Chapter 5 5

Mia's POV

Mia stretched, the soft throw blanket slipping off her shoulders. She hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch, but the warmth of Colton's presence and the quiet comfort of the evening had lulled her into a rare sense of peace.

Colton's kitchen was already alive with the hum of activity. The clink of dishes and the aroma of coffee brewing drew her in like a magnet. She found him standing by the stove, his hair slightly tousled, wearing a plain gray T-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders.

"You're up early," she said, leaning against the doorframe.

He turned, a smile spreading across his face. "Good morning. Coffee?"

"Please."

Mia took a seat at the small kitchen island, watching him move with ease. There was something grounding about this scene-so ordinary yet so significant.

"You always this domestic?" she teased, her lips curving into a grin.

"Only for special occasions," he shot back, sliding a mug of coffee toward her.

The warmth of the ceramic seeped into her palms as she took a sip, savoring the rich, slightly bitter taste. "This feels... normal," she said softly, her gaze drifting to the window where the city skyline loomed in the distance.

"Is that a bad thing?" Colton asked, sitting across from her.

"No." She shook her head, meeting his eyes. "It's nice. I think I needed this-just us, no complications, no pretending."

His expression softened. "You don't ever have to pretend with me, Mia."

Her heart swelled, and she reached across the table, her fingers brushing his. "Thank you. For last night, for this. For everything."

---

Colton's POV

Colton could feel the weight of her gratitude in her touch, in the way she looked at him like he was the only person in the world. It was a heady feeling, but also terrifying. He wasn't used to being the center of someone's world, and he wasn't sure he knew how to handle it.

"Don't thank me," he said, his voice gruff. "I'm just trying not to screw this up."

"You're not." Her voice was steady, confident.

He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Good. Because I don't want to lose this."

Mia's smile was small but radiant, and it eased the tension that had been knotting his shoulders.

"You know," she said, tilting her head, "you're not as scary as you like to pretend."

He barked out a laugh. "Don't let that get around. I've got a reputation to uphold."

Her laughter joined his, a sound so light and free it made his chest ache.

They spent the rest of the morning in a comfortable rhythm-talking, teasing, and occasionally lapsing into silence that didn't feel empty but full of unspoken understanding.

---

Mia's POV

By the time she returned to her apartment, the buzz of happiness had started to settle into something quieter but no less profound. She stood in her living room, looking around at the familiar space that suddenly felt a little emptier without Colton.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she picked it up to see a text from her best friend, Elise.

Elise: Lunch today? I need details.

Mia smiled, already picturing Elise's reaction when she told her about the shift in her and Colton's relationship.

Mia: Sure. Meet you at our usual spot at noon.

---

The café was bustling with the lunch crowd when Mia arrived. She spotted Elise at their usual table near the window, her bright red hair impossible to miss.

"You're glowing," Elise said the moment Mia sat down.

Mia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "It's not that obvious."

"It is. Spill." Elise leaned forward, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Mia hesitated for a moment before diving into the story of the past few days-Colton's confession, their kiss, the quiet intimacy of last night.

Elise listened intently, her expression shifting from surprise to delight. "I knew it," she said when Mia finished. "I knew there was something between you two. It was only a matter of time."

"I wasn't so sure," Mia admitted. "I thought he'd never see me that way."

"Well, he clearly does. And if he messes this up, he'll have to answer to me." Elise's tone was playful, but there was an edge of protectiveness beneath it.

Mia laughed. "I'll let him know."

---

Colton's POV

Colton sat in his office, staring at the spreadsheets on his computer screen without really seeing them. His thoughts kept drifting back to Mia, to the way she had smiled at him that morning, to the way her laughter had filled his apartment.

A knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie.

"Come in," he called.

His assistant, Greg, stepped inside, a stack of papers in hand. "Here are the reports you asked for. Everything looks good, but there's one potential issue with the marketing campaign."

Colton nodded, taking the papers and skimming through them. "I'll take a look. Anything else?"

Greg hesitated. "Actually, yes. There's an event this weekend-one of those charity galas you usually avoid. But I think it would be a good opportunity to network."

Colton sighed. He hated those events, but he knew Greg was right. "Fine. Send me the details."

Greg left, and Colton leaned back in his chair, his mind already wandering back to Mia. Maybe he could convince her to come with him.

Reaching for his phone, he sent her a quick text.

Colton: What are you doing this Saturday?

Her reply came almost instantly.

Mia: Why?

Colton: There's a charity gala. Want to be my date?

The pause before her next message felt longer than it actually was.

Mia: Are you sure?

Colton: I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't.

Her response made him smile.

Mia: Then yes. I'd love to.

---

Mia's POV

Saturday arrived faster than Mia expected. She stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of her emerald green gown. It was elegant but understated, the kind of dress that made her feel confident without drawing too much attention.

Her nerves buzzed as she thought about the gala. She wasn't worried about the event itself-it was Colton's world, not hers, and she wasn't sure how she would fit into it.

The sound of a car horn outside pulled her from her thoughts. She grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs, where Colton was waiting by the car.

His sharp black suit and easy smile made her breath catch.

"You look incredible," he said, his voice low.

"Thank you." She felt a blush rising to her cheeks as she stepped into the car.

The ride to the gala was filled with light conversation, but Mia could feel the weight of unspoken questions hanging between them. She didn't press, knowing Colton would share when he was ready.

---

The gala was a whirlwind of glittering lights and elegantly dressed people. Colton kept a steady hand on her back, guiding her through the crowd with ease.

He introduced her to colleagues and clients, his confidence never wavering. Mia admired the way he commanded attention, his charisma effortless.

But as the evening wore on, she noticed the way his grip on her tightened whenever someone looked at her for too long or asked too many questions about their relationship.

When they finally escaped to the quiet balcony, she turned to him, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, but his jaw was tense. "I'm fine. I just... I don't like the way some of them were looking at you."

Mia tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Colton Draven, are you jealous?"

His lips twitched, but he didn't deny it. "Maybe."

She laughed, leaning into him. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm here with you, remember?"

His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. "Don't remind me. I might start thinking I don't deserve you."

Her laughter faded, and she placed a hand on his chest. "You do, Colton. You deserve this. You deserve me."

His gaze softened, and he pressed his forehead against hers. "Then I guess I'll just have to believe you."

The city lights sparkled in the distance, but neither of them noticed. In that moment, the only thing that mattered was each oth