Page 29 of Unscripted with Mila

I nodded around a mouthful of toast. “Reed was older than Sammy, so she is really the middle child. We tease her about that all the time. She went from number one to the invisible one. And if you met her, you’d know she is anything but invisible.”

Nicholas chuckled.

“Do you have siblings?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Just me. I think my agent is the closest thing to family I have. She is also my business manager.”

“Have you known her a long time?”

“I can’t recall not knowing her. She is like a sister to me. Or at least…” He trailed off with a shrug. “She was.”

“Ah.”

He chewed and swallowed, then frowned. “We certainly argue like siblings. She watches out for me, though.” He paused. “I think.”

“You think?”

“MJ is always on the lookout for number one. I’m well aware that isn’t me anymore. But she does a good job, so I guess I can’t complain. I haven’t always been the easiest client for her.”

“Certainly one of her most famous.”

He shrugged. “Famous or infamous? Sometimes I wonder.”

Before I could question him more, he changed the subject back to me.

“Were you close growing up? With your siblings?”

I huffed out a long breath. “Once I settled into the family, yes. We grew close. My brother was my protector. So was Sammy. They watched over me. Given my history and the issues I had, they were cautious.”

“Issues?” He pushed away the plates between us, regarding me with his serious expression. “What kinds of issues?”

“It’s not really pleasant conversation,” I replied. “I don’t want to bore you with it.”

“I’d like to know. I guarantee you, Mila. Nothing about you is boring.”

I blinked at his words.

“Maybe we can move to the sofa at least and get comfortable.”

He stood, offering me his hand. “Okay.”

* * *

Nicholas

Mila looked nervous as she curled into the corner of the sofa. Her color had returned to her face, and I had made sure she ate well, secretly thrilled at the fact that she loved breakfast for dinner. I did as well. It was something I could cook for myself and was fast and easy. We had that in common. I had a feeling we had more in common than she realized.

“So, you were adopted?”

“Yes.”

“How old were you?”

“Three.”

“Did your parents die?”

She huffed out a sigh. “My father walked away from us. My mother never wanted me. She was a drug addict and died not long after Van and Liv took me in. She couldn’t be bothered with me, really. I don’t recall a lot except being cold, hungry, and scared all the time.”