Page 46 of The CEO I Hate (The Lockhart Brothers #1)

LIAM

B race for impact.

Those were the only words ricocheting in my head as I hit send on my phone.

I released a pent-up breath, curling my hand around my coffee cup as I sat back in my chair at Beans & Brews, the place where Mia had ripped me apart for cutting in line.

I’d been served by the same barista who had given me such a hard time after.

She’d clearly recognized me, eyeing me up like she was considering spitting in my cup. Thinking back on that day now, on Mia’s fiery temper, I missed the hell out of her, and all I wanted was for this plan to work.

I didn’t know if this was the right move, but I knew I had to try something. I’d screwed up, and I’d lost her, and even though a part of me worried that she’d truly moved on, my mother’s words echoed in my head.

You need to take a leap of faith…If you love her…If she’s who you really want ? —

Mia was the one, beyond all doubts. I had to believe I could fix this. I wanted so many good things for her, but I also wanted to be the one to make her happy. All I needed was for her to give me a chance.

Just one more chance.

I looked down at my phone, my insides roiling. Please work. Please.

The chat bubbles appeared. Yes!

I bit down on the nerves surging through me. My heart was going to punch through my chest. And maybe I’d deserve that for the mess I’d made. For the shitty way I’d treated her.

The bubbles disappeared. Wait! No…Where did she go?

The bubbles appeared again.

Disappeared.

Disappointment surged through me. If I couldn’t even get her to talk to me, this would never work. Then?—

A single question mark from Mia.

Relief ate away at the disappointment, filling me with a dangerous amount of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for me to work with. I snatched my phone up, prepared to answer, but another text came through a second later.

What the hell is this? Mia wrote.

A calendar invite , I replied.

Yes, I can see that. Thank you, Einstein. I could almost hear the snark in her tone, and I couldn’t help but grin as another text popped up. It says, ‘press conference with mayor.’ Was that a typo?

Not a typo , I wrote back. I really am inviting you to a press conference with the mayor.

I think you’ve lost it, Smiles .

My heart skipped a beat. I never thought I’d be so damn happy to see that nickname. She followed it up with a string of five question marks, and it made me chuckle. She was getting impatient.

I replied by forwarding her a copy of the press release from VeriTV Studios, which announced that I would be holding a press conference tomorrow to present the mayor with a check, the money earmarked for the Los Angeles Public Library system.

Mia disappeared for a moment. She must have been reading the press release. I tried not to panic as she did.

Is this real? she typed after a couple of minutes.

Yes , I replied.

The press release explained that the money was to be used to build and fund a series of writing rooms in libraries across the city—rooms specifically designed for children interested in the arts. A place where it would be safe for them to explore their ideas and unpack their imaginations.

My goal was to create a space that would foster the creation of story worlds using the very best technology, tools, and art supplies. All of which would be provided by the new VeriTV Young Creatives Initiative.

There was a long pause again, and I worried that I’d lost her, that my plan had completely missed the mark. But then?—

The Young Creatives Initiative?

I thought it was time for VeriTV to do some real good , I wrote.

And I remembered you telling me how difficult it was not having the support of your parents growing up.

I thought that maybe there are other kids like you out there, brilliant and talented and just in need of a safe space to have those talents flourish.

Another long pause. Maybe I hadn’t explained it right .

Where are you? Mia wrote after a beat.

I snapped a selfie, making sure to capture the bakery display case and the cash register in the background where the Beans & Brews logo was noticeable. I fired it off to her. There was no response.

But five minutes later, Mia walked through the door, and my breath caught. There was a fire in her eyes as she paused to take me in before making her way to my table. Her jaw was tight, her eyes slightly narrowed as she reached me. I stood.

“This is what you think is romantic?” she said. “Meeting in a café?”

I knew she was aiming for snarky, but I could also hear the tremor in her voice and see the way her chin wobbled. She was barely holding herself together.

“This was where you rightly first called me out for ignoring you,” I said. “Which is something I’m never, ever going to do again. So I suppose it felt fitting. A real full-circle moment.” I tried for a smile. “You writers like those, don’t you?”

Mia crossed her arms, shaking her head.

I barely managed to keep myself from reaching for her. “I mean it, Mia. From here on in, you’re it. You’re number one.”

She scoffed, blinking hard. “Liam…these are just more nice words. They’re not what I need to hear.”

“I know that,” I said, ducking my head to catch her eye. “I do . And that’s why these aren’t going to be more nice words.”

She pursed her lips.

“You said that for the years I’ve known you, I never had any interest in getting to know what was going on with you, but that’s just not true, Mia.

I heard you when you spoke about growing up and not getting the support you wanted and needed from your parents.

And I wish I could go back and be that person for you.

That I could tell you what a brilliant writer you’re going to grow up to be. ”

Her jaw trembled.

“But you managed to find success all on your own because you’re strong and determined and have the talent to back it up.

So maybe I couldn’t change things for you, but I thought maybe I could give other kids who are struggling a chance.

Give them somewhere they can let their creativity go wild and find a community that believes in them. ”

Mia wiped at the corner of her eye. “That’s going to make a huge difference to a lot of kids,” she said. “If I’d had somewhere like that to go…If I?—”

“I know,” I said, finally reaching for her, unable to hold back any longer.

I took her hands in mine, relieved when she let me.

“I thought—if you were interested—that we could put together a team of creatives to offer free workshops. You could teach the kids about writing webcomics. We could even offer some screenwriting courses.” I squeezed her hands.

“We could give these kids what you always wanted. Support. The freedom to dream.”

She blinked at me, far too quickly, and I knew she was trying to beat back more tears.

“I know you, Mia,” I said, laying it all out there.

“And I want to keep learning you.” Whether she wanted me or not, I needed her to know what she meant to me.

“I want to make you feel happy and safe and secure. And I’m sorry I made you feel like I was running around after everyone and everything but you.

I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel like a priority. Like my priority.”

Her chin wobbled and a tear escaped. I reached up to brush it away with my thumb. “Could I ever really be your top priority?” she asked. “You’re juggling so much, Liam. Work and your family and my brother. There wasn’t a lot of room left for me. ”

“And that changes now,” I said. “Because you are my biggest priority. You’re right. I’ve got too many things on my list, and that’s not sustainable. So, as of this week, VeriTV is officially looking for a Director of Operations.”

“What?” she said, her brows pinched. “Really?”

I nodded. “I’m not stepping down as CEO, but I think it’s time for me to leave the fretting and the worrying and the last-minute fixes to someone else.

Because I love you, Mia. And I want us to have time for each other.

I want to be there to support Heart and Hustle or whatever you decide to do next.

I want to come home to you at the end of the day and wake up next to you. ”

I cradled her face, looking into her eyes.

“You’re the most important thing in the world to me, Mia, and if you’ll give me another chance, I want to spend every day making sure you know that.

I know I can’t make things perfect all the time, and I’ll probably screw things up a million times over, but if you take me back, I promise to prioritize you. And us. Prioritize making us strong.”

Mia reached up, curling her hands around my forearms, clinging to me like she never intended to let me go. I sure as hell planned to hang onto her just as tightly. If she gave me another chance. Her eyes were glassy.

“Tell me we can try again,” I said. “Tell me you really want this.”

“I do,” she said softly.

“You’re sure?” I asked.

“I am.” She pressed up on her toes, closing the distance between us, and kissed me.

I surged into the kiss, letting her lips glide across mine, sinking into the feel of her. I’d missed her. Missed her so much. And I wasn’t going to screw this up again .

“I love you,” I whispered. “I love you.” I kissed my way across her jaw, burying my face in her curls and pulling her close. I hugged her until the rush of blood in my ears was replaced by applause.

I pulled away, staring down at Mia. Her face shifted into a cheeky grin as I realized the entire coffee shop had broken into a round of applause led by the world’s meanest barista.