We spent the rest of the morning sitting there as we caught up and the sadness that had filled me earlier dissipated. Every so often I glanced over my shoulder to see Luc leant up against a metal barrier or on his phone or watching us but he stayed respectfully out of earshot to give us privacy.
Eventually, Dad and I finished and made our way back to Luc just as it began to rain.
"I look forward to seeing you next week, Hector," Luc told him.
Dad narrowed his eyes but said nothing to Luc. Instead, he pulled me into another hug and kissed both of my cheeks. "Stay safe, Mia."
Dad then walked away in the opposite direction and I felt my heart grow heavy, but I was grateful to have had some time with him.
I spun on my heels to face Luc and there was a flash of panic in his eyes before I launched myself at him, arms wrapped around his neck as I hugged him tightly. Slowly, Luc wrapped his arms around my waist and returned the gesture, causing my feet to leave the floor. It took all of my willpower to restrain myself from kissing him.
"Thank you, Luc. Thank you so much."
"It's okay, princess," Luc said to me. "I just wanted you to have something you wanted for your birthday."
Letting go of him, we started to make our way back to his bike. I’m sure that Dad hadn’t needed much convincing to agree to see me, but the fact that we still had not missed a birthday together was the best gift I could receive. Not even the sudden downpour could dampen my mood. I found it difficult to wipe the smile from my face. My day had been made by the thoughtful gesture and it was all due to Luc.
Chapter Sixteen
Lucas
As the day slunk away into the evening, I changed clothes in an attempt to make more of an effort for dinner tonight. I buttoned up the suit jacket before looking in the mirror, deemed myself presentable, and waited for Mia down in the entrance hall.
I had been certain that time with Hector would be a gift she’d appreciate, and I was not wrong. Seeing the smile on her face all day buoyed my heart and made me reconsider that expensive gifts may be the only gifts that could elicit some sense of joy. It hadn’t cost me a dime to see Mia light up brighter than the city at night.
When she came down the stairs I couldn't help but stare. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her all day, but now Mia was in a little black dress that skimmed along her curves and made my mouth go dry. She’d made a poor attempt at modesty with the black duster jacket, but it hid nothing. This must have been a number Dom had chosen for her. She dropped her gaze to the ground and bit her lip.
"Do I look okay?"
"Beautiful," I told her, without hesitation. I had lost the power of speech beyond that single word.
Mia smiled at the compliment and joined me at the bottom of the stairs. I took a step towards her, closing the gap between us. I had behaved. I had followed every rule, but I was human, and I didn’t know how much longer I could stand being apart from her.
"Luc," Mia started.
Reaching out, I tucked some hair behind her ear, Mia's hand resting on my chest as I did so. It would be so easy to just kiss her and forget about the dinner we were meant to attend. This had been simmering just beneath the surface for days, and it felt like a case of waiting to see which one of us would crack first. I’d happily lose that bet. Fuck the rules. What were they if not made to be broken?
"Rules," Mia breathed as if she could read my thoughts.
That one word made me straighten up and I offered out my arm to her. I would get her, but I refused to mess up her birthday.
"Let's get moving, princess or we're going to be late."
We arrived at an upscale restaurant and bar that I’d made reservations at. Fully booked wasn’t a problem once they knew who the booking was for. The place was on the roof of an expensive hotel and entirely encased in glass, with plants and flowers crowding every surface. The colors and smells flooded the senses and the quiet hum of conversation hung in the air.
Mia gasped as we entered. "This place is beautiful."
I had chosen a place that would suit her. A hidden gem in the middle of the city. Beautiful both inside and out.
Four of us sat together in the booth—Lydia had declined the invite. I would have preferred it to have been the two of us, but Mia had taken a shine to Dante and Dom and so they were at the celebrations.
"I'm going to get some drinks from the bar," I told them, getting up from my seat beside Mia after we’d ordered food.
"You know I can't drink yet, right?" Mia reminded me.
Dante laughed and shook his head. "We won't tell if you don't."
Mia flushed and I smiled to see how easily she became embarrassed. "Don't worry. We'll take it slow."
