Chapter 6

Liam Novak

Waking up the next morning, I tried cuddling a little longer with Mia, but realized that the spot where she'd once been was replaced by a pillow. Her pillow. She was gone once again. But the only difference was that we weren't drunk last night and we hadn't had sex. We'd merely cuddled and it was indeed an amazing feeling.

The only intimacy I'd known was to have sex with girls and leave right after, but I never let girls into my house, unless it were my mom, grandma or aunts. I didn't have much friends that were girls. What do you expect? I'd eventually end up sleeping with them, anyway.

Mia however, had amazed me since the first night we met. From the moment I'd smelt the sweet aroma of strawberries, I'd turned around and saw her there with whom I'd later found out was Zoe. She was not like the other girls I'd slept with in the past, and that gave me hope. Actually she didn't beg for my attention or anything. I willingly gave it to her, and I didn't regret one second of that night I spent with her- even though I barely remembered anything.

I stretched out my sore muscles, and entered the bathroom to freshen up for my day with Mia. The day I'd wanted all those months ago, but never got the chance to have.

I dressed in a pair of grey sweatpants and a white V-neck t-shirt, grabbed my iPhone7 and walked down the staircase. Approaching the kitchen, I heard voices followed by laughter, and upon entering, I froze as I took in the scene in front of me.

Mia was sitting on one of the kitchen stools mixing something in a bowl, and my closest friends that I trusted with my life, were there with her. They seemed so engrossed in the conversation they were having, that they didn't even realize that I'd walked in.

I cleared my throat loudly and all heads turned to look at me. Jason smirked and continued with whatever he was doing before. Walking further into the kitchen, I realized that they were actually making breakfast. But my friends don't cook. I knew that better than anyone else. They either had maids or ordered in like I did. But now, they were all in my kitchen- cooking.

"You guys don't cook," I said in disbelief and they all smirked at me.

Gabriel, one of my closest friends and business partner spoke. "We don't cook and you know that. However, Mia here does." He points a finger at Mia and she gives him a glare which I found entirely captivating.

"But someone's kitchen was practically empty except for a few boxes of juice," Mia replied and I realized that my kitchen was indeed empty and the only way she could have gotten ingredients for breakfast was if one of my bodyguards bought her groceries or if she went out.

I walked up to her and gave her a scolding stare. "Young lady, please don't tell me you drove to the supermarket in your state."

Mia's hazel eyes stared at me for a while before she pouted and shook her head. "I made your friends do shopping."

My eyes could've possibly left their sockets when she mentioned my friends doing the shopping. "You made them do shopping? They don't even shop for themselves," I said and turned to scold at my friends who interrupted my time with Mia. They all shrugged and continued with whatever they were doing and I laughed. Seeing my friends who were all playboys act domestic was indeed funny. Who would've guessed that Mia would have them wrapped around her little finger already? But she probably had everyone.

"We're hungry," Adam replied while he cleaned and sliced strawberries.

Jason and I met Adam and Gabriel on our first day in high school and we immediately clicked. Adam's family, Collins, owns a wealthy and successful Billion dollar shipping company and Gabriel's family, Cooper, owns a chain of restaurants in the US. Our families were all close and our businesses benefited from each other, but my family was always the one who financed companies and invested in different industries. Not only were we close friends, but we're all good with the ladies- if you know what I mean. So, to see them here, in my house, helping Mia make breakfast, I would certainly be telling their parents about this. I quickly took out a few pictures to hold as evidence.

"Go find your own girlfriend, you pisses of shit," I whispered to them and turned around to look at Mia who stood in front of the stove, preparing pancakes. She looked alluring with her hair in a bun and her baby bump in the way as she made breakfast. It made my heart soar all-together.

When she was through making breakfast and laid everything on the table, my stomach rumbled at all the delicious looking food. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, toast. Everything looked so delicious and I was about to dig in when I felt a hand slap my arms away. She gave me her famous scolding face and took up the strawberries, placing them in the blender. We all looked at her as she moved gracefully around the kitchen looking for ingredients to make what seemed to be strawberry smoothie.

When she was done, she poured them into smoothie glasses that I wasn't even aware I had. She took out a can of whipped cream and put on the top, and taking straws, she passed them to us. At the first taste, I felt like I was on a planet where everything seemed to be fruits or smoothies. She could've possibly been the most amazing woman ever, and this was the best smoothie I'd ever had. Ever.

All the guys moaned at their first taste, and I smirked at them, giving them the 'my-girlfriend-made-smoothie-and-it's-amazing-so-go-get-your-own-girlfriend' look.

"I'll be here every day for breakfast and probably lunch and dinner. I'll tell you my schedule," Adam said and we all burst out into laughter.

Mia giggled. "I don't live here. I'm only here for the weekend."

Somehow, why does the fact that she doesn't live here bother me so much? It's so natural when she's around, and I don't mind waking up to her every morning. But I'd prefer her off her feet, and we'll have to discuss her pregnant state soon. She needs to stay off her feet or I'll order her to bed-rest, or let my doctor do the honors.

Mia stood up to take a few plates from the cupboard, and her bun came out of place. Without turning around she put it back into place, showing us the tattoo on the nape of her neck. It was nothing extravagant or fancy. It was just a plain and simple semi-colon only in black ink, but I became curious at what it meant.

She sat down a moment later and started eating. No one said anything for a while until Adam finally broke the silence. "So you have a tattoo?"

Mia looked up from sipping her strawberry smoothie and looked at the four of us. We were actually all curious.

She nodded. "Yes. But it's nothing fancy. Just a semicolon."

I could tell there was a story behind the tattoo but we didn't pressure her. If she wanted to say, she would. We all looked at her curiously, and she was unusually quiet.

"Every tattoo has a meaning." Jason broke the tense atmosphere and I could scowl at him, but I wanted to know more about her tattoo.

She giggled, but it wasn't the giggle of joy or happiness. It was a plain and brief giggle that lasted for about a second. "You all would be bored."

"We wouldn't. I have a tattoo on my back, but it basically speaks for itself," Gabe replied.

She looked at all of us around the table and sighed before she continued. "I don't know much about my past, but from what I know, I was found on the roadside when I was 2 weeks old. Therefore, I never knew my parents and I'll never know if I was left there, or whatever." She paused and I realized that this was a touchy subject to her. However, a second later, she continued, "I grew up in an orphanage in Williamsville, Erie County, but I was never actually adopted. Families visited me and wanted to adopt me, but a few days into the adoption, they would come back and say they changed their mind. I started to think I was actually worth nothing and that no one wanted me. 

"When I was 12, one of the nuns in the orphanage that took care of me since I arrived there, was found dead in an alleyway when she was living one night. She was the only mother figure I knew, and when I left, I decided to get this tattoo, because I'd lost someone who meant so much to me." She took a deep breath, her voice emotional. "The semi colon also means that although I knew nothing about my past for a long time, my life was not at its end."

Hearing that Mia went through all this, I can't help but feel like she's so strong. Other people would have blamed the world for their problems, be depressed and commit suicide, but she seems so care free and this amazes me. She's amazing. "Did you know why you were never adopted?"

"No. All they ever said was that they'd changed their minds. I just lived with it until I met Zoe and her parents took me under their wings. They had money so they pulled a few strings but were not allowed to adopt me fully. I could only stay with them."

Why do I think that her story has more to it than what meets the eye? How can all these things happen and no one actually realize how serious this is? A baby is found, a nun is killed and the child is always rejected by families who really wanted to adopt her? This calls for an investigation, but she doesn't need to know about this.

"So what are we doing today?" Jason asked, and I look at him confused.

"We? Mia and I are spending the day together," I said with pride. He needed to know that with Mia here, weekends were for us and the baby. Come to think of it, it did sound amazing to have weekends all to ourselves.

"Can we join you? Please?" Adam asked and I scowled.

"No," was all I said.

They all laughed and when I looked up at Mia, I realized that she was smiling.

She should smile more. She did look amazing when she smiled.