Love You Always

“Mia.” It’s not a question. Somehow he knows it’s me. An invisible string pulls me toward him. Some of my anger starts to dissipate.

“Hi,” I say as he pulls out my chair. All the witty comments I was going to say have fled my mind.

“I got you a hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows.”

“Thanks.” I give him a soft smile as I sit down. I was never great at staying angry. He doesn't take the seat across from me where he’d been sitting before. Instead he sits in the one right next to me. He’s in a pair of blue jeans and a shirt that reads Harvard across the chest and I have no doubt it’s likely where he went to school. Still, he’s not what I thought Kim’s brother would look like. I knew he’d be handsome but this is altogether something else. “So now you want to get me a drink. You could have gotten me one the other night but you decided to stand me up.” Finally my brain starts to fire correctly.

“I would never stand you up.” He reaches, running his finger along my jaw. “I knew you’d be pretty but I had no idea you’d be this beautiful.”

I lean into his touch. No one has ever called me beautiful before. Then I remember he stood me up. I smack his hand. “You stood me up then sent a necklace as an ‘I’m sorry.’ Is that how you treat people?”

“Get ’em,” Amelia shouts from across the coffee shop. Everyone turns to look her way. Even Max does for a second.

“Is that Amelia Montclair?” he asks me. “Oh shit.” He leans back in his chair. “Angel, I didn't know it was you. I didn't go on that date because of you.” He puts it together.

“Liar.” Why would he not go on a date because of me?

“Okay, it’s partly a lie. I never intended to go on the date. I agreed so my sister would leave me alone but after we spoke that first day I knew there was only one woman that I wanted to go on a date with.” His eyes go soft as he watches me. I don’t know how he does it but he looks at me like I’m the most perfect creature he’s ever seen. One would almost think he loves me if you walked by and saw the way he looks at me.

“Oh.” I melt at his words. He didn't want to go on a date with what he thought was another woman after only talking to me. “You can touch my cheek again.” He quirks a smile. “I can’t believe I just said that.” My face heats and I know that I’m turning cherry red.

He lifts his hand to stroke my cheek. I lean into his touch. “We should start over?” I suggest.

“Over? No, angel. We’re just getting started.”

13

Mia

He really is a smooth talker. I find myself falling under his spell and enjoying myself. We talk about anything and everything for a good hour. I feel like I know so much about him. Even his nephews. His whole face lights up when he talks about them.

“Do you want to tell me why you have millions of dollars in lingerie debt?” I think I already know it’s his sister messing with him.

“You have any siblings?” He gives a small smile thinking about his sister. It’s sweet and I can tell from his face they are close. I’ve never had that. Not with family at least. Amelia is the closest person to me and our friendship is somewhat on the newer side. Not that it matters. She is ride or die. One wrong move and Max will be meeting his death.

“No, my parents were one and done.”

“Not close to them?” He reads me easily.

“You can’t force people to love you. Even if you’re related to them.”

“You can try.” He gives me a playful wink. I’m not sure if he’s teasing or not but I find myself laughing. I have no plans to force my parents into a relationship with me. I’m not so sure Max isn’t going to try his best to have one with me. That thought should scare me about him but it doesn’t. I find it endearing that he wants to try to get to know me.

“You’re not what I thought I would be getting.” I look him over. I was sure he’d be rich and cocky. I don’t know a ton about Kim, only the things I’ve heard from Amelia. I knew she came from money. I think she’d gone on a double date with Kim and ended up enjoying her company more than the man she’d been set up with. They’d struck up a friendship. Amelia is always good like that. It is easy for her to make friends. She could talk anyone into anything. That’s why she is the best collector at Remex.