Fireworks 1 and 2

Chapter Seventy

    Free tilted her head to the side, narrowing her eyes. "You're one of his little girlfriends, aren't you?" she asked, gesturing towards Mia.

    Mia stared at the other woman blankly. It felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. The past several weeks she'd spent with Drake, prior to visiting Bri, had been heaven. Pure heaven, pure perfection. There was no way a bomb this big could be dropped - not when only a short time ago, he was talking marriage and kids. Without speaking, she turned around and headed up the stairs leading to the front door.

    One of the staff members had the front door open by the time she reached it, saving the need for her to hit the doorbell. She thanked the staff member and breezed past him. "Where is he?"

    "Poolside," the tall, dark-haired staff member said, bowing his head forward. He lifted his head and widened his eyes in surprise when he saw Free. "Free."

    Mia walked down the short hall, turned into the living room, and crossed it. She struggled to keep her emotions in check. After all, this could theoretically be another woman who was delusional, another woman who was trying to stir up drama. Deep down in her heart, she didn't feel that was the case. The woman was too well-put together. The woman had made it past the gates. The staff even knew her by name. Mia opened the patio door and stepped out onto the deck.

    Drake was seated on a lounge chair, whispering lyrics to himself and typing in his Blackberry.

    She stared at the back of his head and his shoulders for a few moments. She hadn't taken time to think about what she would say.

    She didn't know if she made a sound, or if he just happened to turn his head at that moment, but he turned and looked up at her. He broke out into a grin and stood up. "How was your flight?" he asked, looking past her. "Where's Bri?"

    She didn't know where Bri was. She hadn't bothered to check to see if Bri was following her. Knowing Bri, she really was on the hunt for some popcorn so she could watch the madness unfold. "The flight was fine," she said as he wrapped her up in a tight embrace. "But Aubrey-"

    "But nothing," he interrupted her. "I have a specal night planned for all of us. Bri, too."

    She pulled back from him and stared up at him.

    He stared back, and his facial features gradually formed into a frown. "What is it?"

    She opened her mouth to speak, but she didn't have to. Because the patio door opened again. First, Bri stepped out. Trailing behind Bri, though, was Free.

    Drake stared at Free, then looked down at Mia.

    Mia didn't have to ask him if he knew who the woman was. Recognition lit up his eyes, shortly followed by a look of guilt. Her brows drew together as she stared up at him. "She introduced herself as your fiance," she said softly.

    Drake's eyes shifted from Mia over to Free.

    Free looked back at him with one corner of her mouth lifted. "You usually do a better job of keeping your girlfriends well-versed regarding our...special situation," she said, stepping forward and looking at Mia. "From the looks of her, she didn't even know I existed."

    Drake backed up a few steps and turned his back to all of them.

    Mia stared after him with her heart feeling heavy. Even though she could see the guilt on his face, she was still waiting for him to deny that the woman standing beside her was engaged to him. That denial didn't come. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Talk to me," she told him.