Page 80 of Spark

Mia:Yeah, he was here for a while. I mean, not like that. Well, kinda, I guess. He made me a sandwich.

Mac:Please stop. I do not need to picture you two alone together. Glad he fed you. The sandwich, I mean. Now I’m doing it. And I’m picturing it. Thanks, Mom.

Mia laughed; Mac joked a lot about Aurelio and Mia being like a mom and dad, especially since the night they helped him ask Amy to prom. She did love the teen like a little brother, but she was definitely too young to be his mom.

Mac:Aurelio said to check in today. See if you need a ride. Or just some company.

Mia:Sure, no plans. Stop by. Bring coffee.

Mac sent a thumbs up, and Mia clicked over to her messages with Aurelio. The last message seemed like another lifetime ago. Her fingers hovered over the screen. What should she say? She was acting like they had just met. Like he would care. She could send him a picture of her fridge, and he would find it sexy or hilarious. She shook her head, typing a quick text and hitting send.

Mia:Good morning. I miss you.

Almost immediately, the three little dots appeared, meaning he was typing back.

Aurelio:Miss you, too. Good morning, beautiful. How’d you sleep?

Mia:Fine. Better because of you. Worse because you were gone.

Aurelio:I couldn’t stay.

Mia:I know.

Aurelio:But soon, I will be able to sleep by your side all night.

Mia liked the sound of that; to be in his arms all night, to see his smile first thing in the morning. It sounded like heaven. Another message popped up before she could respond.

Aurelio:Last job tonight. It’s a big one, so no contact for a couple of days. Mac’s not coming; he will stay with you. Please don’t push me on this. Let him sleep on the couch or out in the hall. In the café for all I care. But let him stay close.

Mia:Fine. Maybe I will let him sleep at the foot of the bed since he is my watchdog. ??

Aurelio:No one is allowed to be in your bed except me.

Mia smiled, shaking her head lightly. He needed the comfort of someone else here with her. She was honestly a little afraid, too, if the panic attack had been any kind of indication. She sighed, deciding to hold off on her revelation about it being Oliver who had broken in. Aurelio had enough to worry about.

Mia:Had a panic attack again or almost did.

Aurelio:Shit. I’m sorry, beautiful. You okay?

Mia:Yeah. Your shirt helped me calm down. So, thank you. ??

Aurelio:Wish I could have been there, but I’m glad some part of me was. Do you know what triggered it?

Mia:The walls were closing in. The loft was too small. Too exposed. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like someone was watching me.

Aurelio:I understand; we need to get you out of that place into a new, better apartment. Maybe one we can share…

Mia:Aurelio…

Her fingers paused, and her heart pounded. Was he saying what she thought but not quite asking all the way? Did he want to move in together? She didn’t want to be the one to sayit; she couldn’t. Mia waited, but no dots appeared on the screen. Aurelio was apparently gone.

Mia:Aurelio?

Nothing. Mia set the phone down on the coffee table. The couch was stained and damaged from all the glass and water that had been spilled on it. She had tried to get all the glass out, but she felt more pieces even after every clean swipe. She rolled her eyes at the furniture and grabbed her phone again, heading back to the bed instead. Looking through her messages, she clicked on her brother’s, realizing she had never sent a response.

“Shit,” she said, realizing it was Friday. Were they coming that day? Or the Friday before graduation? She hit send on the response that had sat there for a full day.

Mia:Woohoo! Can’t wait to see you guys! Do you mean this Friday?!

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