He made it impossible for my heart not to be.
“I hear what you’re saying,” I told my friend.
“Good. Hang on.” She pulled the phone away, and I heard her yell something down to Jason, I presumed. “Jason wants me to go taste test something for him. Look, just know I’m not saying you should marry the man tomorrow. Heck, I haven’t even met him yet. I’m suggesting that you let whatever fear you have go and allow yourself to show up. The same way you used to show up for that raggedy ass job that didn’t appreciate you.”
I chuckled. “Go taste test your man’s food before he gets restless.”
“Bye.”
After disconnecting the call, I thought over her words and wondered again if Brutus and I could make this thing work, for real.
Not a minute later, a text came through on my phone.
Brutus:Business meeting ran late. Will have to meet you at Williamsport U. Already sent a car to pick you up.
I swallowed as doubt formed in the pit of my stomach. I’d had to send a similar text canceling or postponing a date due to my former job. I pushed past the feelings that told me Brutus was brushing me aside.
He’s sending a car and said he’ll meet you there, I reminded myself.
A second later, I stood from the bed and heard a car pulling into my driveway. With my head lifted, I chose to meet the driver.
CHAPTER20
Mia
The energy in the lecture hall at Williamsport University was enough to replace the slight feeling of rejection that’d hung over me before leaving my house. Brutus had texted me right before I arrived, ensuring that the town car he’d sent had picked me up without any issues.
While I wished he was with me to see our favorite author, I still felt his presence. And that obliterated some of the negative feelings from earlier. Remembering I was there to see Malcolm Gladwell speak in person had me bouncing on my toes a little bit. For a moment, this felt like destiny of some sort.
Once I finally decided and turned in my resignation at Corsica, life started to fall into place. The loan, documentation, and everything I needed to start my coffee shop had come together so well that I was able to plan my three-month sabbatical.
A sabbatical that turned out to be only two months.
A smile split my lips. My trip away was only cut a month short because I met and fell in love with Brutus.
I stopped short.
Fell in love.
Those three words pierced through my thoughts. Their impact landed right in the center of my chest. I was in love with Brutus. Deeply in love.
Right when my mind began reeling, wondering if it was too soon to make such a declaration, I heard someone call my name.
“Mia? It’s so good to see you again.”
I turned to look over to the right. Among the people piling into the lecture hall, I spotted Maureen Pettiford. Maureen worked part-time as part of the administrative staff at Corsica.
“Maureen, how are you?” I asked genuinely. While I didn’t care for a few people at my old job or the management, Maureen wasn’t one of them. Though, she sometimes could be more talkative than I liked. I just knew not to tell her any of my business if I didn’t want it spread around the office.
Maureen’s smile widened, and she snapped a finger before pointing at me. “That’s right, you love Malcolm Gladwell,” she remembered.
I nodded. “I do.”
“I should’ve expected to see you here.” She wrapped her arm around the man at her side.
I recognized Jarrett, her husband.
“Hi, Jarrett,” I said with a wave.
