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I swallow hard. “Her birthday?”
“Yes, it’s today…I probably should have said something earlier. The girls wanted to take Mia out for dinner since it’s her last night and all, but after last night she doesn’t seem to be in the mood to make plans."
I start to see red.She never mentioned it’s her birthday.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Sure. So what did you have in mind?”
“Maybe we could eat here at the hotel? I might take her shopping once we’ve done a walkthrough of the apartment.”
My heartstrings tug as I think about Mia being locked up in her room and in no mood to celebrate her birthday.
“I’ve got an idea. Does she like ice skating?”
“Ice skating?” Rayne laughs. “We haven’t done that since we were kids. I know Mia was disappointed when I tried to get tickets to the Rockefeller ice skating and we missed out.”
“You tried to get tickets?”
“Yes, but they sold out back in November.”
“Well, I think I could pull some strings.”
“If you could do that, my life just got made.”
“Hey, I’m an ideas man,” I reply, feeling anything but. One thing I have observed about Mia over the last few months is she seems like the kind of girl who enjoys the simpler things in life. “If you trust me, leave the details up to me, and we’ll make it the best birthday she’s ever had.”
“I do trust you, but I also don’t want to know what you’re going to do to get tickets,” she says, a little warily. “Hopefully, nothing too unpleasant, but they’re impossible to get.”
“Good thing I have friends in low places then, isn’t it?”
“Touché. I guess it comes with the territory.”
“Something like that.”
There’s a slight pause, then she says, “You did the right thing last night, Dante. I know my sister can be a handful. All of this has been genuinely difficult for her, and when Tom got a bit too fresh, she panicked.”
My blood starts to boil again remembering the exchange.
I wonder if she’s said anything about me, but I can’t outrightly ask that, so I say, “I know, that’s why I intervened. She might think I’m trying to poke my nose in where it’s not wanted, but Angelo asked me to do a job. And until we get back to Boston, my job is to keep her safe.”
“I appreciate that.”
At least Rayne seems to get it. “Well, text me when you’re ready to go out.”
“I thought we’d order room service for breakfast and then work out the details from there.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
We hang up, and I feel much lighter about everything. I want Mia to have an amazing birthday, and if this is what she’s always wanted to do, then I will make it happen.
Sometimes the best things in life are free, and sometimes you need to call in a favor or two.
11
MIA
Dante never replies,but when I get a knock at the door, my heart skips a beat.
I’m disappointed when I see it’s Rayne, and she’s holding a big box with a bow on it.
