Where We Are

by Annie McDonald

  “Yes.”

  * * *

  Mia was outside of her body. She could hear her own voice, now as gravelly as the lake bottom. Water splashed around them, dancing jewels atop the surface, leaping madly in the light of day.

  Then she was back in her body, arms wrapped around Sid. She clamped harder with her legs, her butt tightening against Sid’s hands. A warm flow, like underwater lava, emanated from between her legs against Sid’s thigh. Another shudder shook her, and she relaxed into Sid’s arms. Her breath came in heaves as the muscles along her rib cage yielded for the first time since her injuries. It was a relief. All of it was a relief.

  The water was still now, both of them waist-deep and slowly catching their breath. After a moment, Mia felt Sid shift and tense as if she’d heard a knock at the door.

  “What?” whispered Mia, still in a post-orgasmic haze.

  There was a long pause. Mia stayed in Sid’s arms, sensing that she needed time to find the right words but afraid of what they might be. “My dad doesn’t know.”

  Mia fought the urge to laugh, sensing that as ludicrous as it might seem for a forty-year-old to worry about what her parent might think, Sid was still her daddy’s daughter.

  “He doesn’t know you…swim?” Mia’s pressed a kiss against Sid’s neck.

  “He doesn’t know about me. About…this…”

  Realizing that Sid wasn’t quite ready for humor, Mia sat back on Sid’s thigh and looked into her eyes, noticing how the irises were edged with a darker ring that held tiny specks of gold. “Of course he does.” She smiled and tucked Sid’s hair behind her ear, delicately tracing the strong and sexy jawline. “You’re not as mysterious as you think. In fact, your father probably keeps more secrets than you do.”

  “Oh, I know about Isabel. I have for years. Terrible poker face, my dad. It’s so easy to win his money. Almost criminal.” She smiled a little.

  “You’re fascinating and intricate and more than a bit complicated, but a big secret in terms of who you love? Nope. You may be a good poker player, but you have a tell.”

  “What do you mean?” Sid pulled back, water filling in the space between them.

  Before Mia could answer, Milo interrupted with a sharp loud bark. Mia recognized the urgency of his tone and was out of the water and on the bank in a second, Sid close behind. Lying on the moss, with Milo cross-stepping and continuing to bark, was Flynn. His eyes were closed.

  Mia fell to her knees beside him “Flynn!” She tried to rouse him, and when that failed, she leaned close to check his breathing, placing her hand on his chest. “Okay, he’s breathing,” she said, tears almost blinding her. She put her arms beneath him and brought herself awkwardly, painfully, to one knee. Flynn’s limp body was slipping from her arms.

  “Move, Mia. Please. Let me.” Sid’s voice was gentle but insistent. She dropped to her knees and transferred Flynn into her arms. Then she stood in one easy motion and hustled with him toward her truck. “Grab your clothes,” she yelled back. “I’ve got your boy.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Sid sat next to Mia in the veterinarian’s waiting room, stroking her back. She moved over the fabric with utmost caution, recalling what she’d seen, what she couldn’t have imagined, when Mia crouched over Flynn an hour ago. The long angry bruises that lashed across her back and around her side were a reminder of the terrifying incident in the arena. They’d eventually heal, but she wouldn’t soon forget. Milo sat between their legs, ears perked toward the doors Flynn had been taken through when they arrived.

  Mia sighed deeply. “What is taking so long?”

  As if on command, the office door opened, and Dr. Vandeven stepped through and sat down beside Mia. Milo circled her anxiously. “Flynn is fine at the moment. We’re giving him fluids and running a bit of blood work. He seemed dehydrated, and whether that’s the culprit or not, we’ll soon know. I’m glad you brought him in when you did. I’ll be back when we know something further.” She put her hand on Mia’s knee, rubbed Milo’s head, then disappeared back through the door.

  Mia sighed again and wiped a tear away. “I’m sorry. I’m sure this seems silly to you. But Flynn was our dog.”

  Sid sat quietly, trying to think of the most consoling thing to say, wanting to take away the fear but reminding herself she was in no position to fill the hole Riley left in Mia’s life. Maybe no one could. And wasn’t that best anyway? No strings. Casual. Maybe it was all she was capable of. In fact, Sid thought, if she hadn’t been distracted by the shambles that her tryst with Aurora had become, maybe she would’ve kept her eye on the ball. Maybe—

  “Thanks for mentioning my clothes back there. If you hadn’t thought to remind me, I might’ve ended up here half naked. I feel a bit odd going commando, but my underwear was wet.” Mia smiled and set her hand on Sid’s knee.

  Sid was happy Mia didn’t wait for the words she hadn’t yet found. And in spite of herself, she was delighted by Mia’s touch. Keep it light. Don’t make it a thing. You’ll never be Riley. “I confess, I fought my instinct to remind you. I enjoyed your naked half. And the not so naked other. I guess I should be grateful I left my jeans and tee in the flatbed. I can’t imagine sitting here in my wet bathing suit.” She winked. “May I say, you are exceptionally good at dressing in the confines of a pickup cab. Is it safe to assume you’ve had prior experience?”

  Mia squeezed her knee, making her jump. “You know, Cassidy Harris, you really should let people see this delightfully mischievous side of you more often.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately.”

  “Technically, you’ve been a bit of a bitch lately. I like this bratty side, though. Looks good on you.”

  “You bring it out in me, to be fair. Not sure why, except that you’re somewhat ravishingly sexy.” Sid held up a single finger. “A great cook.” A second finger, then a third. “But mostly aggravating…”

  Mia grabbed Sid’s counting hand and squeezed it hard. “Aggravating? I’m aggravating? Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone whose phone takes priority?” Mia’s tone seemed light, but Sid accepted that the comment wasn’t too far off base. She was on her phone a lot.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve heard that before.” The digital distraction had been the subject of numerous nasty disputes with Aurora, who in fairness had plenty more egregious preoccupations. Nonetheless, Sid often found herself wondering if she’d been unable to commit fully to Aurora because she was constantly on the phone or if she had been constantly on the phone because she’d been unable to fully commit. If there’d been any intimacy between them, it had the qualities of a thick oil paint recklessly slathered in splotches and streaks on the canvas of their relationship. It took a year for Sid to accept that there was too little white space for her to appreciate the work and too much white space for Aurora. Eventually, they agreed that nothing significant, certainly no masterpiece, would come of their affair, and soon after, Sid spoke the necessary good-bye. At least she hadn’t done that over the phone.

  “The phone is a bad habit,” she said, returning Mia’s gaze. Oddly enough, she didn’t even know where her phone was at that moment. Likely still back at the lake. It felt good, almost decadent, to be out of range of the device and wholly within range of Mia.

  “No, I’m sorry. I know what you’ve been dealing with, and that comment really wasn’t fair.” Mia rubbed Sid’s knee. “I’m glad you’re here. And I’d understand if you have to leave to tend to business.”

  Sid didn’t budge. They sat quietly after that, Sid periodically distracting Mia with quizzes from the stacks of Oprah magazines that littered the waiting room. Mia checked Sid’s bandages and rounded up some clean dressings from the receptionist, changing the wet and mud-spattered gauze for a more sanitary wrap. The wound beneath had reopened, and Sid guessed it was when she’d scooped up Flynn. Thank God for adrenaline.

  A couple of hours passed before the doors opened again, and Milo was first to his feet. />
  “Okay.” The vet took a deep breath. “Flynn seems to be fine now. Once the electrolytes we gave him kicked in, he perked up. Has he been eating properly?”

  “He seems to be,” Mia replied.

  “The tests showed a bit of a blood sugar issue, and I’ll give you a script before you leave for an oral insulin. Is this fella new in the house?” The vet squatted and rubbed Milo’s face.

  “I’ve had him for three weeks or so. Why?”

  “Try feeding the two separately so that this one doesn’t eat all of Flynn’s food. You wouldn’t likely notice unless you stand and watch them eat, but a younger dog can easily become an alpha at the food dish. You wouldn’t notice his weight gain because it’s expected.”

  “So that’s all it is?” Mia leaned against Sid’s shoulder.

  “Likely. I’ll need to see him in a couple of weeks to do more blood work. The sugars may resolve themselves if he’s eating his usual amount of food. I saw in the admission form that you make your own dog food, which is great. High protein, low carb for Flynn right now to keep his sugars level. Maybe a bit of extra calcium given his age. Egg shells are perfect. And it won’t hurt Milo to have the same but with some added carbs, at least until he’s finished growing. That might be enough to keep him from stealing from Flynn’s bowl. We’ll have your boy ready for home in fifteen minutes.”

  * * *

  It was dark by the time Mia made it back to the trailer. She wanted Sid to stay but she sensed that after a half day without a phone, Sid felt a compulsion to find it. She compromised. “I’ve already taken up so much of your day, but I’m happy to throw those steaks on the grill if you’re hungry. That said, I know your phone is out there wondering where you’ve gone, so your rain check is still good if you’d rather do it another time.” Her invitation had enough polite outs that Sid couldn’t possibly feel badly if she needed to decline.

  Sid’s eyes widened, and she smiled. “I would rather do it another time. And another time after that, Mia.”

  Mia also smiled, realizing that Sid was not talking about dinner.

  “But yes,” Sid added, “I do need to find my phone. Just in case—”

  “I understand. Another time, then.” Mia leaned across the cab and kissed Sid good night. She felt disappointed but was grateful she was there when Flynn collapsed.

  The thought of losing Flynn had unearthed fear. He was our dog. Mia had always managed the various challenges that cropped up from time to time when alone, but having Sid in that moment resurrected the notion that it was time to consider a change. She found herself thinking about a life with Sid, wary that she might be setting herself up for heartbreak. No doubt there was chemistry between them, but sadly, there would soon be distance. Sid would be heading back to Toronto, and she’d be looking for her next Milo.

  Mia swallowed hard and winced, aware of a lurking headache. The almonds she’d eaten in the waiting room hours ago were all she’d had since breakfast, so as soon as she fed the dogs, she would look for sustenance. She took a deep cleansing breath, and stroked Flynn’s head. Wherever the path took her, she was ready.

  Mia supervised the dogs’ feeding closely. Sure enough, Milo gobbled his down and would have trundled down the length of the trailer to help Flynn finish his had Mia not intercepted and showed him the door. Just then, her phone rang. It was Leah.

  “Two calls and a visit all in the same week? Is Jim okay?” Mia could feel the panic welling in her, but didn’t let her voice show it.

  “He’s fine. I just got off the phone with him. Results should be in tomorrow morning.”

  “Saturday morning results? That’s great news.” Over the six months Riley had been sick, Mia had learned more about medical protocols than she’d ever wanted. At the beginning, dealing with cancer was like a cruel puzzle. It took time to realize there were pieces missing, like things unsaid by well-intentioned medical staff trying not to speak the awful truth. But she quickly learned to listen not only to what was said but what wasn’t. “It usually suggests they’ve been relegated to administrative staff who aren’t allowed to deliver bad news.”

  “Well, that is certainly a positive spin. What on earth has gotten in to you?”

  Mia tried to dial it back. After all, she had no idea if Sid and she were, well, she didn’t know what they were exactly. It was just too early to tell. “Not sure what you mean. Flynn is okay, by the way. We just got back from the vet. Milo was stealing his food, and it threw his blood sugar off.”

  “We?”

  Does nothing get past her? “We. Yes. Sid drove us. Long story.” Mia hoped for a reprieve so she wouldn’t have to delve too deeply into things. The headlights from a vehicle flashed against her kitchen wall, and she jumped at the opportunity. “Look, Leah, if you’re okay, I have to go. Someone’s here. It might be Milo’s owner. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. But we’ll talk again tomorrow, okay? I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”

  Apparently, Mia was not the only one who knew when pieces were missing. “Absolutely. Love you, Leah.”

  “Love you back.”

  * * *

  As Sid rolled the truck up to the lake, she tried to recall a time when she’d been this long without her phone. Or even thought about it. It felt good to have Mia lean on her the way she had in the waiting room. Yes, people needed her at work, but with Mia, there were other needs being met. Needs she didn’t realize she had. And Sid wasn’t just thinking about what had happened earlier in the day.

  She hated turning down Mia’s dinner offer but until she found her phone, relaxing with Mia—as much as she craved it—would be out of the question. She also sensed that Mia might appreciate a bit of time to settle Flynn.

  He was our dog. The words echoed in her head. Mia and Riley’s dog.

  With the help of her headlights, she was able to find her phone on the shore where she’d left it. As expected, there was a series of texts from Ella advising that nothing was firm, but the purchasing dealer agreed to broker for a percentage higher than customary.

  Sid sneered and shook her head. “Mercenary.”

  Now all she needed was an agreement by the new current owner to sell at a fair price plus fees and what Ella referred to in one text as “other considerations.” Sid made a note to ask Ella about that in the morning.

  There was also a text from Aurora. Sid left it unopened.

  Next, she called Aaron.

  “I think we scared them the other night, cuz,” he said. “No losses today. Tomorrow, Greg McCann is showing me how to use his drone.”

  Sid could hear his smile through the phone. “Yes, I’ll just bet he is.”

  “Very funny. But drones will help us get eyes on whoever these guys are.”

  Thanking Aaron for taking the initiative, she threw the truck in drive before noticing a small clump between the passenger seat and the stick shift. She wedged her hand in and extricated a damp pair of lacy blue underwear. Instantly, her mind went to Mia. And instantly, she felt hungry.

  “Aaron, I gotta go. Call you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Mia stepped out of the trailer, the incoming vehicle so close that the high headlights blinded her, and she turned her head. The heavy truck door slammed shut, and the driver, silhouetted and still unidentifiable, approached.

  “Do these belong to anyone here?” Sid’s voice was husky and full, a quality in perfect harmony with her overt beauty. Mia found the whole Sid Harris package irresistibly attractive.

  From Sid’s extended hand dangled a piece of crumpled, lacy blue fabric.

  “Guilty,” Mia said. “With apologies to the court. What are you doing here? Don’t you have some business to deal with?”

  “A girl has to eat, right? And I have both my phone and a rain check.”

  Mia accepted her underwear and kissed Sid on the cheek, taking her hand and leading her to the firepit. “You get it started, and I’ll grab the steaks.” Mia said a silent thank y
ou to Jack for the extras and turned toward the trailer.

  “Hang on a minute, beautiful.” Sid pulled Mia toward her and took her face in both hands, thumbs brushing lightly across her lips. Registering the desire in Sid’s eyes, Mia tamped down her surprise and stepped closer. Sid’s warm body trembled, and Mia wanted her to know that she invited her touch, her lips, and her body. She waited, feeling each second of delicious anticipation, for Sid to kiss her. When she finally did, Mia felt no hesitation. No resistance. The hunger rose in her core, the heat building between her legs and sending shivers down her arms. She heard a soft growl and realized it was her own. Her lips parted, inviting Sid’s tongue to slip past them and explore the soft fullness of her mouth. When the kiss ended, Mia stood with her eyes closed as Sid placed soft kisses around her face, ending with one on her chin.

  “Mia, I am starving. And tonight, I promise, I am not leaving without dessert.”

  Mia went inside and returned a few minutes later with a tray piled with foil-wrapped potatoes, two steaks, a small bowl of butter, the wooden honey box, two glasses, and the bottle of Casa Noble. Flynn and Milo joined them by the fire. As Sid banked the coals, Mia set the potatoes against the surrounding rocks.

  “I think we have time for a drink, no?” Mia said, handing Sid the bottle.

  Sid caught Mia up on what she’d learned from Ella and Aaron as she twisted open the silver ball atop the blue bottle and poured a healthy shot into the wine tumblers. Mia accepted the glass, letting her fingers touch Sid’s as she did, and held it under her nose.