Page 37 of Fumble Into the End Zone
“According to the private investigator, LA. Harley doesn’t have any memories of her mother. She abandoned my daughter at the hospital. At first, I was mad, but looking back, she was sixteen, scared, and under pressure from her family.”
Mia caressed my hand, and I smiled at the texture of her skin brushing against mine.
“She hasn’t reached out at all?” Mia asked.
“No, she signed over her rights. The papers were waiting for me at the hospital. Since my grandfather died, it’s been me, Eddy, and Harley. My granny is aging and sleeping more. It worries the hell out of me.”
The concern in his eyes spoke to me.
“If you ever need help. I’ll step in. Outside of the studio, my job is remote,” she said.
I kissed her hand. “Good, when can you move in?” I inquired.
Mia scanned my features to gather if I was joking. I smiled, and she hit my arm.
“Are you ready?” I asked, and Mia squinted.
I knew she forgot about our bet. “You owe me some alone time,” I reminded and danced my brows upward.
Mia’s mouth parted, but closed again. Standing, I reached for her hand, and she granted me the pleasure of helping her stand. I switched on the alarm with my phone as we exited the front door. With our hands tangled, I led her to the passenger side, opening the door. I rounded the front of my car, pacing my steps because I wanted to run. Being in the same space with herelevated me above the clouds. We pulled out of the driveway in pursuit of my alone time.
“Marcus,” Mia called, and I shifted the volume down.
“Yes, Mia.”
She glared at the side of my face but sat motionless. Mia was an over thinker, but she would soon learn to express herself with me.
“Ask your questions. It’s all a part of the plan for you to fall in love with me,” I said.
Mia slanted her head and scoffed at the statement. “Why are there no family photos at your house?”
Instead of getting on the highway, I veered to the right. “Where are we going?” Mia questioned.
I kissed her hand and continued to drive. We drove a few blocks before I pulled into the cobblestone driveway of my permanent house. She was a five-bedroom, two-story house, but she needed work. Right now, the brown exterior hid her true beauty.
Switching off the car, I looked over at Mia. “The house we’re living in is a temporary rental. This is our home. I’m renovating it. Things are moving at a slower pace because during the season, I can’t focus on it.”
Mia took in the exterior of my house before she found my eyes again.
“Why can’t you pay someone? You got a monster rookie contract,” she said.
I narrowed my eyes before I joked, “You researched me and counted my pockets, huh.”
Mia tapped my leg and gave me a mug.
“Why pay someone when I could do the bulk of the work myself? My grandfather taught me everything about building a house from framework to sheetrock. And a house means more when your hands touch the foundation.”
Mia’s eyes warmed more than before as I continued to discuss my plans. I pulled out my phone, showed her my ideas for the layout, and she rotated more into me.
“You’re amazing,” she said as I closed my phone.
“I try,” I said, and we burst into laughter and pulled out of my driveway.
On my way to Mia’s house, she willingly gave me her hand. I kissed it at various points of the drive savouring the feel of her skin. Parking in her driveway, I shut off the car, and we sat in silence.
“Did I fulfill the obligations of my bet?” she asked.
I danced my head side to side a few times, and she giggled. “I’ll let you off the hook if you tell me what you want.”
