Page 12 of Wrath

I killed the power to the fan, then walked over and placed the stool beneath it. Mia gave me a funny look as I started up the first couple of steps, but I ignored it and started searching for the issue. As soon as I touched it, the entire fan swayed—which meant it hadn’t been mounted properly or something had bumped it and bumped it hard. “Did you do this?”

“Do what?”

“This?” I gave the entire fixture a shake. “It’s like something hit it.”

“No, I ah... I don’t know what could’ve done that.”

I could tell by her high-pitched tone that she was lying, but I didn’t press. Figured it didn’t really matter. Either way, it had to be fixed. I stepped down and grabbed my toolbox from the bathroom. I got my Phillips head screwdriver, then made my way back up the step ladder. I was just about to start removing the light kit when I noticed something dangling from one of the fan blades. I reached up and pulled it free, only to find that it was a gold tassel from a pillow.

I held it out in front of me as I asked Mia, “You got any idea how this got up here?”

“No… I have no idea where that came from. I certainly don’t know how it got up there.”

Again, with the high-pitched voice.

I had no clue why she was lying, but I was over it.

I glanced over at the bed and immediately spotted a pillow with the same kind of tassel. “You seriously gonna stick to that story?”

“Fine.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “It was a stupid idea anyway.”

“What was a stupid idea?”

“I lied about the fan and the light.” Her eyes locked on mine as she admitted, “I told you that in hopes of getting you over here.”

“And why would you do that?”

“Because I wanted a chance to talk to you without the brothers around.”

I stepped down from the ladder and tossed the screwdriver back in my toolbox. “I don’t do well with games, Mia.”

“I’m not trying to... I just.” She looked to the floor with a defeated sigh. “Just forget it. You can go.”

“If you’ve got something to say,say it.”

“Fine.” Her eyes made their way back to mine as she announced, “I think we should go out.”

“Go out?”

“Yeah, you know....date.”

I was a man who was rarely ever caught off guard, but hearing that Mia wanted us to date took me by complete surprise. I’d always thought Mia was beautiful. I’d had more than a few inappropriate thoughts about her, but I never dreamed she’d ever be interested in me.

I certainly never thought she’d want to fucking date me.

I was completely thrown by the idea and had no clue how to respond. For a split second, I actually considered taking her up on her offer. It was fucking Mia. I’d be a fool not to at least consider the idea, but it didn’t take long for reality to creep in.

She wasn’t just a brother’s daughter.

She was Stitch’s daughter. There was no way around it. She was off limits, so I grabbed my toolbox and started for the door. “I don’t date.”

“Seriously?” She sassed, following me into the living room. “That’s all you got?I don’t date!”

“It is what it is, Mia.”

“That’s a copout, and you know it.” There was no missing the anger in her voice when she snapped, “If you aren’t interested in me, just say so.”

“I never said I wasn’t interested.”

---