Waking I see Shar sleeping next to me. We must have crashed just after we came up to relax. I don’t remember us even talking after the first few minutes of sitting on the bed.
I shake Shar, ‘Come on girl, we gotta get up and start the day.’ But all that gets me is grumbles and being shoved off the bed.
In the bathroom I turn on the shower to heat, then grab fresh jeans, t-shirt and undies before closing the door, smiling at the sight of Shar with a pillow over her head.
Entering the kitchen, I make some toast, pick up a banana and a bottle of water, then sit at one of the tables.
Hammer walks through, ‘Hi Mia, how you doing?’ and he leans down and kisses my cheek, which has me smiling because I love this man like the brother I never had but would have loved to death.
‘I’m okay, slept like the dead. I didn’t realize it was so late in the day.’
‘Well, you’re usually up before two in the afternoon, I must admit.’ Grinning at me because he knows I’m an early riser and usually up by six in a morning.
‘Did you see Axel? When did the meeting finish?’
‘The meeting was over a while back. He came looking for you, but you were snoring, so he left you both to it.’ Chuckling at me.
‘I don’t snore Hams,’
‘No, of course not.’ But he whips out his cellphone and I see a video of me laid next to Shar snoring softly.
‘Oh, you’re so going to get it.’ I tell him as I try to grab his cellphone, but he holds it aloft so I can’t reach it.
Sitting back down, I smile as Silver and Fox walk through and sit opposite me at the table. Lifting an eyebrow at them, I wait.
‘Yesterday at the meeting we talked about you giving us your ideas and we think it’s great that you’re interested in helping us get it more efficient and earn more. How about one day a week we make sure we have two hours where the three of us can get together?’ Silver suggests. He takes out a notepad which has a sticker on the front saying ‘Mia’s upgrades for Club Whisky’.
I blink away a few tears because these men are putting their trust in me and they make me feel more and more like family every day.
Standing I walk over to the other side of the table and wrap my arms around Silver’s neck and kiss his cheek, then turn and do the same to Fox, that’s when I hear a growl and turn to see Axel storming into the kitchen.
‘Now Pres, there’s no need to get pissy, we’re not hittin’ on your girl here.’ Fox says as he jumps to his feet and backs up to the door leading to the backyard, but I grin as Silver is right next to him and they both bolt out the door.
‘MINE!’ Axel shouts for the world to hear, and I don’t wait to hear more. I jump into his arms, wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, and kiss the ever-loving shit outta my man.
As Axel turns to walk out of the kitchen, Shar walks in, smiling, ‘Morning, and yes, the world heard Mia’s yours.’
Chuckling, Axel places me on my feet and guides me back to the table where he sits and pulls me onto his lap.
Shar picks up an apple and an iced tea and sits, looking over at us with a smile.
‘We decided about the coffee house, Shar.’ Axel says and Shar sits up straight and leans on the table.
‘Yes, yes, and?’ she says, wriggling her fingers for him to hurry, which has Axel smirking.
‘Yes, you can manage the coffee house, you have to do all the hiring and firing, etc, and TwoCents will do the financials.’
Shar squeals and jumps up and down, fist pumping the air, then she turns to him again, ‘And the apartment?’
‘Yes, you can live in the apartment too.’
Shar is laughing and so excited I’m beaming with her, then it hits me, the apartment, she’s leaving, she will not be here with me anymore.
The smile must have fallen from my face because Axel looks at me, then Shar stops laughing and sits heavily at the table.
‘Oh, Mia, I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I won’t be gone, I’ll be in town and I’ll come on my days off, I’ll see you at the club too.’ Shar says as she leans over and grabs my hand.
‘It’s okay Shar, it just took me by surprise. I knew you wanted to do that, but I didn’t think about you not being here. I know you’re going to be great at the coffee house. You’re born to do something like that and we can make days where we’ll do things together.’ I say, because I’m about to burst into tears.
‘Of course we will have days together. You’ll be sick of seeing me and you’re going to be busy organizing the club, working behind the bar, making sure you keep the new club cockadoos under your thumb, well under the brothers,’ Shar states, grinning at that last part.
‘Yes, you’re right. We have a lot to do and it’s going to be good. At last, we’ve found a home.’
‘Sure have girl, sure have.’ Shar smiles, then leaves the kitchen with me leaning on Axel, my head on his shoulder.
‘Are you alright, Mia?’ Axel asks and kisses my forehead.
‘Yes, it just took me by surprise, but you know what? She needs that as much as I need you.’ Pressing my lips to his, taking my sweet time until I hear the coughing.
Looking up, we see Buzz, Drag, TwoCents, Hammer and Beer walking into the kitchen, grinning like Cheshire cats.
‘You asked her yet, Pres?’ Buzz asks and I look from him to Axel.
Shaking his head Axel stands me up next to the table then goes down on one knee, taking something out of his pocket, ‘Mia, I love you, I won’t ever let you go so don’t think you have a choice here, but, I gotta’ ask, will you marry me?’
Looking at Axel, smiling at me, then up at the brothers who are grinning broadly, I get over the shock and shout, ‘YES, yes, I’ll marry you.’
Axel slides a beautiful ring on my finger, white gold, with a stunning pink diamond in the center and smaller ones running down the sides, four deep. It is magnificent; it fits perfectly.
Throwing my arms around Axel’s waist I lift my face saying, ‘Thank you, I love you.’ to which he replies, ‘I love you too.’
We spend the rest of the day celebrating. Drinking, eating takeout, laughing, and being the family that I always wanted. Life doesn’t get much better than this.
