Chapter 30

Mia pressed the phone to her shoulder in an attempt to supress the ringing. The sound alone triggering her flight or fight response. Should she run out the door or throw the phone out the window? Her eyes began searching for a nearby window in dread, flickering frantically about.

“Can I just?” she gestured at the phone and Harvey nodded. He motioned for her to take the call in his room. Mia sprinted towards the room, she pushed the door closed and sat at the edge of the bed. The reminder of what she had just done in this very room making her more nervous to answer Gabriel.
She inhaled, her hands shaking. She swiped across the screen and put the cell phone to her ear. She prayed her voice was steadier than her nerves.

“Hello?” she answered, trying to sound casual while her heart thundered in her ears, every other sound seeming muffled.

“Amiyah is getting restless without her mother.” Gabriel said the words with a tune attached. He was lying of course. Amiyah was running around the living room giggling and talking to herself. Her grandmother eying her in awe and with limitless patience, his patience on the other hand was dawdling. He desperately craved quiet and Amiyah’s voice was grating against his last strand of persistence.

“I am on my way. Leaving the gym in a few, I have to shower.” She paused, sensing her voice about to crack, when she was confident again, she continued, “Just have to stop off at my sister’s.”

“Don’t you see that wench often enough?” he growled low so that his voice wouldn’t carry across to his mother and daughter behind him.

“I think I forgot my charger there.” She fibbed. It was an easy lie that Gabriel was unable to confirm. Her charger was sitting in the passenger seat of her car. She thanked the heavens that she didn’t take them out because there were no other lies that came to mind. “And my battery’s about to die.”

“Fine, hurry back.” He said and the call ended.

Mia stood up, her head spinning from the encounter. She had no reason to feel guilty, she had no one to be loyal to. She had to remind herself that her vows were already broken, and irretrievably so. She shook her head, her legs taking the initiative and walked her outside. She couldn’t hide here much longer. Harvey’s eye’s followed her movements. The smile dawning on him quickly faltered when she shoved the cell phone in her handbag and remained standing. Their eyes made four and a silent communication passed between them.
Mia hadn’t felt this free in all her life. Tonight had been a glorious escape from the stressed of her life and now reality was knocking at her door. She had to leave, even if she didn’t really want to.

“Not interested in finishing dinner?” Harvey motioned to her plate. His features dark and unyielding, very unlike the calm, delicate lover she’d not to long encountered.

“I am sorry.” the words were a reflex. In hindsight, Mia needed to be more forceful. She didn’t owe anyone anything, right? She didn’t have to stay any longer than she wanted or in this case, could.

“You’re leaving? He sipped his glass of whisky. It appeared to be a question but she could tell he’d already known her intention.

“I have to get back tonight, papers to grade.” It wasn’t a complete lie, final exams were around the corner and this past week she’d been having her students do mock examinations.

“I’ll walk you out.” He rose from his seat, the screeching of the chair mirroring the tension building up inside of him. Mia had switched from open and carefree to a stranger he hadn’t said two words too. He hoped to God that she didn’t actually think he believed her flimsy excuse. That phone call had set her off and he knew at this point he had no right to ask any questions of her. She was leaving and he would not stop her.
The question in his mind, an internal question was; did he want to see her again? He didn’t know the answer to that yet which made it harder for him to converse with her. He didn’t want to give her an impression and then later he changed his mind.
The intention was to use tonight’s conversation with Mia to gauge what it was he wanted from her. Suffice it to say that there wasn’t sufficient conversation or really any when he thought about it. He wasn’t complaining, the sex was great. He definitely would have liked for more time with her physically at the very least. Their sexual chemistry was impeccable and he was experienced enough to know that two people clicking sexually was a rarity.

“There is really no need.” Mia was immediately defensive. Her hands coming up in front of her to stop him. He sank back into his chair and stared at her.

“I remember the way.” She smiled, leaving instantly. Her lungs operating at their optimal performance rate once she was back in her car. Her next stop was her sister’s house; she had to erase the evidence of tonight before returning to Gabriel’s house. Would he be able to tell?

“Stop being stupid.” She muttered to herself and drove off. Mia pulled up in Amber’s driveway, she knew Nate would have already left for work so Amber would be home alone. She didn’t have to worry about him regarding her in the mess that she obviously was. She knocked on the front door and waited. She kept gazing behind her, conscious that Amber’s neighbours may notice how ragged she seemed. Perhaps she could pass off as having a crazy night clubbing?

*No one would believe that, it’s only ten* Her inner voice mocked her. Mia stuck her tongue out and gagged in response.

“I know you didn’t leave my house looking like that earlier tonight.” Amber pulled the front door open and allowed Mia access into the house. She eyed her sister from head to toe. She flashed Mia an appreciative smile, her brain already conjuring the mental image of what her usually uptight sister was doing. Mia’s hair was a fluffy mess, her eyes blinking back at Amber as if she was speaking a foreign language.
The straps of Mia heels hung from her finger, the straps of her dress falling off her shoulders, and a tiny red mark on her chest. Amber had her suspicions when Mia came over earlier with a change of clothes and makeup, however, she let her sister keep her secret but now she was curious as hell. Whatever Amber had thought earlier, it wasn’t this.

“Not a word.” Mia knew the state she was in. She’d gasped at the sight of herself in her car mirror after jumping in from Harvey’s house. Her lipstick was smeared around the corners of her mouth, her mascara darkening under her eyes. Her lips were swollen from Harvey’ kisses. She knew what she looked like, she knew her sister would know. She had no intentions of hiding her activities but she just didn’t want to talk about it just yet.
Amber ran her eyes up and down her sister and giggled. “I’m going take a quick shower.” Mia rolled her eyes and ran upstairs, away from further scrutiny. She couldn’t have a serious conversation with her sister when she was doing a literal walk of shame.

“I want details when you come back down.” Amber yelled.
****
“Why is Nate’s stuff in the guest room?” Mia was towelling her hair as she walked downstairs. She always showered at the gym before going home so she knew that Gabriel wouldn’t think twice if this time her hair was wet. She folded her legs on the sofa and gazed at her sister. Amber’s mouth fell open momentarily. She cleared her throat and faked a smile.

“Aren’t you supposed to be telling me about your adventures?” Amber’s eyes twinkled and she caused her eyebrows to dance suggestively at Mia. Her situation with Nate was still very raw and she was trying to be strong and give him the time he needed.

“This is serious.” Mia flung her towel at Amber. Amber laughed, her eyes lowering.

“I screwed up.” She revealed, folding the towel in her lap and staring down at it. She began picking at the thread.

“What happened?” Mia questioned, immediately concerned.

“He is avoiding me and rightly so.” Amber didn’t know how to start the story. She was honestly so stupid to have risked her relationship.

“Avoiding you? Isn’t he at work?” Mia questioned, she knew she would have to piece everything together bit by bit. This was Amber’s usual course of recounting a scenario.

“He’s on vacation at the moment.” Amber wiped the stray tear away from her eye and smiled weakly at her sister. Since he’d been on vacation he found every reason to be out whenever she was home with him. “So where is he?” Mia probed.