Page 67 of The Billionaire's Heart

“You said that guy, Randall, had it in better shape than you thought, right?”

“Yeah. He does. It’s just that he’s young and I don’t want this to overwhelm him and quit via a text message, too.”

“Give him a shot, Ian. He might surprise you.”

“You’re right. I may. I’m going to play it by ear today and tomorrow. See how he does.”

“Just give him the support and resources he needs, and I’ll bet he blows you away.”

“You blow me away, Mia, with your business sense and enthusiasm. You blow me away.” I repeat.

I can hear her smile through the phone. “Thank you. Now, I have to go because we’re here at Palm Beach Bridal. I’ll call you later this evening.”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, Ian. Can’t wait for you to come home. Bye.” Mia hangs up and I just stare at her picture on my phone.

She called my house ‘home’, and I cannot remember the last time I’ve been homesick, but I’m feeling it now.

I want to go home.

Chapter 31

Mia

Between restarting kickball and all the walking I did at Palm Beach Bridal yesterday, my ass is so sore I can barely move. They say the second day is always the worst and whomever ‘they’ are, they weren’t lying. I will take full advantage of that bathtub tonight after practice. We have a game tomorrow, so I want to at least move and not waddle during the game.

I’ve always heard that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Well, my heart is fond enough, thank you very much, and I want Ian to come home. All this talking on the phone is nice, and we’re getting to know each other better with each call, but I miss seeing and touching him. I know that this entire relationship started with a lie, but somehow, we’ve started to develop real feelings for each other. At least I know I have.

During practice this week, I learned about what happened to one of my teammates, Kate, and her shop. There’s a big fundraiser tomorrow after the game at that bar Rick and Paul took me to, Hooplas. I’m looking forward to it, but I really hope they catch the guy that did that to her shop. I can’t imagine how violated she must feel having someone destroy something you work so hard to create.

I fill my day with talking to vendors, designers, and then signing up for the bridal show that’s in a couple of months at Hibiscus Harbor’s Conventions Center. I had no idea there was going to be a bridal show locally until Dorothy mentioned it to me yesterday. I have so much to do to get ready for it.

Dorothy also told me to get my social media accounts up and running before I even open my shop, that it’s the best way to start a buzz about my brand. I was hesitant last night to set them up, but I know she’s right. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t turn into what my last social media account did… hatred for me. That would not be good.

After hanging up with Ian last night, I spent the better part of the night setting up the social media accounts and then linking them to my website. I pushed ‘publish’ on my website and said a little prayer that I’m successful. And that the haters don’t kill my dream before it even gets off the ground.

Today, I’ve decided to cancel the contract I have with my old phone. There’s no need to keep it and it’s just a waste of money. The people I care about, my teammates and Ian, have the number of my fancy phone.

I power it on to make sure I have all the contact information that I need to convert to my new phone and there are over a hundred text messages, mostly from numbers I’ve never heard of.

I start deleting them when one message catches my eye.

Unknown Number:Hi. You don’t know me, but I’m your mother, and I can prove it. Please call or text me if you’d like to meet.

Yeah, right. Ian and Brinna warned me the crazies would come out of the woodwork, but this is a low blow, and it makes meangry that someone would try to play on my feelings like that. So, I text back.

Me:What is wrong with you, telling me you’re my mother? In it for a big payday, are you? Well, nice try. Not gonna happen.

I’m about to turn off the phone for the last time when this person texts back almost immediately.

Unknown Number:No, Mia. I really am your mother and I’m only looking to connect with you. I’m hoping that I can take a few minutes of your time to explain what happened all those years ago when I gave you up. I’m not interested in any money, only hoping to make amends. It’s one of my steps to recovery.

I stare at the text message for a long time. Steps to recovery? When I was little, I remember asking one of my foster parents why I didn’t have a mom or dad like my friends did in school. She told me that my parents were sick and couldn’t take care of me. At the time, it made sense to a little kid, but as I grew up, I never forgot what she said. Drugs and or alcohol would be a good reason to give up a baby.

Unknown Number:I understand this may be a lot for to you to take in. And if you don’t want to hear from me again, I’ll understand. But if you do, and I hope you do, you can reach me at this number anytime. I promise to answer all of your questions honestly.

Unknown Number:I’m sorry Mia.

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