Afraid to Love ✔

Part 19

Laurent

There is a snap waiting when I return from dinner. Larry walks into my room right after I click the message.
"Good night, pleasant dreams." Mia says from my phone.
"Lau, you miss Mia?" He asks sitting on my bed.
"Yeah, but I know she safe and thinking about me."
"You know where she is?"
"I thought she be here, but I not sure."
"What you mean?" He looks confused.
"No worry for that. We have plans for tomorrow, get some rest." I hug his shoulder before he went to bed.

Larry

The next day, a woman wearing a black burqa is putting food out when I walk to the table. She moves out my way as I sit down to eat. "Thank you."
She pours juice into my cup then sets the juice on the table and leaves. Moments later Lau walks in still smiling.
"Good Morning, bro." He smiles as he sat down to eat.
"Good Morning, Lau. You in a good mood," I smile.
"I am! I love it here!" His excitement is overflowing as he digs into breakfast. There was a knock on the door, Lau jumps up to get it.
"Good Morning, Zahra." Laurent says enthusiastically.
"And to you," Zahra's voice is so soft. "I have been asked to show you to the motor pool where you will meet your driver for the day." She turns away from Laurent then adds, "when you are ready," before she almost runs from the door.
"What did you do to her?" I ask Lau.
He shrugs walking back to the table. I look him over and don't see anything wrong. He's wearing a black shirt and shorts. He has on more clothes than I do. I only have on shorts but she didn't look at me.
After we're both dressed we see Zahra outside the villa, she is sitting on a bench staring at the flowers. She jumps to her feet when Laurent closes the door.
She walks ahead of us without a word. She takes us straight to the motor pool and stands beside a white Aston Martin.
"Please pick which will make you comfortable." She steps back as we look at the cars and trucks in the motor pool. Laurent stops at a white Denali with tinted window. She tells him it is bullet proof and a very smooth comfortable ride.
I stop by a Lamborghini. She tells me if I wish it the Sheihk would allow us to borrow it today and we can choose a different vehicle tomorrow. I look at Laurent and smile. He nods. She disappears and comes back with a guy. He gives a quick once over of the car then hands over the keys.

Laurent

I can't believe Larry chose a Lamborghini but since today is going to be about him, I agreed with his choice. We drive into Dubai for some shopping then met up with Rashad and Ahmed. They take us to a gentlemens' club where they already set up Larry's party.
Mai called him right as we park. It was a short conversation, she told him about her check up and thanks him for the new engraved baby bracelets. They exchange I love yous and hang up.
When we walk in the club and most of the crew was already there, he turns to me, "Lau what is this?"
"It's a bachelor party!" Ahmed laughs heavily patting his back before disappearing into the crowd of friends about to mob Larry teasing and congratulating him.
We dance and several of the girls dance for Larry. I didn't realize the Sheihk's sons were buying Larry so many drinks until he slurred his words and actually hugged me.
Around midnight I was finally able to drag him home to put him in bed. Zahra meets us at the motor pool, she opens doors for us as I carry my drunk brother to the villa. She make him take some pills and drink a bottle of water before he went to sleep, then she lays into me.
"It seems Ahmed threw him a great bachelor's party, but why did you let him drink until he was drunk?" She whisper yells at me.
"That not you business." I huffed.
She adjust the veil of her niqab when she sees me stare at her. "Really? He could have been arrested, deported or worse for that. You need to be remember where you are!" She takes a deep breath then sighs. I know that face and her voice. I scoop her into a hug. "Mia!" I kiss her face all over. "Why you not say something earlier?" She pushes out of my arms.
"Kissing is illegal here too, try to control yourself." She adjusts her clothes and moves further away, "Now, I have to stay hidden if we are going to pull off our twins' wedding in a few days. Zoe has invited your family and friends to Italy for 'my wake'. Your mother knows it's actually a wedding. She will make sure everyone else is there. The invite asks to wear white or light colors. You will keep it quiet for that long. Right?" She glares at me. "Right!?"
"Okii, but what about your stalker?"
"Not your business." She huffs and walks out the door.

Mia

I have barely gotten my breathing under control when I notice Ahmed is leaning against the wall beside my door.
"Are you going to fuss at me too?" He smirks.
"Yes, go to bed, it's late." I walk into my room locking the door behind me then lean against it. I can hear his laughter as he walks away.
I slid down the door to the floor wanting my heart to stop beating out my chest. After all this time he still makes me feel like this, I clench my chest. I can still smell him on me, I should take a shower.
I spent the next day confirming preparations for the wedding while at the salon. When I return, I am informed I am not invited to dinner with the Sheihk but he sent several new dresses to my room and they are all beautiful. I admire the fit of one the dress he sent while standing in the mirror and my hair is so soft and beautiful from treatment I got.
"Zahra?" The Sheihk calls from my door. (A/N: Zahra means flower, blossom, or beauty)
"I am dressing." I quickly put on my veil then walk out to greet the him.
He smiles as I struggle with my scarf.
"You are so beautiful Zahra, please allow me." He adjusts my head scarf and places the flower in my hair then winks. Not in a flirty way, kinda like Santa Claus does in old movies.
"Thank you." I pull the long scarf around my neck.
"You are aware you aren't required to dress like this inside? You could wear your other clothes."
"Yes, Abba but this is so pretty." (Informal name for father, like dad)
"Come we should talk." I take his offered hand allowing him to escort me from the room. He guides me to a bench in the garden then kisses my hand. He's older than my father would have been if he were alive. He tells me repeatedly he loves me and my sister as his daughters which is sweet since he has none of his own. He has the biggest heart I've ever had the pleasure to meet.
"I had a long private talk with your suitor today. I think you should go easier on him. He cares deeply for you."
"I am Abba." He gives me a gentle look of reproach. Ok maybe not.
I sigh. "He scares me, he tries not to but he scares me sometimes and I don't know how to respond to his feelings. Or think of how he makes me feel. I feel childish for wanting to run away from him all the time but I don't know how else to deal."
"Zahra, falling in love is scary. Your last suitor hurt you beyond belief and makes you more cautious about love now than most. You left him behind but you haven't allowed yourself to move forward like you need." He squeezes my hands. "Tell me, if something happened to your Laurent how would you feel."
My chest tightened at the thought and I felt tears prick my eyes.
"I see." He smiles wiping my tears with his thumb. "That pain your are feeling is heartbreak from the thought of losing someone you care for, my little flower. You need to listen to your heart, it has been trying to tell you something important." He kisses my forehead.
"Less thinking more feeling, Zahra." He walks away leaving me to absorb his words.
"Hello." Laurent smiles standing in front of me. I should have sent him a bell for Christmas. I move part of my dress to make room for Laurent to sit beside me. He grabs my hands kissing them.
"I missed you." He smiles staring into my eyes reaching for my waist but I stop him.
"I'm sorry, can we just walk?" I try to control my breathing. He stands offering his hand. I place my hand in his. He moves my hand around his arm as we start our stroll through the garden.
"You look beautiful, Mia." He whispers.
"Thank you." I turn away biting my lip trying to keep my breathing normal.
"Do you like me?"
"That's not what you want to know." I smile at his smirk.
"Okay, do you love me?"
I take a step to walk away, "Don't you know the answer already." He holds my hand on his arm and my heartbeat doubles.
"I no know." He smiles innocently. I watch his smile reach his eyes. Listen to my heart? It feels like it wants to run away. "Mia?" He touches my cheek and my heart stops as he stares into my eyes.
"You want to hear how I feel about you?" I ask looking away.
"Yes, I want to hear it." He whispers seductively in my ear.
"I love you and it terrifies me." I say only loud enough for us to hear. He softly touches the small of my back.
"No be scared, I love you too, Mia." He leans down to kiss me but freezes when I turn away to watch the fountains as the lights come on.
"Wow, isn't beautiful?" I whisper trying to change the subject.
"Yes you are." His voice lower than before. Is Beast coming out? I freeze waiting for him to speak again but he turns me to face him. I quickly look into his eyes, no Beast, just the same beautiful chocolate brown that were staring into my soul before. What's up with him? He seems nervous.
"Mia, I have never met anyone like you. I adore you beauty, grace and patience. You are caring, strong and adventurous but still innocently cute." My eyes widen and my breathing stops as he lowers himself to one knee. "I know you were for me since I hear you first laugh." He holds up a box as I remove the bow to open it. (Video above)
"Mia Mora Lopez Bonaparte, will you marry me?" My vision grew blurry as tears rush to the edge of my eyelids.
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You know she's thinking about running, right? He just said the scariest sentence in the world. Or not, see you next time, thanks for reading.