I’m so fucking tempted to ask him about his conversation with Mia the other night, but it’s not my goddamn business and I have to get that through my head. I shouldn’t even care.
“Well, it looks like you’re on your way,” I state as I’m backing into the elevator.
Mia is waiting for me on the sidewalk, bouncing on her heels as I’m walking up to her. The leggings she has on would stand out in a crowd anywhere, they’re an obnoxious hot pink and she’s wearing a white Tampa t-shirt with the Knights logo on it. Pieces of her brown hair shape her bare face as she waves me over.
“So close to our apartments, right?” She points out with excitement.
“So close,” I say, mimicking her enthusiasm and she smiles at me.
As soon as I walk into the building, I know I can picture Mia here. I can see this place being hers. She floats around it so seamlessly already.
“Mi… this place is great. It needs a little work, but it’s all easy stuff I can do for you.” My eyes scan the room we’re standing in. It’s not huge, but Mia doesn’t need a massive space. She’s beaming as she walks around. It’s like I can see the wheels turning in her head, planning where she would put things, envisioning her days here.
“It is, isn't it?” Her eyes meet mine and I smile at her, watching her cheeks perk up into giant apples as a smile just overtakes her face.
The realtor is a football fan, so while Mia walks around, this woman—Quinn, I’ve learned is her name—has me cornered.
“When is the team extending you for an enormous contract? They know you’re due for it…” She smirks at me while peeking her head around to see where Mia went. She’s made her way somewhere near the back and is poking around back there. I’dlike to go find her so I can see the rest of this place, but I politely continue listening to Quinn talk.
“They need to make you a Knight for life.” Her arms cross over her chest, pushing her tits up and I won’t lie, they’re nice, but I’ve seen this game too many times. I know what she’s doing and I’m not falling into this. This meeting isn’t about me. This is about Mia and I won’t be distracted.
“I’m just happy to play the game I love,” I lie to get her off my back before excusing myself to go find Mia. When I see her, she’s looking something up on her phone and then she stretches her arms out, as if she’s measuring something.
Why do women think that’s how you accurately measure things that need to go on a wall?
“Use this.” I lean over her shoulder and hand her the measuring tape I brought with me because I knew she’d need it once she was here and all of her ideas started running rampant in her mind.
Mia smiles at me and pulls it open while she continues to measure whatever she needs. When Quinn walks in, she asks Mia what she thinks, which in turn Mia squeals with excitement about the place.
“I’ll definitely be in touch. Thank you so much.” Mia grins as we exit the building.
“I really liked it… I think it’d be great for what you want to use it for.”
“I know. I’ve been looking casually for over a year and nothing has made me as excited as this one.” The way her chest moves up and down with big, excited breaths makes me want to offer to help, offer to do whatever I can to give her everything she wants for this.
“Is the financial part stopping you?” Her head does a little tilt back and forth as we walk down the sidewalk.
“Technically, I can afford it… I’d be living off of ramen noodles and frozen waffles for a while, but it’s probably worth it.”
It bothers me that she won’t ask for my help when she knows I can help her. Any time I’ve ever offered, she’s turned me down before I can even finish my sentence. I’ve always respected Mia’s independence. She’s the most self-determined person that I know, but I wish she also knew that it’s not the end of the world to accept help. She’s always taking care of everyone else—always. She goes above and beyond for the people in her life, I just wish she’d let someone take care of her for a change.
“Mia, you can’t live off of ramen noodles and waffles, this isn’t college, I won’t allow it. I’m drawing a line.” My finger draws a line in the air as we walk.
“Well, then I guess my best friend will just have to cook for me every day for the next… year.” She nudges her body into mine, looking up and staring at me.
“I’ll cook for you any day, Smalls.”
The streets are busy this afternoon and the constant weaving in and out of people on the sidewalks is aggravating.
As we approach the dog park ahead, the wind picks up and Mia’s chestnut strands of hair start blowing all over the place. She stops for a second, gathering it together and twisting the pieces into a ponytail on top of her head before she changes the subject.
“So, Summer will be here just before Ford and Abby’s party.”
I notice the gray clouds start to move, casting a shadow in the area we’re walking. If it starts to downpour right now, we’re fucked.
“Really? That’s great. I didn’t know she was actually moving up. You probably can’t wait to have someone to go out with.” I smirk at Mia as we continue down the sidewalk.
“What do you mean? I go out… sometimes.Youdon’t even go out a lot,” she questions, almost sounding offended.
