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“I realize now that I failed you, Garrett. I kept you so close to me your entire life because I thought that I could love you enough to make up for all of my mistakes.”
“Mom, you didn’t—” My voice is stern and serious, because I’d like to end this awkward conversation right now, but she doesn’t let me.
“I’m sorry, Garrett.” Tears stream down her face, and I promptly shut up. I lock down the emotions rising in my throat, and I hold her hand instead. Like I did for Mia today, I try to be the rock my mother needs now. Even if I’m the one she’s claiming to have hurt.
Although I never saw it that way. My mother tried. I was the one who caused the problems and made it so fucking hard for her. I’m the one who should be apologizing, but I’m still not very good at expressing that shit.
“So when I say that Mia brings out the peace in you, Garrett, I mean that the connection I see between you two keeps you grounded like I’ve never seen before. Like the storm inside you has subsided. And that’s what I wanted for you all along. And I don’t care that I’m not the one who can help you or that she’s your stepsister or that Paul might hate it. You’re at peace, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
With that, she snatches a tissue from the box next to her chair and wipes her eyes. The elephant disappears and the mood lightens.
But I’m still speechless.
As the nurses come in, and my mother talks with them, I don’t move or say a word. Mentally, I keep replaying every moment with Mia at the lake house and the club, realizing that my mother is right. When I’m with Mia, I don’t feel alone or like I’m battling the heavy winds of my own emotions. I’m so focused on her, and even when we were fighting or teasing each other, with one look, she kept me tethered.
It hits me that the girl I never thought I could be with might have been made for me all along.
RULE #31: DON’T LET HIM MAKE A FOOL OUT OF YOU.
Mia
It’s dark when I wake up, and next to me the bed is empty, but there’s a buzzing coming from somewhere in the apartment. I stretch as I roll out of his bed, stumbling to the door. It’s a good thing he gave me his sweats, and I’m not stuck walking around naked.
“Garrett,” I call, but there’s no answer. Where the hell did he go? Maybe he had to go to work.
The door buzzes again, and I jog over to answer it.
“Coming!” I call, and when I pull it open, I’m struck speechless by the six-foot blond masterpiece I’ve seen walking around the club once or twice. “Hi,” I stammer awkwardly.
“Hi,” he grins, “you must be Mia. Isabel and Hunter sent me over with dinner and flowers for Garrett. Is he here?”
“Um…no.”
“We heard your dad was in the hospital, so we just wanted to do what we could.”
“Oh,” I reply, stepping out of the way to let him in. “That’s really nice of you. I don’t know where Garrett went, but you can put it in the kitchen.”
As he brushes past me, I get a whiff of his cologne, subtle and masculine at the same time.
“How is your dad?” he asks after setting a pasta dish and a bottle of wine on the counter.
“He’s recovering. Should be home tomorrow,” I say with a smile.
“Good. I’ll let the others know.” He leans against the counter casually, looking far too handsome as he smiles at me.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve met,” I say. “Are you one of the owners?”
He laughs. “Oh, fuck. That was rude of me.” As he puts out his hand, I reach for it. “I’m Drake, a friend of Hunter’s and the general contract—”
My hand pauses before it reaches his. “Drake?” I ask, interrupting him.
“Yeah. God, you haven’t heard of me already, have you? If so, what did you hear?”
The tunnel vision sets in and nothing makes any sense. It’s a different Drake. It has to be. This isn’tmyDrake. At the very least he’d recognize me and say something, but still…just the mention of his name tilts my world off its axis.
“No, I haven’t…I mean,” I stammer. “Did you say you’re the contractor?”
“Yeah,” he replies with a smile. “We did the building renovations for Salacious.”
