backed away. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say you’ve only been here a few weeks?”
He nodded. “I never stay in one place for very long. I’m thinking of heading to St. John. Better chartering there.”
“You—you knew this? And you seduced me anyway?”
“I didn’t seduce you!” He seemed to realize that was a somewhat ridiculous statement. “I fell for you. In about two hours of being in your presence. Even with you crying and sick. It’s—it’s ridiculous. I’ve never met anyone like you. How you’re so simultaneously sweet and sassy. Innocent and wise. Like a little girl and a wise old woman in the body of a goddess.”
His words took her breath away. She put her hands on his chest. “Then why are you leaving? You don’t have to leave.”
He nodded and stepped away, as if her hands burnt his bare chest. “Yes. I do. This isn’t part of my plan.”
“Plan?” She felt as if she might cry. “In case you didn’t notice, I think you’re pretty amazing, too, when you’re being open with me. Which seems to happen mostly when we’re making love.”
He turned away, and he put her arms around his waist. She was sure if she kept reaching for him he’d stop moving away. “But not always. I’ve never had someone treat me as kindly as you did on the boat, when I was sick.” She pressed her face into his back. “You can’t make these things part of a plan.”
He eased her around and kissed her forehead. “I’ve gotten where I am today because I’ve always had a plan.”
“Where are you today?” she asked.
He spoke slowly, as if the words tasted bad, but he couldn’t spit them out. “I’m getting ready to leave for St. John. In a week.”
Mia gathered her belongings and said goodbye to Blaine Daniels again. This time, however, instead of angry and embarrassed, she felt sad down to her bones.
*
Mia called her mom on the way back to her apartment. She couldn’t face going home yet. She asked Mama Maria to meet her at their favorite bakery, Sweet Stuff. She didn’t have the slightest appetite, but maybe a scone would cheer her up.
Maria was already sitting at a tiny table with two chocolate chip scones and two lattes when Mia arrived. She sank into the chair across from her mother. Maria took her hand.
“Sweetheart,” Maria said. “You’re too thin. Worrying about that Jeff isn’t worth wasting away to nothing. You’re half Cuban! Curves are our bread and butter.” She giggled in a high, tee-hee-hee!
“I know, Mama,” Mia said. “You’re right. Worrying about men is so not worth it.” She didn’t bring up Blaine. It was too complicated. Let her mother think it was all Jeff. Hard to imagine as it was, Mia felt more loss after two days with Blaine than she had over two years with Jeff.
“Has he called?”
Mia nodded. “I haven’t listened to his message.” She pulled out her phone and pressed Jeff’s voicemail, but all she heard was some breathing before the message ended. Not surprising. Jeff preferred to communicate via text whenever possible. Obviously, haha, she thought.
She read his message. Can we talk? I’ve been thinking a lot. And then, whenever you have some time, and then, I miss you, Mi-mi.
She showed the messages to her mother, who pursed her lips and said, “Delete.”
