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The one? Such a broad statement. It could mean so many things. Mase was refurbishing his kitchen. He called him all the time about this kind of wood and that kind of stain. He was also looking to buy a new truck. But Mase was particular about things—kind of like Gabby—and didn’t make quick decisions. About anything. Considering Mase didn’t date much, and when he did, it was never serious, he didn’t think he was speaking about a girl.
“Cool. What one?”
Mase laughed, although it came out nervously. “Theone. She’s amazing.”
Well, Jaxson called that all wrong. He definitely wouldn’t have picked it was a woman his brother was talking about.
“Details, dude. I need more details. Who is she? What does she do? How old is she? How long have you known her?”
“Okay, okay, Mr. Detective. No need for interrogation. I’ll tell you everything.” Mase sighed again.
“Something’s up, though. What’s with the heavy sighs? She sick or something?” Because what a low blow for his brother if so. To find love—something he defied—then to have it not last long.
“No, thank goodness. Nothing like that. It’s just…it’s…”
Jaxson smiled at Detective Ramos as he stopped at his desk. His expression told him he didn’t have anything good to report.
“We gotta talk,” Detective Ramos whispered.
Damn. That sounded worse than he originally thought. What could’ve happened?
“Hey, Mase, I’m almost done with work. Just one more thing I have to do and I’m out of here. Can I call you ba—”
“She’s married. I fell in love with a married woman. Help me, bro.”
Well, shit. Leave it to his brother to do something so insane. Kind of like loving a woman who would never love him back.
4
Her tote bag dropped with a loud thud onto the table. Her sketch pad slipped out. Tears wanted to spill when the hole through the elegant wedding dress she had drawn earlier today pierced her eyes.
A big gaping hole.
Right through the heart.
Maybe she should’ve shown Jezebelle what she had been working on. At least one person could’ve appreciated it before it had gotten destroyed.
It almost amused her because that’s how her heart felt. A huge gaping hole for the longest time, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t fill it.
Not with friendship, even though she had the best friend in the entire world.
Not with work, even though she adored what she did, looking forward to each new day.
Not with love, even though she loved a man who most likely loved her back.
Yet, that large hole in her heart kept her from truly living her life.
Mia was good at faking everything was okay, and she would continue to do so. Today’s event wouldn’t stop her from doing the same thing she did every day. Fake it.
Shoving the sketch pad back into her bag, it removed part of the reminder of what happened a short time ago, but it didn’t erase the memory.
She could still see the tiny hole in the bag itself.
Her finger grazed the bullet hole that missed her by a few inches. If she hadn’t been holding her tote bag, the bullet would’ve hit the small child standing behind her.
So what her sketch of the wedding dress for her best friend, Gabby, was ruined. It had saved the little girl’s life, and for that, Mia was thankful.
Shaking off the horrible remnants of the day, she headed into her kitchen and pulled out a glass. Instead of grabbing for a bottle of wine, she grabbed the pitcher of water from the fridge. Getting drunk wouldn’t solve her problems. It would dull them for the moment, but they’d still be there.
