Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Sure, absolutely.” I think about the fact that she has an income, she’s beautiful and smart, she’s everything. Why did she agree to this marriage? I can’t figure it out. “Why did you agree to an arranged marriage, Mia?” I ask her, thinking her answer will be what keeps me from tipping over the edge.
She starts to talk about her parents. And instead of the sadness when she brought them up before, her face is filled with hope. Her hand goes to my face, tracing the scar on my cheek, and then she leans in and kisses the puckered skin there softly before pulling back. “My parents had an arranged marriage. Neither one of them wanted to go through with it, but as soon as they saw each other, they agreed to it.” She shrugs her shoulders. “It was love at first sight. It was fate. I know that’s what it was. And I don’t know, but when I talked to your mom, I couldn’t not do it. It weighed on me so heavily, I knew I was going to do it.” She takes a deep breath and pulls back her shoulders, looking me straight in the eye as if daring me to disagree with her. “I believe it’s fate that brought us together.”
I brush the hair off her face and don’t even try to look away from her. It hits me hard how fucking fearless this little half pint of a woman is. She believes in fairy tales, happy endings, and true love. Looking at her, I know she deserves to receive nothing less.
We stare at each other so long I can see every emotion filter across her face. I wrap my hand around the base of her neck. “I’m all in, my fearless Mia.”
I seal my lips to hers, wanting her to know exactly what I’m feeling. I’m never going to get enough of her, but there’s an edge that I feel. With my life, the things I’ve seen, I can’t help but wonder if this is too good to be true. Can it really last? I know how I feel, but what about her? She’s young and has so much to offer. How can she settle with a broken hero that doesn’t believe in fairy tales anymore?
Mia
It’s a few days after Christmas, and we’re finally home. I’m glad that Mason and I had the last few days to get to know one another, but it’s nice being able to get things set up in our home. He has a beautiful little cabin and told me I could decorate it however I want. He’s next door at his tattoo shop, and I’m moving about the house, putting all my things away. He’s gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome, and I know it’s crazy, but I miss him. He’s only next door, and he told me I could come over there and hang out at any time, but I don’t want him to think I’m clingy or anything.
But by the evening, I’m going crazy. I’ve never been this way before, and it’s hard to navigate what’s the right way and wrong way to handle things. It’s after dinner, so it wouldn’t be completely absurd for me to take him a sandwich. Wouldn’t most wives do that for their husbands? I know my mom did for my dad all the time.
I make him a sandwich and put chips and fruit with it. I grab the bag and take a deep breath before stepping out onto the porch. The tattoo shop has two cars in the parking lot, so chances are he’s busy. I’ll just deliver the food, get to see him even if it’s only for a few minutes, and then come back home.
I walk through the front door of the tattoo shop, and the bell jingles announcing my arrival. A woman raises her head and looks at me. She doesn’t smile or seem remotely friendly as she looks me up and down. “So you’re her, huh?”
There’s blatant hostility in her voice, but I do my best to ignore it. “I’m sorry. We haven’t met, have we? I’m Mia... Mason’s wife.”
She curses. It’s muttered under her breath, but I can hear it all the same. “I’m Jessica, but you probably already know that. I’m sure Mason told you all about me.” She shakes her head. “So he went through with it, did he?”
I put one hand to my chest. Mason has never mentioned the name Jessica, but I don’t want to make her feel bad for it. But the way she’s talking, I’m wondering why Mason hadn’t mentioned her. I’m not used to dealing with people that obviously don’t like me, and I don’t know how to take her. Plus, she works with Mason. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.”