Liberation [completed]

Fireworks-Asher

Dedicated to all those who supported the book regardless of my 2 month hiatus <3

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Stupid Fireworks. I wanted to murder the person who came up with traditions and fireworks. They were both a waste of time at this moment. I could have been naked in bed with Mia by now if not for my friends showing up and ruining everything. I had specifically told them to stay far far away from the town before we left. I had made it my- my assistant's job to call them and remind them that every day. Clearly, I should have done that myself or gotten Natalie to do it. Second assistants were a waste of time and money. She was going to find herself jobless if she hasn't left on her own by the time I get back. I couldn't even remember her name now, Maddie or Mindy or something.

"You can just see the hate flowing out of his head." I hear Michael say.

I mentally return to the backyard we were sitting at and drinking beers. The men had decided to relax out here while the ladies- Leah and Mia left for a spa session. Leah was beyond excited to have another woman here with her. She was too quick to deposit the responsibility of babysitting on to Hunter when she got here. She even had her arguments lined up for every come back he thought of. That's how you know she had planned to come here all along. Women and their sneaky ways. I'd be ready to bet Mason didn't even care about the fireworks.

"Asher!" Hunter calls me trying to get my attention.

"What!" I answer annoyed.

"Dude, chill out!" Michael says immediately giving me a bored expression.

"You can have your time with Mia for the rest of the week. We're just gonna be here for a day at most." Hunter tells me.

"I said stay away for the whole fucking week which part of that did you not understand?" I almost yell at my two best friends.

"Look, we get it, you wanted to come out here and just figure things out and relax with Mia. But we're not part of the drama man, Plus, Mia needs a support system. You aren't enough, she needs to know that she has all of us on her side." Hunter says knowingly.

"And, if you want her to feel more at home and all that bullshit, including her in this tradition of ours is the best way to it," Michael says before cringing, "Fuck, you see what you get me saying? I sound like you now. One car ride with you and I start playing therapist." Michael scolds Hunter and kicks him at the shin.

"You know I always wanted to know what happens when guys have sleepovers....and now I know that it's not that different. You guys just have drinks with your heart to hearts" Leah says teasingly as she enters the back porch.

I turn immediately looking for Mia. She was already looking at me and walking towards me, she was smiling contentedly. I felt my heart settle knowing she was safe and happy. I hear Leah and Hunter greet each other in the background but I wait for Mia to come to me. I wished she would have run to me but the second I finish that thought, she was already standing in front of me with a happy grin.

"Hi" She greets nervously and softly.

I open my arms out for her so she can climb into my lap and she does so quickly and seemed almost eager to be there which made me so fucking happy.

"Hey, did you have fun?" I ask her sliding my hand around her waist.

"Yeah, I got my nails done! I got your favourite colour and mine" She says showing me her fingers and I see that she had painted it grey and black.

"They look beautiful," I tell her taking her hand up to kiss it.

Mia grins down at me and only then do we actually realise everyone else was around.