Chapter 21
Mia’s eyes sparkled as she asked Alex to order her a drink. He obliged, and within minutes, she was sipping on a colorful cocktail, her body slowly relaxing.
She needed to forget her life, her struggles and her family for the night.
As the liquor took hold, Mia’s words began to spill out, filled with emotions.
She talked about her family, her voice laced with a mix of sadness and anger. She confessed her hatred for her name and this town, the words tumbling out of her like a dam breaking.
You think calling me a Turner hurts me?” She laughs.” Nothing hurt more than waking up and knowing that’s my name”
“And you” she points a finger at him, narrowing her eyes. “Always calling me Turner” she hiccups. ” Oops” she said, covering her hands with her mouth then she’s laughing uncontrollably.
“My name is Mia, Mia- M-ia”
Alex stood with his back against the wall, his eyes fixed intently on Mia. His expression was unreadable, but his gaze never wavered. He listened as Mia’s words poured out, a mixture of pain, vulnerability and humour.
And then, she started talking about him. Her eyes locked onto his, and she smiled, her face glowing with admiration. “You’re so handsome, Alex,” she slurred, her voice husky with emotion.
“You’re so freaking gorgeous it hurts here” she said touching her heart.” I want to touch your eyes, your nose, your lips”
Then she raised her hand to touch her own lips, chuckling…
“Do you think I’m pretty?” Mia asked, then she rushed waving her hand and smiling. ” No, don’t answer that, I bet I’m not to you. I mean you’re Alex Blackwell, you see pretty girls everyday.”
Then she’s laughing again.
“Your social media account has millions of followers and all you show is your collection of shoes, wrist watches, cars, motorbikes… no no no”
She shakes her head with a serious face. “I wasn’t stalking you, I was just checking, you know like check…”
She stares at Alex.
“You barely show your face yet you have so many admirers, so many likes. So yup you see a lot of preeeeety girls all the time” she stretch the pretty smiling
Suddenly she is pouting. “Then there’s me that barely get two likes”
Then she’s laughing and falling on the bed.
“We are so different Alex”
Alex’s eyes never left Mia, but his expression remained the same. He didn’t react, didn’t respond. He just kept staring at her, his
gaze burning with an intensity that made Mia’s heart skip a beat even in her drunken state.
At some point, Alex’s eyes dropped to his phone, and he began texting. Mia didn’t notice, too caught up in her own world of confessions and emotions.
As the night wore on, Mia’s words slowed, and she began to sing, her voice off-key but full of passion. She talked about her likes and dislikes, her dreams and fears. She laid herself bare, exposing her soul to Alex’s intense gaze.
1/2
Chapter 21
And then, suddenly, she was asleep, her head lolling to one side, her mouth slightly open.
Alex’s eyes flicked up from his phone, and he stared at Mia, his expression softening so slightly. For a moment, he just looked at her, his gaze drinking in the sight of her vulnerable, sleeping form.
Then, his phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the screen. His mother’s text flashed on the display: “Alex, please come
home.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed, and he slipped his phone into his pocket.
He was already moving, his long strides eating up the distance as he headed for the door.
As he stepped out into the night, he thought about leaving a note for her to call him the next morning. Maybe relax and order something before leaving?
He glanced back at the hotel, her sleeping form was a reminder of the confessions she had made, the emotions she had exposed.
He shakes his head, she can sort herself out when she wakes up.
He turned and walked away, disappearing into the night, leaving Mia to her dreams.
