Ice To Meet You

Too Match, too soon

Liam's POV

I open my eyes and she's right next to me—watching something on her phone. One of her hand is holding the phone and the other is resting on my chest. Her hair is nuzzled up in a bun and for the first time in 3 days, there is some color on her cheeks.

I close my eyes and try to think of a strategy to make this work. With her 4 broken ribs, she can't work—so hopefully, she will accept her Substance job back that she can do remotely. I can always fire Amanda to pacify her if that's needed—she's a worthless piece of gossip anyway. With an excellent severance package and a transfer to the London branch, she's bound to not open her mouth. That is—if Mia accepts. It's so easy to make other women do as I want, almost too easy but not with Mia. She asks too many questions and never lets me handle it.

I'll take care of her financially of course. Just the thought of her working in the dingy bar makes me cringe—there is no way she is working there ever again. I still don't understand why she jumped in front of me—it makes no sense. It's too soon for her to fall in love with me. A part of me resents her decision to take the short end of the stick. I should have been hurt more—a minor hairline fracture does not cut it.

She's in pain and it hurts me that I caused it and there is nothing I can do to make it better. I am of course indebted to her for her selfless sacrifice and she has solidified her loyalty to me, but it still makes me feel like I owe her something. There is nothing I can do to repay her and I hate knowing that.

Mum thinks it's her declaration of love and if it were up to her—Mia would be smothered with her love, which is a big deal because no woman has ever been good enough for me before. Why am I even taking advice from the most damaged and jaded person in the world?

She coughs and dammit it must be painful for her. Her chest is all screwed up—what do I do? It makes me feel like scrum. I open my eyes and sit up. She looks at me with pain lacing her eyes as she plasters a fake smile. I would much rather take her loathing and yelling—this sweetness is so fake and uncalled for.

"Do you need some water?" I can't help but do something—anything to make her feel a little better.

"I texted Mathew to get me some mango juice." Who the fuck is Mathew and why is he getting her juice? I hate any man around her—she should have no male friends. I should be the only man in her life.

"I am taking you home Mia," I announce. I am not angry; it's just juice. Of course, she would text her boyfriend to get her that—oh wait that's me and she won't let me get her anything. Once I have her away from all these random men and under my roof, I'll be the only one getting her mango juice.

"Oh, you don't have to—Mathew and Hannah are coming over in a bit and we'll just drive in his car. I don't want to cause you any trouble," Over my dead body will I let Mia drive around with somebody else—probably not even then because I'll still be holding on to her tight.

"Mia you are coming home with me to my house in my car," I emphasize every word to get through to her thick skull.

"I am not going home with you to your house especially not in your car. We all know how that ends." She has venom laced in her voice and she is not over it. I don't blame her one bit—she should give me a hard time. I deserve every bit of her anger and so much more.

"I am your boyfriend and I want to take care of you while you heal. For the next 6 weeks, you will live under my roof." It's non-negotiable.

"You can visit me as I heal Liam—I want to be comfortable in my own home."

"Mia, you have a fucking air mattress that will fuck you up more," how can she be so obtuse? Women die for me to take care of them.

"That is all I can afford right now and honestly I don't need shit from you. Stop looking down on me and go date some airhead or social butterfly—what the fuck are you even doing with me?" She's all riled up and I just don't understand women. Is it so bad that I wish to take care of her and help her get better?