Chapter Three

Mia 

“Do I know you?” I asked, looking back at him trying to remember if I had encountered him before.

“No, but I do know y…”

“Mia! Oh my god! Are you okay?” Sandra said immediately she appeared at my side checking me all over.

Embarrassing.

“I am fine. This guy saved me.” I said as I pointed towards the young man who was smirking as he looked at me.

“Oh! Fabian, you are here.” Sandra said immediately she looked at the handsome guy and her eyes lit up with a smile.

“Mia, this is Fabian. Fabian, my best friend Mia.” 

“You talked about her a lot, you know.” Fabian joked as he took my hand and kissed the back of it.

“Nice to meet you, beautiful.” 

“Same.”  I said curtly as my cheeks heated up like a teenage girl. I withdrew my hand from his grasp immediately.

Sandra chuckled a little. “Let’s all grab a seat. And Fabian, we have a lot of catching up to do.“

We took a new seat and ordered some food. Sandra and Fabian chatted away and I only joined in when asked a question.

“So Mia, how are you finding the city? Sandra here told me you just moved.” Fabian said as he turned to face me.

“It is good but I haven’t been around to see the city,” I said, slowly eating my food.

“Now that I am here, babe. We will do all the sightseeing.” Sandra chipped in. Fabian just smiled before pushing his plates aside.

“Well, I am available to take you sightseeing, Mia.” Fabian offered.

“When I am less busy then.”

“Let me get your number. I would like to get to know you.” He stretched his phone to me.

I punched in my numbers before he stood up pocketing his phone.

“Well ladies, gonna get going. Sandra, it's been good to catch up.” He said and left the dinner.

“OMG! Mia, he likes you!” Sandra said excitedly. 

I can’t help the heat that crept up my face, it's been a long time since someone openly showed interest in me. I felt butterflies swirl in my stomach. 

Erm! I coughed trying to hide my blush.

“He likes me now until he knows I have another man’s child.” I said as I headed back to continue my shift.

“Mia, stop talking like that. You are beautiful and men with eyes will see that.” Sandra said following me to the counter.

“Thank you for your kind words, Sandra” 

“Well, I am going to head back to the apartment.” 

“Okay babe.” I said and waved her goodbye.

I thought back on Sandra's words as I continued my day. Love is not completely off my book. When I see a man who truly wants to be with me, I will definitely go with him. But now Love seems like a dream far-fetched.

As I headed home, my phone rang and I answered without checking the ID of the caller.

“Sandra, I’m on my…” 

“Mia, where have you been?” A deep voice bellowed from the other end. 

I recognize that voice anywhere, even in my sleep. Shit!! How did he get my number because I changed my number immediately when I got here.

“Scott! Hey!” I squeaked out as beads of heat gathered on my forehead. 

“Mia, I asked a question. Where have you been?” He asked again.

I know that my brother loves me so much and I hate that I have disappointed him. He wants nothing more than for me to be with a good man who loves me. I feel tears trickling down my cheeks.

What do I say now?

“I have gone to your place to check on you many times but nothing.” He said in a worried voice.

As I said nothing but sniffled, Scott sighed deeply and said. “Mia, what’s going on? You know you can talk to me. I am just worried” 

“I can’t tell you right now. I .. I can’t tell you anything.” I said sobbing into the phone.

 It’s late at night and the street is almost empty. Just a few people around sent a look my way.

“I love you and tell Mom I love her too.”

“Mia, what are you saying? You are confusing me.”

“I gotta go” I cut off the line immediately.

God! I hate that I have to do this. I made a mental note to change my number as I headed to my apartment.

“Babes, you are late.” Sandra said immediately after I entered.

I paid no mind to her as I rushed to the restroom to vomit. Sandra rushed in behind me and started running her hands down my back.

“Scott called me. He found my number.” I said as I rinsed my mouth and headed back to the sitting room

“How did he get your number?” She asked.

“I don’t know. But I have to change it again.” I said but Sandra didn't say anything but just stroked my arms lightly.

We didn’t say much as we settled into my tiny bed that could barely contain one person. Sandra slept immediately but I couldn’t sleep a wink. I kept turning and tossing in the bed.

I hear a small noise coming from the back making me perk up from the bed. The noise grew a little loud and I jumped out of bed and grabbed a pan.

“Sandra, did you hear that?” I asked and poked Sandra a little but she just whined a little and continued to sleep.

I sighed but headed towards the back of the door. As I inched closer my heartbeat quickened and I could hear it thumping in my ears.  What if they are burglars— seeing a new face in the neighborhood they might want to break in.

I tiptoed lightly to the back and raised my window ready to attack.

Immediately I opened the door, and I saw a black shadow emerging from the corner at full speed.