Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3)

by Makenzie Smith

  “Not long,” he said. “But she ain’t the only one coming in here. Last week she met with someone else. Better step it up, sweet thing.”

  Well, I also had a brother in a band. Technically Lucas used to be in a band. They hadn’t played together in over a year, but still had a pretty big following. Once I was in the office, I sent him a text. Interested in playing at the bar I work at? Maybe you, Charles, Ian, and Wally could have like a comeback show or something.

  When he didn’t respond, I sent another. It would really help me out.

  No response.

  PLEASE!

  As I was going through my booking schedule, a whole hour later, he finally sent, Hell. No.

  I called him.

  “Come on. I need this job. My boss would eat that up!”

  He blew out an amused breath. “No way. Wally has his own shit going. Charles is busy and Ian…Ian’s like full on married. He’s not interested.”

  “Well, that’s just great. I’m gonna lose this job. She’s already interviewing other people!”

  “Huh. I thought you’d be going to Florida by now, anyway”

  “And what exactly would I do in Florida? Mooch off my boyfriend? Sit at home all day while he goes to work?”

  “Geez, Mia. It’s not as bad as you make it sound. He just wants to help out. You could find a job. I mean, last dad said, Uncle Mike lived out there. Maybe he could help you find something.”

  This was the first I’d heard of that. My Uncle Mike wasn’t on speaking terms with my father. He’d moved away years ago, only coming back once every five or so years. I’d always liked my uncle. He was different. An odd ball. He wore khaki shorts and shin socks with sandals. His beard was long and he always wore sunglasses, even if he was inside. I had a sneaking suspicion that he indulged in recreational drugs and it never sat right with my father. But I’d found him interesting and charming.

  “Wh–what does Uncle Mike do? What kind of job could he get me?”

  “Don’t have a clue. But he’s pretty involved in the community. I bet he’s heard something.”

  “Huh.”

  “Yeah, huh. Give him a call and leave me alone.”

  With that he hung up.

  Jerk.

  Well, give me his number then, I texted.

  A few minutes later, my phone dinged with the number.

  It was a whole week later before I found the nerve to call him. Would he even remember me? Last he’d seen me I was still in high school, and I didn’t think we’d even spoken to each other.

  He didn’t answer and I left him an awkward voicemail. “Uncle Mike! Hey! This is Mia! Your niece Mia! I was…um…I was wondering if maybe…maybe you could get me…well, it’s sort of a long story. Maybe you should just call me. It’s about a job. I need a job. In Florida. Panama City if you could manage. But…call me. We can talk about it. I, uh, hope you’re doing good out there. Miss you!”

  It was a hope.

  Tanya was short staffed that night, and I helped her out by serving drinks. Instead of a band, I’d booked a young guy who played by himself. He was impressive. Despite it only being him, you’d never know. He used an instrument that allowed him to record sounds and add them to his strumming, making it sound like a full band was playing alongside him.

  Even Tanya was impressed. It was a full house and I rushed back and forth to the bar, hardly able to fully appreciate him. While I was waiting on Fontenot to make my drinks, Kiki, another waitress, came up beside me.

  “Hey, there’s a table by the stage requesting you.”

  “Me?” I asked. I hardly ever waitressed. How could someone request me? “Who? Why do they want me?”

  “Don’t know. He said he knew you.”

  Kiki was one of those rare beauties. She had fiery red hair and big eyes that looked more mysterious than you’d think possible. Her curves were envied by all who saw her and no matter what she wore, she looked sexy and sensual. Why would they pick me over her?

  Maybe it’s Paul! I thought and raced over. Pushing through the crowd, I fell on the table with a big smile, but saw only Hank.

  “Oh,” I said.

  “Oh,” he smiled. “Disappointed?”

  “No,” I said, trying to recover. I hadn’t seen him since he’d play during our opening night. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “You never called.”

  “Sorry. We have a few openings next month. Are you still interested?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “When I have a better idea, I’ll send you the dates. So. What can I get you to drink?”

  He smiled. “Lager. If you have one.”

  For the rest of the night, Hank shamelessly flirted with me. Mostly it was harmless, but I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression. While I filled his third round, Fontenot approached me.

  “Be careful there, Little Mia. I see the way he’s looking at you and he’s not interested in dinner and a movie.”

  I rolled my eyes. “And what is he interested in, oh wise Fontenot.”

  He smiled and for the first time in ages, it didn’t seem sleazy. It reminded me of the old Fontenot, the one I’d fallen for. If I thought about it, I hadn’t seen him doing any of his usual tricks. There weren’t random woman hanging all over him. There weren’t any loud scenes with scorned lovers. He was professional.

  “Something’s different about you,” I said. “What happened?”

  His eyes barely twitched. “Nothing,” he said. “Still the same piece of shit I’ve always been.”

  I regarded him. No. Something was different.

  Fontenot huffed. “Whatever. Just letting you know that ole boy’s itching to fuck you ten ways to Sunday. Take it or leave it.”

  I pulled a face. All right. Maybe he hadn’t changed. “Thanks for the eloquent advice.”

  “That’s me. Elovent as shit.”

  “El-o-quent.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  I chuckled. “Right.”

  At his table, Hank took my drink with a sloppy grin. Knowing that there was at least some truth to Fontenot’s words, I quickly left. It was already after midnight and the crowd had died down. I found Tanya sitting in a corner, her mascara smeared, and her wine glass sloshing.

  “I’m gonna head out,” I said. “If that’s all right. Looks like Kiki and June can handle it.”

  She waved a hand at me. “Go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  In my car, I checked my phone. One text from Paul. Goodnight, Pretty. Talk to you tomorrow.

  One voicemail. The missed call was from a number I didn’t recognize. While I sat in the parking lot, I listened to it.

  “Mia! It’s so good to hear from you! Sure, Uncle Mike can find you something. I’m in Laguna now, but I can put some feelers out. What kind of work are you interested in? Call me tomorrow and let me know.”

  My palms sweated with excited energy. I did a search on my phone, finding that Laguna was only 30 minutes away from Paul.

  It was fate! Thank God for Lucas and thank God for Uncle Mike. If this worked out, I could be with Paul in less than a month!

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  IT TOOK HIM TWO weeks, but Uncle Mike had a plan. After I told him about my degree, I could feel his positive energy. With excitement, he informed that he was on the board of an art museum. It wasn’t in Panama City or Laguna, but a neighboring town called Seacrest. And it was beautiful, a stunning beach town straight out of a daydream. To make it even better, I’d be under an hour away from Paul.

  I squealed.

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Uncle Mike said. “Don’t get too excited. I’ll have to talk to some people and put feelers out, but I’m sure we could find something that would suit you. I’ll be in touch.”

  A few days later he called again. “All right. I found something.”

  “What something?”

  “It’s an internship, and well, it doesn’t pay shit. Excuse me, crap. However…if it worked out, you could potentially
replace the current director.”

  I couldn’t breathe, afraid that anything I said would ruin this fantasy. It couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be serious.

  “He’s retiring soon, but he is valued. His opinion is valued. No one wants to hire a replacement he doesn’t approve of. As far as I know, they haven’t made it open to the public because they aren’t interested in bringing anyone on until next year.”

  “When next year?” It was already the end of October. If “next year” meant July…that didn’t help much now.

  “Gregory is heading it up. He mentioned interviewing next month. So maybe January or February.”

  “All right. I’m interested. Definitely interested. I don’t even care what it pays.”

  He chuckled. “Let me call him back. I’ll try to get you in.”

  “Oh, thank you!”

  “Don’t do that yet. Maxwell has to like you. Gregory has to like you. And the whole board has to agree. So hope, but not too much. A lot of people will be part of this decision.”

  I tried to do as he said, but couldn’t. For days, I was jumble of excited energy. Paul sensed it, but I kept my news a secret. There was no point in getting both our hopes up if it didn’t work out.

  “You seem happy,” he said.

  “Well…I guess I am.”

  He laughed. “Good. At least one of us is. They’re sending me somewhere new next week.”

  “Oh, yeah? Where are you off to this time?”

  “New Mexico. I’ll be there for two whole weeks.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Yeah. This company is going through an investigation. It’s my job to determine whether or not it would be beneficial for us to take them on.”

  “Would it be? I mean, they’re under investigation.”

  “That’s why they’re paying us a fortune. The owners don’t want the company to fall due to faulty employees. I think they’re looking for someone to blame.”

  I chuckled. “And it’s your job to find out who that is?”

  “Something like that.” Paul was smiling. I could hear it in his voice. I wanted so badly to see it for myself.

  “I’m sorry you have to go alone. I wish I could join you.”

  “Me too.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m–I’m not going alone.”

  “Oh. You aren’t?”

  “No…This type of job takes a lot of work. Liza got assigned too.”

  Silence. Liza?

  For two whole weeks they’d be alone in New Mexico. There’d be more dinners. More social calls. It was impossible for two people to work together this much and not develop some type of relationship.

  “Are you…are you upset?” Paul asked.

  It was hard to describe what I was. Disappointed. Envious. Certainly jealous. “No. But…you need to be careful,” I said.

  “What do you mean?”

  I sighed. “You know what I mean.”

  His huff was annoyed. “Yeah. I’ll be careful.”

  “It’s not that I think you would do anything, but…it’s just…all this time you spend with her.”

  “I get it.”

  I’d offended him.

  “Mia, I don’t have a choice in who goes with me. She’s my boss, but someone else is hers. They decide who goes—who can get the job done most efficiently. Honestly, we make a good team.”

  A team. I knew he hadn’t meant it to hurt me, but it had. He was my boyfriend and I hadn’t seen him in nearly two months. And Liza was getting to go on weekend trips with him. See new cities. Work side by side. All of his everyday triumphs, frustrations, stories. She was getting them all.

  I was lucky to get five minutes a night while he yawned into his pillow. “I know. It’s just…well, jealousy.”

  “Jealousy? Over what? Her?” Paul laughed. “Mia...”

  “Don’t antagonize me. I feel it. It’s real.”

  “I’m not antagonizing you. I’m just saying that’s ridiculous.”

  It wasn’t ridiculous. It so wasn’t ridiculous. “Fine. Whatever. I have to go to work.”

  Paul sighed. “All right. Call me later, then.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  He hadn’t called me Pretty. He hadn’t said he loved me. Those were two things that would instantly soften me towards him. Their absence was like a hole in my heart. Soon, I told myself. This will all be over soon.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  WE DIDN’T SPEAK FOR two whole days. On day three, my stomach was in knots wanting him to be the one to contact me. I didn’t give in, remaining silent. Maybe I should have.

  Uncle Mike hadn’t called either. Between that and Paul, I was in a sour mood—worse, when I had to help Kiki with tables. And if that wasn’t enough, Fiona showed up, too.

  I spotted her before she did me. She was with some friends, laughing as they snagged a table. She looked different. Her hair was still dyed, but it was a more practical black. For the first time in ages, she looked happy—all the way down to her bones happy. Her eyes drifted over the bar area, and I knew she was already aware Fontenot worked here.

  I didn’t want to deal with this and searched for Kiki, but she was swamped. Instead of chickening out and hoping she would save me from the awkwardness, I approached Fiona’s table with a smile on my face.

  “Fiona,” I said. “It’s good to see you.”

  Her head jerked back in surprise. “Mia? Oh wow. Hey. Um. Guys, this is Mia, my old roommate.”

  “Oh yeah…” one of them said, eying me.

  Fiona stared at me and I realized she didn’t know I was a cocktail waitress. “What can I get you to drink?”

  “Wait, you work here? As a waitress?”

  “I’m filling in tonight. Usually I deal with the bands.”

  “Rum and coke,” Fiona said. I took her friend’s orders and Fiona called my name as I walked away. “Nice to see you and Fontenot found each other again.”

  I rolled my eyes. “He works here. I work here. That’s it.”

  “Awfully coincidental.”

  “Well…” I shrugged my shoulders as if that was the only answer she needed.

  At the bar, Fontenot filled their orders and gave me a look.

  “What?” I said.

  “I don’t want to talk to her, Mia. Keep her away from me. How she found out I even work here…Just…Don’t let her anywhere near me all right.”

  “Seriously? Since when are you incapable of handling your problems? It’s just Fiona.”

  “Yeah, well Fiona’s a psycho. It…it would mean a lot to me if I didn’t have to deal with her, okay?”

  I hadn’t seen him look this vulnerable in ages. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll do my best, but you know Fiona.”

  Fontenot shook his head and walked away. Kiki agreed to switch tables with me, but when I accepted the trade, I didn’t realize it came with Hank.

  “You still haven’t called me, Beautiful Girl.”

  My smile was forced.

  “It’s starting to hurt my feelings,” he added.

  Hank was a good looking man. He was rugged and strong. His beard was well kempt and his blue eyes sparkled. I was flattered he’d taken such a liking to me, but that was it. Since he was with a few other people, I didn’t want to embarrass him, and kept the rejection behind my tongue. As the night progressed, we were even busier and his flirtations were delivered in a rush as I went from table to table. I hoped he’d get the hint.

  I. Was. Not. Interested. But as the night wore on and people began leaving, Hank lingered. While I was pretending to be occupied with something else, I spotted Fiona approach the bar. She was alone. All of her friends had left. Deciding to keep my word to Fontenot, I approached her.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Oh, hey, Mia.”

  I sat beside her. “What are you doing now? Working anywhere exciting?” I already knew she was.

  “The Rec Center,” she said. “I teach art classes there. It doesn�
��t pay much, but it’s really rewarding. What about you? Just here?”

  “No. I’m at Faeries and Moonbeams, too.”

  She chuckled, but it wasn’t mean. “Gladys,” she said with a nostalgic sigh. “She’d fall to pieces without you. Are you still setting up the displays for her?”

  “You know it. Silver faces south. Gold faces west.”

  “And stones run perpendicular.” We shared a smile and it reminded me that despite everything that had happened, once she’d been my best friend.

  “Are you and Paul…?”

  “Still together. He moved though. To Florida.”

  “Ouch. I–I thought that maybe you and Fontenot…”

  “No,” I said. “I didn’t even know he got hired to work here until opening night. We hardly even speak.”

  “Be honest with me, Mia. Did you try to sabotage our relationship?”

  The accusation made my head spin. Did I try to sabotage her relationship? What about all the times she’d come on to Paul?

  I huffed. “No! Fiona, you and him…I didn’t care what happened. I didn’t want him then and I don’t want him now. Geez.”

  She looked down to her nails. “He dated someone not that long ago,” she said. “Someone named Kristen.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Yeah. Well, he won’t talk to me now. Obviously. He’s been looking at anything but me all night.”

  “Why do you still want him?”

  She shrugged. “Because he doesn’t want me.”

  My heart bled for her. I didn’t know if she understood the depth and wisdom of that confession. Though, I hoped she’d see it soon.

  “What about you? Why did you try to get Paul to sleep with you?” I was going to let it go, but there was a nagging voice in the back of my head that couldn’t.

  She chuckled. “Because I’m a bitch. I don’t know, Mia. Back then…it was like you got everything. Gladys liked you better. You’re parents actually care about you. Your work is good. Really good. Better than mine.”

  I’d never known she felt that way. Pride swelled in me. Immense pride.

  “And then Paul came along and he’s handsome and kind and dotes on you all the time. I was jealous. I mean look who I was with. Fontenot didn’t give two shits about me. I was just being…well, a bitch. Paul didn’t flinch. Just told me to leave, and I felt so stupid afterwards. He loves you. And I’m jealous of that, too.”