CHAPTER18
MICHAEL
Mia had been nervous all night. For a moment, I saw her loosen up when she went to the bar and chatted with the bartender, who looked to be around her age. I didn’t know what she was so worried about though. She had done wonderful tonight.
After she disappeared into the restroom, I waited at a table for her to come back, so we could leave. I sipped on the last of my wine and nodded to Jim, who was talking to a group of the male architects about another project we’d be starting soon.
“So, Michael,” Jim said, turning the conversation toward me. He raised his brows. “Mia?”
I nodded and gave him a tight smile, hoping we hadn’t given too much away when we disappeared for a solid twenty minutes. “She’s amazing,” I said, glancing back at the restroom.Where is she?
“I bet she is.”
Some of the interns chuckled, but I didn’t because there wasn’t anything to laugh about.
“Been going on for a while, huh?” he asked.
One of the younger interns from the other night at Sal’s bar nudged him. “Bagged her at eighteen.” He whistled, as if he was impressed, and chuckled. “Got a nice set of tits too.”
The guys started laughing, but I felt bitter disgust deep in my bones. Spreading rumors and lies to act cool in front of the group. How mature.
“No,” I said, strong and clear so they completely understood me. I tried hard not to let it affect me, to stay calm, to not clench my jaw so tightly. “She’s twenty-two. Young, but not that young.”
“Still though,” another one of the guys said, suggestively raising his brows, “you scored with her.”
It was shit-talking, justwhat guys did, but it didn’t fly with me. To even hear them talk about Mia like she was nothing but a fuck toy disgusted me. She was more than that, had always been more than that. It’d started physical, but even then, she hadn’t been an object.
“I’d appreciate it if you respected her,” I said, placing my drink down on the table and glancing back to the restrooms.
Mia caught my eye from across the room, her face as pale as a ghost.
“She’s not an object. She’s my girlfriend,” I said.
Jim nudged me. “Don’t take it so personal. You know how it is.”
I ground my teeth together and stared over at them. “And how is it?”
He paused and looked away, tilting his head, as if he didn’t know how to respond to that without sounding disrespectful. “Just locker-room talk.”
My hands balled into fists, and I willed myself not to make a bigger scene. This was what Mia had been worried about even though I’d told her not to worry one bit. She had known this would happen, and I’d brushed it off as if it were nothing.
Mia’s gaze met mine, and a pained expression crossed her face. Something had happened. Something that I knew I wouldn’t like. I wanted to leave with her now, but I wanted them to know not to fucking treat her like she was good for nothing but sex.
I didn’t know how any of these guys had relationships while disrespecting women this much.
“I don’t give a damn if it’s locker-room talk. It’s disgusting,” I said through gritted teeth. I wanted to say more, but Mia looked beyond stressed. So, I grabbed my suit jacket and swung it over my shoulder. “I have to go.”
Without listening to another word from them, I hurried toward Mia. She faked a smile, pretending as if everything were okay. But as soon as I grabbed her hand, her smile faltered, and she dropped the act.
“I’m sorry for ruining the night”—she nodded toward the door—“but can we go? I … I don’t want to make you leave if you don’t want to leave, but …” She glanced back at the way she had come and gulped, a solemn expression crossing her face. “But I want to go home. I don’t feel comfortable here.”
I gently grasped the back of her neck and pulled her closer, pressing a kiss on her forehead. “You didn’t ruin the night.”
I grabbed her hand and walked with her toward the exit. Because if I asked her what had happened while she was in the restroom while I was still here, I might lose it.
When we walked into the night, a breeze chilling my exposed skin, I interlocked my fingers with hers. “Now, tell me what happened.”
CHAPTER19
