Page 80 of The Only Heart that Matters
The Sunday after our sleepover, my sister cornered me. Once again, warning me not to hurt Mia. That she was going through enough after the Rhen debacle and didn’t need any other drama in her life. I told her she was freaking out over nothing. Of course, she didn’t believe me, but when I refused to answer any more of her questions, she let it go.
However, Daisy is like a dog with a bone. She may bury the bone for safekeeping, but when she’s ready, she’ll dig it up and chew until she’s gotten to the core and eventually until it’s all but gone.
Once we reach the far end of the deck, out of view from the dining room windows, she turns on me and hisses, “What the hell are you doing?”
It could be the cool early March evening air, but it’s more than likely the venom in my sister's voice that sends a chill racing down my spine.
“Not sure what you’re talking about, sis,” I lie through my teeth, keeping my gaze on the fence posts between me and the darkening horizon.
“Mia! You idiot! What is going on between the two of you?” Her finger as pointy as ever when she stabs it into my shoulder. “This is more than a fake relationship for her bosses, and don’t tell me it’s not.”
“I’m sure you’ve had your girl talk. Why don’t you tellmewhat’s going on?”
I mean it. I want to know what Mia has told her. How she’s feeling. What she wants.
“Gus, this is Mia we’re talking about. Not one of your never-ending one-night stands.”
She doesn’t have to tell me the difference between Mia and every other woman I’ve had in my bed. There is simply no comparison. That’s why there has been no one else since New Year’s Eve and fuck me, but I don’t want there to be.
“You don’t have to worry, sis. I know I’m not good enough for her and Sawyer.”
“Shut up,” she hisses. “Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t say that, but this is Mia, Gus. She's part of the family. If you hurt her, you hurt me.”
Same, sis. Same.
“She’s not going anywhere,” she continues. “And she’ll have to look at you at every Sunday dinner and family event from here until, well, eternity.”
I fucking wish.
“Dais, I get it.”
“Do you?”
“I don’t need a lecture, baby sister.”
“Gus Gus!”
Sawyer is running toward us at full speed with his head leaning forward like he may topple over any second, but he crashes into my leg just in time.
“Hey, buddy. Whatcha doin’?”
Knowing I shouldn’t, but I’ve always been a glutton for punishment, I look at my sister. Her arms crossed over her chest, the irritation on her face says it all.Don’t fuck up their lives.
Message received loud and clear, I say back with a nod of my head.
I scoop Sawyer up and he wraps his arms around my neck. His body relaxes against me like dead weight. Instantly comfortable.
“Sorry, it’s past his bedtime.”
Mia’s voice instantly brings me peace. After three weeks of silence, knowing she’s near is enough to loosen the knot of anxiety that’s tied me up since I dropped her off that morning. Not knowing what she’s doing or how she’s spending her day has had me balancing on the edge of insanity.
She steps up beside me to rub her son’s back and I’ll be damned if I didn’t want to put my arm around her and pull her against my side so they’re both in my arms.
“No, worries. You know I don’t mind,” I say, swaying from side to side to soothe Sawyer.
She looks at Daisy out of the corner of her eye before offering me a small smile. She seems uncomfortable under my sister’s watchful eye.
“So, how have you been?” I ask, trying to pretend we don’t have an audience. And stopping myself from telling her exactly how many days, screw that, how many hours it’s been since I’ve seen her.
