5. Mia

FIVE

MIA

I pulled my car behind Miranda's motorcycle and Ethan's truck and parked. It was still so badass to me that Miranda rode a motorcycle.

Honestly, she was badass to me.

She was just what my brother needed. They were perfect together. Happiness was something I'd always wanted for him, but it was also something I wanted for myself.

Lorenzo popped into my head, and I wondered if maybe the happiness I craved could be found with him. My lips pursed together.

It was too soon to be thinking like that.

Even so, he was all I'd thought about all day. Part of me wished I'd been bold enough to ask him to come to this cookout with me. It wouldn't have been a good idea, though. Introducing him to Ethan would have been a problem. Ethan was overprotective, and he'd notice the age difference between us right away and harp on it.

I knew my brother well.

Climbing out of my car, I started toward the picnic tables where everyone was gathered.

"I was wondering if you would make it in time," Ethan called to me from where he stood near a grill that looked brand new, flipping burgers.

I glanced at my wrist. "According to my watch, I'm not late."

"You're not even wearing one," he grumbled.

I shrugged. "You knew I'd be late. Let's not pretend."

"True." He laughed.

"You made it," Miranda said, walking toward me. She pulled me in for a hug. "I'm glad you're here. Let me introduce you to everyone."

I nodded but didn't have the heart to tell her the chances of me remembering anyone's name were slim to none. I'd have to hang out with them a few more times before anyone's name stuck.

"That's Kiera and Savannah," Miranda said, pointing to two gorgeous women sitting at one of the picnic tables with two guys. "Neo is Kiera's man and his younger brother, Daxton, is Savannah's."

"Nice to meet you," I said, giving them all a slight wave.

"And." Miranda spun around, searching for someone else. "Well, I don't know where he went."

"Hi, I'm Adara. I work with Savannah at the library," a woman with long red hair and a pale complexion said as she walked past us toward a cooler beside the other picnic table. "Care if I get Dusty another soda?"

"Sure, go ahead." Miranda smiled. "This is Mia, Ethan's little sister."

"Hey," I said.

"That's Dusty, her man, over there at the horseshoe pit." She pointed to him. "Oh, and that's Lorenzo. I knew he was around here somewhere."

My heart skipped a beat, not just from the surprise of seeing him here, but from the excitement of it.

What the hell was he doing here?

As though he could feel my eyes on him or sense me somehow, he glanced my way. It took him a moment to register who I was, or maybe that was what he looked like when he was shocked, but when he did, a wide smile spread across his face and he made his way over to me.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I could ask you the same," I said. "Decided to crash my brother's cookout after all, huh?"

His brows drew together. "Brother?"

"Yeah. Ethan is my brother. I didn't realize you knew him."

Lorenzo's eyes widened, and I swore he looked at me as though he was just now seeing me for the first time.

Crap.

Did he have a problem with me being Ethan's little sister?

"I take it you two have already met?" Miranda chimed in.

"Yeah, we have." Lorenzo ran his fingers through his hair, and the same look that had graced his face at the bar when the bartender ID'd me flitted across his face. "We met at the diner."

"Small world," I muttered.

"Definitely," Miranda said awkwardly. Clearly, she'd picked up on the weird energy passing between Lorenzo and me. "Okay, well, drinks are in the coolers and the food should be done soon. Actually, let me go check on that."

She walked away, leaving me standing with Lorenzo and all the weird energy swirling around us.

"Clearly, you weren't expecting me to be Ethan's little sister," I said, because why wouldn't I go and say something to make the tension between us even more palpable.

Idiot .

"I wasn't, but it's cool." His eyes finally met mine. A glimmer of something sparked through their color—mischief, perhaps? "I won't hold it against you." He winked, and all the tension inside me evaporated at that small gesture.

I exhaled an overly dramatic breath. "Whew. Good to know," I teased, playing along.

"Want something to drink?"

"Sure. I'll take a beer, if you have another to spare."

He started toward the cooler Miranda had pointed out by the picnic tables and I followed. I said hi to everyone at the table again while Lorenzo grabbed us both a beer. Afterward, he placed a hand on the small of my back and led me closer to the pond.

"I was thinking about you earlier," he said, his words surprising me, while he popped the top off one of the beers.

He pocketed the bottle cap and then handed me the beer.

I took it from him. "Oh, yeah?"

"I thought it was cool that even though we weren't together today, we were still at the same thing—a cookout—and then you showed up." He opened the other beer for himself and took a long swig from it. I watched his sexy Adam's apple bob with the force. "I'm glad I got to see you today."

I blinked, trying not to melt right there in the heat of the sun and his intense gaze.

This gorgeous man was glad he got to see me today?

It looked like my shitty luck lately was changing.

"I'm glad I got to see you today, too," I admitted, not feeling shy to say the words in the least.

"Lorenzo, can I have a word?" Ethan asked, coming out of nowhere.

I hadn't even heard him walk up, which was saying something because he wasn't ever quiet when he walked. He was like a dang bear.

"Sure," Lorenzo replied, and I felt my stomach bottom out.

This was where Ethan pulled the big brother card.

It never failed.

Growing up, anytime I ever smiled at one of his friends and they returned it, Ethan would have a talk with them. After that, they'd act as though I didn't exist. That wasn't what I wanted with Lorenzo.

The thought made me sick to my stomach.

"Actually, no," I said, giving Ethan a nasty look. "We're having a drink together and enjoying a conversation. Aren't you supposed to be cooking?"

He held my stare, looking taken aback I'd said anything in response.

"Daxton took over for me for a minute," he countered, holding my stare.

"It's fine," Lorenzo said, stepping between us. He turned to look at me, his warm eyes drawing me in, calming me. "I'll be right back. Don't fall into the pond while I'm gone." He grinned.

"No promises," I said. "It's hot out and the water does look tempting."

"At least wait until I get back," he insisted before walking away with Ethan.

I tried to mingle with everyone else, but my attention was split between them and the conversation happening between Lorenzo and Ethan near one of the campers. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I'd been able to read Ethan's lips for a moment and what I saw, I didn't like. He'd told Lorenzo I was his little sister, which meant I was off limits.

My blood boiled.

I wasn't a teenager anymore. I was a grown ass woman. If I wanted to date someone who happened to be a friend of his, then so be it. Ethan didn't get to dictate who I dated.

Not anymore.

Before I could make a move to interrupt their conversation, they parted ways. Ethan headed back to the grill, and Lorenzo made his way back to where I stood. I tried to read his expression, so I could prepare myself for whatever lame excuse came out of his mouth for why it wasn't a good idea for us to date or talk or whatever, but he was hard to read.

"Everything okay?" I asked, my expression as neutral as I could make it. "I know he can be a real ass sometimes."

"He's a typical big brother." He took a swig from his beer, his gaze drifting to the pond. "He was surprised we knew each other."

"Even so, I know Ethan can be overprotective. I'm old enough to make my own decisions about who I date, though," I snapped, unable to help myself.

A smirk twisted his lips as he shifted to look at me. "Which is exactly what I told him."

I blinked. "You did?"

"Why do you look so surprised? No one ever stood up to your big brother before?"

"Nope. Never."

"Well, there's a first time for everything then, isn't there?" He chuckled.

His arm draped around my shoulder, pulling me in. I melted against his side, feeling an electrifying warmth travel through me unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Then, I swore I could feel heat from someone's stare boring into me from behind. When I glanced over my shoulder, Ethan was staring at me.

He looked beyond pissed, and the sight made me smile.

Lorenzo wasn't scared of him, and I was glad. Neither was I.

Conversation flowed between us after that until the food was ready. Despite Ethan's disapproving looks, I had a blast the rest of the evening. Everyone was nice and welcoming, which was a stark contrast to the way Ethan behaved, even after Miranda attempted to calm him.

His inability to see my happiness without skepticism irked me to no end.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting it spectacular colors, everyone settled into quieter conversations. Lorenzo sat next to me, and I was glad he was bold enough to do it.

He was a keeper. For sure.

"I'm glad I saw you tonight," he whispered, his tone filled with warmth. "Have I already said that?"

"Once, maybe twice," I teased, flashing him a smile. "But I feel the same, so I don't mind hearing it again."

"When can I see you again?"

"Well, I work at the diner tomorrow. If you want to come in for breakfast or lunch, there's a good chance you'll see me."

"I think we're going to head out," Adara said, as she and Dusty stood to say goodbye. "It was fun hanging out. Thanks for the invite, Savannah. Maybe we can all do something again soon."

Everyone agreed and said their goodbyes, then the two of them left. I couldn't help thinking how sweet they were together. Honestly, every couple here tonight was adorable.

It made me wonder what they all thought of Lorenzo and me.

Besides, Ethan.

I didn't give a crap what he thought.

"Hey, Mia," Miranda shouted from where she sat at the other picnic table, startling me from my thoughts. "We're having a girls' night out at Last Drop tomorrow night. Are you in?"

The invitation caught me off guard, but in a good way.

"Sure. I'd love to join in," I said, excitement pumping through me.

I loved that they'd thought to ask me. It had been forever since I'd gone out with a group of girlfriends. All my friends from high school had gone off to college right after or dropped me like a hot potato. Here I was, three years later, still friendless.

Why was it so hard to make friends as an adult?

That was something nobody talked about.

"Perfect! It's going to be a blast," Savannah chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious.

I loved her personality. She was bubblier than Kiera and Miranda, which suited me because it was exactly how I was.

"Let's all exchange numbers," Kiera suggested.

"Yes!" Savannah agreed. "We can set up a group chat and talk about what time works for everyone. Plus, show pictures of what we've all decided to wear."

"Sounds good," I said, pulling out my phone.

After we'd exchanged numbers and chatted a bit more, my gaze drifted back to Lorenzo. He was staring at me. Not in a creepy way, but in an adorable way.

"What?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Nothing."

"No, what's that look about?"

"I like seeing you smile."

He didn't say anything more, but he didn't need to. It was the sweetest, most genuine thing any guy had ever said to me. I wanted to kiss him, but instead, I smiled wider.

"Thank you." Butterflies fluttered through my stomach while I held his stare. "I should get going. If not, I might not make it to work on time in the morning."

"I remember, you're not a morning person." He arched a brow. "And yet you work the breakfast shift?"

"Hey, beggars can't be choosers."

I said my goodbyes to everyone, including Ethan, and then made my way to my car. Lorenzo walked me.

"Goodnight," he said, and I wondered if he would kiss me this time.

I wanted it, but I also didn't. The last thing I wanted was for Ethan to see and come charging over here like he was about to fight him.

It was best to save our first kiss for when we didn't have an audience.

"Night," I said before sliding behind the wheel. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Good," he said with a smirk. "I'd like that."

My car started on the first try, even though there was a slight part of me that wished it hadn't. I drove away, thinking of Lorenzo's last smirk and feeling eager to see him again.