Page 30 of Innocent Union
“Mom, I haven’t told her … about you. Yet. I’m not ready.”
“I won’t be around much longer, Killian. You need to tell her soon.”
“I know, I know. But enough about marriages and love and all of that. I just want to spend time with you.”
“Well,” she says, grabbing the remote and turning the TV on, “let’s see what the Beverly Hills housewives are getting up to this week.”
I settle into my chair and enjoy the time with my mom.
“Hi, Giulia,”I say when she answers the door. “I’m here to Mia.”
Giulia frowns. “I guessed that.” Sighing, she opens her door. “Fine. Come in. Mia! Killian is here to see you.” She points at me. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “I promise.”
Mia comes down the stairs, eyeing me warily.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” she whispers.
Giulia remains standing there until Mia asks her to give us some space.
“Nothing you’ll regret,” Giulia says warns me once more before leaving the room.
“Wow, your mom is scary sometimes,” I say, which earns me a smile from her.
“What are you doing here, Killian?”
“I wanted to see you. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to join you yesterday. I would’ve loved to eat some cake.”
She holds her arms across her body, almost like she’s trying to hide from me. “I get it. You have a job. You’re busy. You don’t have all the time for me or our wedding.”
I frown. “Are you upset I didn’t make it yesterday?”
“No,” she says too quickly.
“Ok, then. I’m sorry.”
“I heard you. I get it. I’m not mad at you.”
“But?” I offer.
She sighs, letting her arms drop to her sides. “But I am disappointed. I would have liked you there.”
“I get it.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I just … couldn’t.”
“Are you embarrassed of me?” she blurts out.
“Woah, what makes you ask that?”
Mia lets out a rough breath. “I just … I haven’t had the best of luck with men. As you know. And it’s easy for me to get in my head about stuff.”
“It’s not you, Mia. It’s …”
“Are you sure it’s not me?”
I never realized just how many insecurities Mia dealt with until now. “It’s not you, trust me. It’s crazy to think it’s you.”
