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“I gotta tell ya, sis, I’m not sure I approve of your choice in men,” Hayden told Mia in a loud whisper that could be heard around the whole table. “You could do better.”
“Piss off, Hayden,” I grumbled.
Mia laughed again and looped her arm through mine, giving me an intimate wink. “Sorry, Hayden, I’m afraid I’m completely smitten with my husband.”
It was all an act for grandpa, right? She sounded so damn sincere. Even Hayden looked at me questioningly.
The food was brought in then, putting an end to Hayden’s fun at my expense. The conversation was more relaxed during the meal, and I was amazed at how well Mia fit in with everyone. Not only did she take Dylan’s charm in stride and handle Hayden’s attempts to provoke me like an expert, but she completely captivated our grandfather, as well—not to mention carrying on a conversation about our favorite topic, the family business, with no trouble at all.
It was like she really was a member of the family.
I could suddenly see this continuing long-term, even after Grandpa was gone. Mia and her mother could join us for holidays and family celebrations. I could keep waking up with her dark hair tickling my nose and her scent on my skin, and her making my days brighter and more bearable. And I could still take care of her financially, just like I promised.
But could I do it? Was I ready to change the rules of our agreement so Mia would always be mine? I wanted that, more than I realized, but there was a huge part of me that was more fearful of Mia’s rejection if I ever broached the possibility. The thought devastated me.
Yet, the idea of Mia sticking around wouldn’t go away. I just wished that I knew what the future would bring. If I could just be sure that things would work out between us, this would be so much easier.
Instead, I would have to take a leap of faith if I wanted to make things work with her, but I wasn’t sure I could give her everything she needed and deserved. I felt weak admitting that, even to myself, but it was the truth. I was paralyzed by indecision.
“You know what I’m wondering?” Hayden asked just as the meal was coming to an end. “When are you guys going to go on a honeymoon?”
I knew that Hayden was stirring up trouble again, expecting me to get annoyed by the way he acted like this was all some big joke. Instead, I turned to look at Mia.
“Would you like to go somewhere for our honeymoon?”
Her eyes grew big. “Seriously?”
I smiled at her shocked expression. “Yeah, seriously.”
“Well…I’ve always kind of wanted to see the mountains.”
I reached over and took her hand, lacing our fingers together. Her request was so simple, so . . . genuinely Mia. “Then, that’s what we’ll do. I’ll plan something special for us.”
And maybe, in the meantime, I could figure out if I could handle a real relationship without running away like I always did.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Mia
It started in the middle of the night. I woke up covered in a sheen of sweat. I’d kicked off the covers in my sleep and my skin was warm, my entire body flushed.
That wasn’t the first thing I noticed though. Before I even opened my eyes, it registered in my mind that I felt absolutely terrible. My entire body ached. It was so overwhelming that I couldn’t help let out a groan.
I felt like I’d run twenty miles and been run over by a truck.
Prying my eyes open, I glanced at the clock on the nightstand beside me, seeing that it was just after three in the morning. Logan was sound asleep next to me, his breathing deep and even.
Deciding that I should probably just go to my own bed in the guest room for the first time since I moved in, just in case I was getting sick, I sat up. This immediately proved to be a huge mistake as my head throbbed from a headache and my stomach rolled with a wave of nausea.
I launched myself out of the bed and to the bathroom, barely making it in time to empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I didn’t even stop to turn on the light. I was just kneeling in the darkness, retching while I gripped the side of the porcelain bowl with one hand and attempted to hold my hair back with the other.
My eyes watered and my throat burned. This was horrible, and I just prayed for it to be over quickly.
Suddenly, the bathroom was flooded with bright light and Logan was at my side, rubbing my back and taking my hair from my hand as I vomited again. I internally cringed, knowing that this was definitely not a pretty sight. The sounds and smells in the room weren’t great either. My thin nightgown was plastered to my skin because of the sweat and there was no way that Logan didn’t notice it, but he kept rubbing my back.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” he said softly, and a little of my embarrassment died away.
My stomach was cramping from all the heaving by the time I was done, and my mouth tasted disgusting. But at least the horrid nausea passed. I was sure it would return, because that was how these stomach flues worked, but I’d take any reprieve I could get.
