Chapter 10

Ten

Liam

The sound of the door closing on Mia's Jeep made me grin. I peered out the window, watching her walk toward the door, and waved. My heart gave a little flip, but I quickly reminded myself to play it cool. The whole "fake girlfriend" charade was one thing, but the fact that I was actually starting to look forward to spending time with her—that was dangerous territory.

She opened the door and poked her head inside. "You ready to hit the town?"

"Yeah, about as ready as I'll ever be," I said, grabbing my crutches and limping toward the door. My ankle wasn't making anything easier today. The doctor's warning about not driving or doing much of anything for the next few weeks was still ringing in my ears. It felt like a cage I couldn't escape.

Mia waited at the bottom of the porch, watching me with that half-amused, half-concerned look she often had when I tried to do anything remotely independent.

"You sure you're good for this?" she asked as I finally made it down the steps. "We could always just order something online."

I scoffed, waving her off. "I'll survive. Besides, I'd rather not leave our wardrobes for the gala to chance. You know how those rental places are... better to pick out your gown and my tux ourselves."

Mia chuckled and opened the passenger side door for me. I slid into the seat with a grunt, trying not to let the pain show too much. She walked around to the driver's side, and as we pulled out onto the main road, the tension in my leg eased up, if only slightly.

"So, what kind of dress are we looking for?" I asked, glancing over at her.

Mia grinned. "Something that says I belong at a fancy gala without making me look like I'm trying too hard. Plus, it's gotta be something I feel comfortable in. No sense in being miserable all night."

"I'm sure you'll find something that'll turn heads."

She shot me a look, one eyebrow raised. "Turn heads, huh? What, you trying to make everyone at this gala jealous?"

"Maybe," I teased, smirking. "Wouldn't hurt to show off a bit."

Mia rolled her eyes, though I caught the hint of a smile on her lips. "You really are something else, Liam."

As we drove toward town, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. She told me more about her family, how her dad was a painter, and how they lived in Little Rock. I could hear the affection in her voice when she talked about them, especially her dad. It was clear they were close, which was something I couldn't quite relate to. My family... well, that was a whole different story.

"You ever go back to visit?" I asked as we pulled into the small shopping district.

"Sometimes, but not as often as I'd like," she said, her tone softening. "The park keeps me pretty busy, and I love it here in Cedar Cove. But yeah, I miss them."

I nodded, feeling a twinge of something—guilt, maybe—that I hadn't been more open with her about my own situation. But then again, there was a lot I hadn't told her yet.

As we parked and headed into the boutique, I mentally prepared myself for what was about to be a long day. Shopping wasn't exactly my favorite thing, but seeing Mia light up as she perused the racks made it worth it.

Following her around, I watched as she picked out a few options and held them up for inspection. She turned to me at one point, holding a sleek, dark green gown against her body. "What do you think?"

I swallowed, trying not to let my gaze linger too long. "I think you'll look amazing in anything, but that one... yeah, it's perfect."

Mia smiled, a soft blush creeping up her neck. "Alright, I'll try it on."

As she disappeared into the dressing room, I leaned against a nearby chair, my ankle throbbing again. I tried to shake it off, reminding myself that this was all part of the plan—get through the day, get her the dress, and figure out how to survive the gala without blowing my cover. But the longer I spent with her, the harder that was becoming.

Soon, I was waiting outside the dressing room, trying to ignore the steady throb in my ankle and focus on anything other than the fact that Mia was in there, getting dressed up to play the role of my girlfriend. The more time we spent together, the more the lines between friend, girlfriend, and boss blurred in my head.

The sound of the dressing room door opening pulled me from my thoughts. Mia stepped out, wearing the dark green gown she had picked out earlier, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, and the color made her eyes seem even more vibrant.

"Well?" she asked, spinning around, her hazel eyes full of nervous energy.

I cleared my throat, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out breathier than I'd intended. "You look incredible."

Mia's face softened into a smile, and she did another small twirl, letting the fabric flow around her. "Yeah, I think this might be the one."

I nodded, struggling to keep my expression neutral. "Definitely the one."

We spent the next hour finishing up at the boutique. Mia was happy with her choice, and I managed to rent a tux for the event. I had a closet full of suits and tuxedos back in Dallas, but I couldn't very well explain that without raising questions I wasn't ready to answer.

As we left the store, Mia looked over at me, her expression a little more serious than before. "Thanks again, Liam. I know this whole gala thing isn't exactly my scene, but... I'm happy to help."

I smiled at her. "I appreciate it. And I promise, it won't be as bad as you're imagining."

"I hope not," she said with a laugh. "I don't really do fancy parties. I'm more of a campfire and beer type."

"Don't worry," I teased. "I'll make sure to keep it fun."

Mia glanced at me, her lips twitching into a small grin before we climbed back into her Jeep. As she started the engine, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were shifting between us. Sure, this was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but more and more, I found myself wanting to spend time with her—for real, not just because I needed her help. And that was dangerous.

We drove back to my cabin in comfortable silence, the sky darkening as the sun began to set. By the time we pulled up, my ankle was screaming at me, and I could barely manage to make it out of the Jeep without wincing.

"You okay?" Mia asked, her brow furrowing as she walked around to help me.

"Yeah, just... overdid it today," I admitted, trying to brush it off.

Mia sighed, but there was a softness in her expression. "Let's get you inside. You need to elevate that ankle."

I didn't argue this time. She helped me inside, and I collapsed onto the couch. The pain meds I'd taken hours ago had worn off. I leaned back against the cushions, my eyes closed, trying to focus on anything but the throbbing pain.

"You're supposed to be taking it easy, remember?" Mia chided softly as she came over with an ice pack and handed me a couple of painkillers.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," I grumbled, though I appreciated her concern more than I wanted to admit.

"Fine, huh?" She arched an eyebrow, looking down at me as she helped me prop my foot on the pillows. "You look like you're in a lot of pain for someone who's ‘fine.'"

I smirked at her teasing tone but didn't have the energy to give her much of a comeback. "I'll live."

Mia shook her head and sat down next to me, her hands reaching for my ankle. "Here, let me help."

I watched as she gently massaged my leg, her fingers working out the tension around the swollen area. The pain eased slightly, and I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh.

"Feel better?" she asked, her voice quieter now, focusing entirely on what she was doing.

"Yeah, a little," I said, my eyes drifting closed as the combination of her touch and the pain meds began to take effect. "Thanks, Mia. Really."

She looked up at me, her expression soft. "It's no problem. You should rest."

"By the way," she added after a pause, "I made arrangements with Tessa to keep Daisy while we're in San Antonio. That way, I don't have to worry about her."

I was truly touched by the way she took care of her beloved pet. It made me see that Mia was a kind and loving woman beneath her tough exterior. "Good thinking," I agreed.

Mia nodded and gave me a warm smile. "No problem. Just want to make sure everything's handled."

I wanted to ask her to stay, to maybe sit with me a little longer, but the hesitation lingered in the back of my mind. Finally, I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of the question on my chest. "You're welcome to spend the night if you want," I said, keeping my tone casual.

Mia paused with her hand on the door, glancing back at me. For a moment, I wasn't sure if she would say, ‘Yes.' But then, to my surprise, she gave me a soft smile and nodded. "Alright. I'll stay."

The air between us felt heavy like we were both waiting for the other to make a move, but neither of us did. Instead, Mia walked back toward the couch, and I scooted over to give her space, though my heart pounded a little harder than it should have. Nothing more needed to be said, and neither of us seemed eager to break the quiet.

Before I knew it, the pain meds started to pull me under, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. The last thing I remembered was Mia sitting beside me, her presence comforting in a way I was beginning to get used to.

When I woke up, the room was dark. My ankle still ached, but it wasn't the sharp pain I'd felt earlier. I groaned, stretching a little as I glanced around, realizing Mia was gone.

On the coffee table in front of me, there was a note folded neatly beside the empty glass of water she must have brought me earlier. I reached for it, rubbing my eyes as I unfolded the paper.

Liam,

You looked peaceful, so I didn't want to wake you. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I hope you feel better.

Take Care,

Mia

I let out a breath, staring at the note. It was simple, nothing more than a polite goodbye, but something about it made my chest tighten.

I folded the note and set it back down, leaning against the couch. My head was still foggy, the exhaustion pulling at me again, but all I could think about was Mia—how much she'd done for me, how I still hadn't been completely honest with her, and how much more complicated things were getting by the day.

But right now, all I could focus on was the fact that Mia had stayed, even if just for a little while. And somehow, that made everything feel a little less overwhelming.