Page 105 of Spark

“What do you mean? I’m pretty sure you have seen every side of me by now.”

“Aurelio, I’m serious,” she said with a little irritation in her voice. “I don’t know anything about the jobs you did, the people you knew, and I don’t even know where the garage is…”

“And that’s good.” Aurelio cut her off. “It’s better you don’t, or else someone may try to hurt you to know what you know.” His tone was shifting, Mia pushed.

“But it’s crazy. I should know more.” She let out a exasperated sigh.

“Why do you want to know more?” He was getting angry. “I’m out! Let’s move on from it all; put it in the past where it belongs.” His tone was sharp. She drew back, biting her lip. She heard him sigh into the phone.

“I love you; let me love you and be free.” He sighed again as he finished. “I’m sorry,” he said after several quiet moments. “This shit with Mac has me to close to the shit right now.”

Mia was stunned into silence. Of course, he was probably finding himself in the last place he wanted to be, searching for the teen.

“No, I am,” she finally murmured, her brain rethinking the whole phone call. “I just want to know all of you. And I feel like there is a part of your life I will never be in.”

“Mia.” His voice was calmer but with a slight edge to it. “You are my life now. All of it. The good, bad, and the everything. You are it.”

Despite her best efforts, Mia found herself blushing. “Aurelio, you’re mine, too.”

He was calm and collected again as he said, “Now, can we move past this? Move on with our lives together?” Mia bit her lip. Part of her wanted to know, but another piece could feel him trying to slam that door shut.

“Yes, of course.” She paused. “Good luck with Mac.”

“Good luck with your dress fitting.” Aurelio said, his smile clear in his tone. “Melvin and the boys going?”

“Not sure, I guess so if they want food after.”

“Good, maybe I can meet you at the diner. Mac should be here any minute, and I intend to drag him to a safe house to talk.” He laughed a darker sound than she was used to. “I’ll probably be starving when I’m done.”

“Sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you, beautiful.”

She heard the click of the call ending. Her heart was torn. She wanted to know his past, all of it, but she didn’t want him tohave to relive the memories he was trying to forget. Putting a pin in it for later deeper thought, she focused on the laundry.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Mia was back home by three, and the dress shop was about twenty minutes away. Luckily, when she got home, the boys were dressed and ready to go. She handed the keys to Mikey, and they all piled into the Bug. The dress shop wasn’t empty this time, but the saleswoman called her to the back the moment they walked in.

“The dress is perfect! I did the alterations myself.” She gave Mia a wink, who looked at the guys in confusion.

They all shrugged and walked to the back. Mia went into the booth, pulling her clothes off and slid the dress on.

When she stepped out of the changing room, Melvin’s eyes went wide. “Wow, Mia.”

Matty’s jaw dropped.

“It looks even better,” Mikey insisted, urging Mia to look in the mirror.

The simple gown was beautiful. The sleeves were three-quarters, and the neckline came up enough to hold onto her shoulder and dive down into a V-neck. Her breasts were concealed, but just the right amount of cleavage showed. She turned to view at the back, the deeper v trailed down to justabove her butt. The hem was perfect, and a nice pair of black heels would work great.

“Here are the shoes,” the woman said, seemingly reading Mia’s mind.

“Shoes?” She eyed the red strappy heels. “I didn’t pick out shoes.”

“No; the man who paid did.” The woman shook her head, pushing them toward Mia again.

“What?” She grabbed the box. “Who?” She looked at her brothers accusingly, but they all stared back with blank looks.

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