Mia had always been prepared her entire life for just about anything, but today it seemed, she took an extra step.

She was counting on this date to move things a little forward, the wait was long enough as it was,so it was to be expected that she was a little less alert, and jumpy.

It had been almost eight years and she couldn't keep waiting much longer.

She wanted her revenge, she needed her revenge.

"Patience, Mia. "Casey penetrated her ears from afar, jutting her back to reality.

She was reminding her to bear with the knife at hand, but of course she sounded like she knew what was going on in her head.

"I swear Casey, sometimes it's like you're in mind, reading my every thought. It's creepy. "

Mia turned to her best friend, smiling at her true words.

"Why, what where you thinking? "Casey pushed, leaning on the kitchen counter and smirking suggestively at her.

Mia blew a sigh and shook her head.

"It's obviously not what you have in mind, but I was thinking that things need to go a little bit faster. "

Casey sliced the avocado she had in hand open, they were making guacamole to accompany the nachos she brought.

"Well then like I said, patience. You've waited seven years, what's a few more months?"

Mia shrugged.

A few more months sure felt like forever.

She continued to chop the onion at an inhumane speed, and didn't even feel it slice her thumb.

"Holy crap, Mia. You just cut yourself. "Casey's eyes widened dramatically, and Mia looked down to see her thumb bleeding at a furious speed, much to her surprise.

"Oh my God. Am so sorry. "She quickly abandoned the knife and went straight for the first aid kit, wondering how it had escalated from her chopping onions like a five star chef to a bleeding mess, and remembering how Casey had zero tolerance of blood.

Which was ironic, considering most of the shows she watched on TV involved guns, mad men and hospitals.

"It's different in real life, okay? "Casey said, yet again as if penetrating her thoughts, her voice a notch higher from the terror.

"There you go again with your creepy telepathic powers. Stop already. "Mia laughed, cleaning her wound and carefully placing a band aid over the open scar.

Casey's face became more relaxed.

"Deal with it. You were kinda saying it with your face, you know? How I watch bloody shows and can't start the sight of real blood? "

"In my defence, that's one hundred percent true, and really ridiculous. "

Casey chucked a virtual ball at her.

"Whatever. "

She finished mashing the avocadoes before walking over to get the rest of the ingredients, Mia now a forgotten ally.

"So, where are you guys going? "She remembered to ask in reference to Mia and Jace's date later.

"Don't know, don't care. " Mia was quick to reply.

"Oh you care, alright. Or else you wouldn't be googling 'what to wear on surprise dates. '"Casey walked past her and chuckled evilly, having peered at Mia's tablet over her shoulder.

Mia huffed an annoyed breath, blowing the strands of frizzy hair on her face.

"I just like to be prepared. "She protested.

"One, you are always prepared and two, am seriously offended right now. You're sitting next to a fashion icon, you know? "

Mia turned to face Casey, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, so what advice does this fashion icon have to offer? "

Casey grinned devilishly, adding the chopped tomatoes to her bowl before turning to Mia.

"I say you wear something so unholy the minute he sets his eyes on you, he'll want to rip that dress right off your body and-"

"Okay. Let me rephrase my question. What sane advice do you have to give? "

Casey shrugged.

"The short sexy thing still sounds sane to me. "

Mia sighed some more, getting up to help Casey move the party to the living room.

"You know I can't wear anything past my knees. "

"Why, because of your scar? "Casey shouted over her shoulder at her as they made a bee line for the living room.

"Oh my God Casey, let's go ahead and tell the whole world about it, shall we? "

Casey grinned and plopped on the sofa, grabbing a nacho and the remote.

"If anything, I'd say the scar would make you look more mischievous and sexy. "

Mia angrily chomped on a guacamole coated nacho.

"Yeah, I bet every guy likes a scar the size of titanic sprawled on a girls thigh and sticking out like a sore thumb. "

Casey was about to say something when Mia lifted a silencing finger.

"Besides, you know how sensitive that scar is to me and, it's more likely to raise suspicion. "

"Uhm, there's this thing called a concealer? "

"Yeah? Find me one good enough to cover up such a monstrosity. "

Both girls sighed, tired of arguing.

"Let's just find you something that says 'casual-but I'm still trying to get my claws on you. "

"Let's do that please. "

And on that note, the party migrated to Mia's bedroom.

*********************************

"You look beautiful. "Was the first thing Jace said when he saw Mia, who was dressed in a pretty chiffon dress with cold shoulder details, and black leather flats.

On her shoulders loosely hang her peach trench, she wasn't gonna risk getting cold and putting herself in the whole cliché 'boy gives girl jacket' thing.

"Thank you. "She smiled what she hoped was a polite smile, and took the hand he offered.

This was the first time seeing him without an office suit, and boy did he look good in dark washed jeans and a blue shirt.

"You look good too."She said before she could stop herself, and for the first time as well, Jace saw a blush creeping up her neck.

"Thanks. "He smiled back, leading her to his ink black Rolls Royce.

He opened the door for her and she slid in gracefully, barely missing the whiff of his intoxicating cologne ,but not hanging around long enough to figure out what it was.

She waited until he had pulled away from the parking space and hit the road to ask her question, taking care not to sound too eager or too nervous.

"So, we're are we going? "

Jace smiled and stared at the road ahead.
He had a feeling deep down, really really deep down that this was going to be an amazing evening.

"Too eager, are you? "He asked, making her heart turn over.

What the hell. This was exactly what she had specifically said she didn't want him to think.

"What?No. I just hate surprises. "She tried to justify herself, the last time she was really surprised her dad ended up in hospital and her mom dropped from the face of earth.

Oh wait, that wasn't just a surprise. It was a hotly terrifying ordeal.

Jace didn't miss the way her expression contorted, and right immediately he wanted to fix it, even if it meant ruining the surprise.

"It's a flower farm. "

Mia turned to look at him incredulously.

"My mom's flower farm. "He rephrased, swallowing hard while her eyes widened.

She was not ready for this.

"When I said take it fast, I didn't -"

"Don't worry, you're not going to meet her today. She's... away. "He eased her mind, smiling when she heaved a sigh of relief.

"Oh. "

"Yeah. "

"So why did you decide to take me there? "
Mia asked, a little curious.

"It's my favourite place, to think, get some fresh air and practically just watch the sunset. I know it sounds cheesy-"

"It doesn't. It sounds okay to me. "Mia said to comfort him, but in her head, it actually sounded cheesy as hell.

They continued to drive in silence, both lost individually in a pool of their own insecurities, nervousness and hopes.

Eventually, Jace pulled up in front of a cozy-looking cottage, then proceeded to step out to get her door, but she beat him to it.

She was, after all, a girl that didn't rely on a man to do things for her.

He offered her his arm nervously, seeing her resistance, but she calmly took it anyway and walked with him up to the door, where he proceeded to dig a key out of his pocket and open it.

"My mom gave me a key, and I figured they are closed by now. "He proceeded to explain while sliding the glass door open to reveal a gorgeous flower shop, backed up by what looked like offices in the back.

It was a really beautiful shop, with pretty art pieces on the walls, marble floors, Maude walls ,a mahogany countertop with a huge portrait of a healthy beautiful woman with a bountiful captivating smile beyond it.

"Wow, it's pretty. Is that your mom? "Mia asked Jace, who's sweet smile quickly morphed into a frown.

"She used to be. "He quickly led her to the second pair of back glass doors.

Mia sensed his mom was a sensitive topic, so she decided she was going to ask him when he was a little more open later, and also rain hell on her team for not knowing about this place when they were investigating him.

For now, she stepped through the glass doors to the fresh air, and nothing would have prepared her for the breathtaking beauty in front of her.

She smiled.

She'd said it before, she was saying it again.

Jace had charm.

*************************
Don't forget to vote, share and comment!
🖤