“Alright, I won’t bring them if they make you feel that,” Mia giggles, shaking her head. She thinks I’m ridiculous, but so is she. There’s no reason to have those books around when she’ll be too busy experiencing all the romance I can give her… all the love I can give her.
My eyes can’t help but drop to her ass as she turns to walk over to the bed, and bending down to pull out the suitcase tucked underneath.
She goes over to her closet and then to the dresser as she tries to find a piece of clothing to pack. I can’t say I like any of the clothes I’m seeing. They’re clothes for a girl, not a woman.
“You know what I think? I think we’re just going to get you a new wardrobe entirely. I have a few ideas in mind as to what you could wear; how sexy you’ll look in pieces we’ll get.” I give her a wink, noticing the surprise element in her eyes. Well, she definitely wasn’t expecting that. Hopefully, she’s just as excited as I am for what’s in store for our future.
“You love me, right?” I ask, very well knowing the answer.
“You know I do, or else I wouldn’t have said what I said earlier in front of my father. I would never stand up to him like that if I weren’t sure how I felt about you,” she expresses in her soft tone.
“I know you do. I knew it the very second I walked into the guest room last night, seeing you waiting there for me. I?
??m sure you wanted to leave at some point, but you didn’t. Half of me believes it’s due to you wanting to know if I’m a man of my word, but the other half of me is telling me you stayed because of fear. What were you so scared of?” I challenge her, feeling the need to know what’s been running through her mind before we leave together.
I need to know this is what she wants.
10
MIA
I don’t know if I should answer him, or let alone even how to answer his question. I’m still not used to the way he talks to me, but thinking about how he can please me only makes me fall more in love with him by the second.
“You. I have to say that I was scared of you.” I avert my gaze from him and bite down on my lower lip as my eyes drop to the floor. He can be so intimidating at times to where I’m still not sure what to do with myself around him.
“Yes, well, that was my guess too. As you can see, there’s nothing to be scared of when it comes to me. I think you’re scared of the unknown, and now that you have a taste of this you’re not sure what to do with it; but I’m here to show you. You’re about to step into a whole new world, just as you’re giving me a whole new world by being at my side.”
As the words slip off his lips, my heart hammers against my chest and I hold back everything to keep my legs from shaking.
“I want to be your mentor, your teacher, and your lover,” he whispers, bringing a hand to the side of my face as he rubs my cheek with the roundness of his thumb.
He can be hard sometimes, I felt that last night. I’m still adjusting to the new softness I see in him that he can bring day by day. This is the happiest I’ve felt in my eighteen years… I feel so alive, and we’re just getting started.
“So, I’m bringing nothing then?” I ask once more, giving him an out if needed.
“You’d be correct. I want to get you home and show you around now. You will see where you’ll be sleeping every night from now on.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the room.
I still didn’t quite believe this could all be this simple until I see my father looking at me in the sitting room as we walk in. His face doesn’t show anger, instead, he offers up a smile as we head toward the door.
I know he’s just trying to be brave for me.
“I want you to be happy, and if this is what’s going to make you happy, then so be it. If you ever feel the need to come back home, you can. I mean, we will still see each other for dinners from time to time.” My father tells me, rising up from his chair and walking over to pull me in for a hug.
When he pulls away, I can see the sincerity in his eyes. He means it, he cares for my happiness and if this is what I want, then he will support me in all ways.
“See you on Monday?” Jason confirms to my father, being sure to see if they’re on good terms at the business end of the spectrum.
“Yes, bright and early. No slacking just because you’re with the boss’s daughter,” my father teases.
Smiling at his comment, I’m relieved to feel the tension ease just a bit between us all. I know it’ll take some time for everything to be, well, not so weird. But one day, it will be normal just us all together in one room. I’m sure of it.
My father will always be family and thankfully, always a friend to Jason. I’m happy we can handle this all as we should instead of the silent treatment until someone breaks, and rest assure, it wouldn’t be me.
That would be my worst fear to no longer speak to my father, but I have a sense of relief knowing that’s of no concern as I step outside the front door with Jason by my side. I feel a rush of freedom consume me. How exhilarating it feels to be outside my father’s command.
“How does it feel?” Jason asks, opening up the passenger side door.
“Like freedom. Pure, freedom. To be honest, I feel more amazing than I’ve ever felt.” I didn’t even realize the tears sliding down my face until Jason reaches over to wipe them away.