Fireworks 3 and 4

Chapter Fifty-Eight

    Mia had to experience a mind shift. Here she was, presented with this adorable child who resembled a cherub from heaven, and all she could think about was her relationship with Drake and where it would lead. Shouldn't she take more delight in the fact that Drake was excited to be a part of his child's life, and borderline giddy whenever his kid approached him or hugged him? 

    She watched the two interact, overwhelmed by emotions.

    In the midst of play, Drake turned his head. He gave her a long look and stood up, dusting off his black sweatpants. "I really should have warned you what you were walking into," he said. "Maybe this isn't the kind of thing you just spring on someone."

    "I..." She shook her head, at a loss for words. "I love seeing the two of you together and I love seeing how happy he makes you, Aubrey." I just don't know where I fit into all of it, she thought helplessly.

    He beamed at her, unaware of the inner turmoil she was trying her best to shelve. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he extended a hand to her. "Well, don't just stand there. Join us in this craziness."

    Laughing, she took his hand and dropped down to her knees. 

    Adonis grinned and launched a pillow at the two of them, sparking a lighthearted pillow fight that ended with them all hugging each other.

    Mia rested her cheek on the top of the little boy's head. Her eyes met Drake's.

    His eyes were intense while he watched the two loves of his life. 

    Her smile widened. So, this is where I fit in, she thought just as Adonis shifted so he could wrap his arms around her. 

~~~~~~

    "House of Blues for Chicago and Madison Square Garden for NYC."

    Mia's eyes bugged out of her head. "Excuse me, come again?"

    Tori repeated herself.

    "I thought we said that I'd be performing in small venues this time around," Mia said. "Madison Square Garden is far from small. There are well-established artists who don't dare touch Madison Square Garden. For NYC I thought we were doing...what was it? The Apollo. Right?"

    Shrugging her shoulders, Tori said, "Oliver has MSG noted."

    Mia dialed up Oliver immediately. "The Madison Square Garden?" she demanded, in lieu of a greeting.

    "Well, hello to you, too," he told her.

    "I can't sell out the Garden, Oli."

    "Your fanbase in NYC is huge," Oliver replied. "If you don't sell it out, you'll come close. New Yorkers aren't the only ones who attend those shows. You also have the surrounding states. Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and shit."

    Mia ran a hand through her hair. "That's a huge arena."

    "I know you're not my biggest fan, but do you trust me when it comes to business?"

    She weighed his question and had to admit to herself that he was a certified genius - not that she would be inflating his ego any time soon. "I do," she confessed. "Do you know how nervous I'd be before going on for that performance? That's whether the arena is nearly full or nearly empty."

    "You'll do great."

    "But performing in House of Blues in Chicago and MSG for NYC? That's so imbalanced."

    "Would you like me to book the United Center, where the Bulls play?" he asked. "That can easily be arranged."

    She sighed and glanced over at Tori, who was studying the list of concert venues provided to her by Oliver.