Turning over, I feel emptiness. Opening my eyes, the bed is empty. Sitting up, I realize the house is quiet. Shit, she's gone. I reach for my cell and see that it's eight am, fuck. I hit dial on Jagger's number.
"It's early. This had better be good." He gripes.
"Is your girl gone?" I know he went home with my girl’s friend. Anyone's better than fucking Carina.
"What?" He asks, and I realize I've just woke him up. "Shit. How did you know?"
"Mine has gone too. Jag, find them." I demand and hang up. I instantly call Martin. "Martin, find that woman who I left the bar with last night. I don't care how you do it. Just do it." I hang up without letting him answer. I'm like a fucking mad man, I had one
night with the woman, and I'm desperate to see her again. Fuck, that's not right.
My men had better find her; otherwise, I'm going to go crazy. I throw my phone, and it bounces off the wall, smashing into pieces. Why did she leave? Where the hell has she gone? I wasn't finished with her yet. "You can run Princess, but you can't hide. I'm going to find you, and when I do, I'm going to make you mine." I whisper. It's a promise. She's never getting away from me again.
Three
Mia
Twenty Months later
Ugh, I'm dreading the drive home. It's summer break, and I've been summoned to return home.
"Mia, are you sure it's okay that I tag along too?" Lacey asks as she stands by my bedroom door, "I mean you're meeting your stepdad for the first time." Her parents are in the Bahamas this summer and she’d be home alone if she went back to Carson City.
I throw her a smirk, "I've spoken to Mom, she's expecting you. Apparently, her and daddy dearest are throwing a party." I roll my eyes. It sounds so pretentious and something that my mom would never do. I guess a lot of things have changed since she married Harrison Brady. They eloped two weeks ago. I only found out that they were married once they returned.
She perks up, "A party?" She doesn’t really go to parties here, I think because I’m her only friend here in Arizona, she’s so shy around everyone at college and yet with me, she’s herself and I love her as if she were my sister, so hearing her perk up at the mention of a party surprises me.
I nod, "Yeah, it's probably going to be filled with old men and women who Mom and Harrison are going to show off to." Mom is selling our old house. The one that Dad took years saving for, the one that his life insurance paid for. She's moved into some other house, she's sent me pictures and has even picked out a room for me to have. No matter what, that house will never be home.
Lacey walks into my room, "I know that you're mad Mia, but your mom seems really happy." She puts her arm around my shoulders and pulls me into her body, "You should try and forgive her for not telling you and be happy for her."
I sigh, "I am happy for her, I just feel as though she's getting rid of any memory of Dad while she moves on. It's like she's forgotten him." My dad died five years ago from a brain aneurism. He served twenty years in the army only to retire and die anyway. It hurt, and I'm mad that my mom's trying to wipe him from her memory, remove all remnants of their life together. Am I next?
Lacey pulls away from me, "It's a good thing that I'll be there with you every step of the way. I'd better finish packing." She begins to walk out of my room.
"We'll leave in an hour, so be ready," I yell out and hear her grunt in acknowledgment.
Grabbing my phone off the bed, I call Mom to let her know that we'll be leaving soon.
She answers on the second ring. "Hey baby, have you left yet?"
"Not yet, we're just finishing packing up. We'll be leaving here in an hour," I tell her as I throw more clothes haphazardly into the bag. "I'm almost packed and Lacey's just finishing off too."
"That's good baby. I can't wait to see you. It's been too long."
I don't tell her that's her own fault, "I'll be there soon, Mom. What's the plan for this evening?" I know my mom, she likes to have plans, she makes lists too.
"I want you and Harrison to get to know one and other, so we'll be having dinner. It'll just be the four of us as Harrison's son won't be arriving until the morning." Her voice rises a pitch, and she’s talking a mile a minute. Guilt sets in for being so angry at her.
"Okay, I'll text you when we're leaving. It shouldn't be too long. I don't want to be driving when it's dark. Love you, Mom, bye."
"Love you too, baby, drive safe, and I'll see you soon."
I end the call and throw my phone back onto the bed and continue to throw everything and anything into my suitcase. I don't know why I'm bothering as I've got a closet full of clothes at Mom's. "Hey Lacey, you need any help?" I yell as I grab my phone and my bag and walk out of my room and toward the kitchen.
"No, I'm good. I'm almost ready." She yells back, "I just need to grab my toothbrush." She's so weird. I always have a new toothbrush when I'm traveling anywhere.
I grab my car keys off the kitchen counter, "We'll leave as soon as you're ready and stop somewhere for some food. I'm starving." I shout as I open the front door, I notice my ASU hoodie on the back of the couch and grab it, it’s one of the most comfortable hoodies I own, and I love wearing it while lounging around the house.