Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

and everyone had been on baby watch for the last week or two, knowing that most women pregnant with multiples deliver earlier than their scheduled due date.  The guys even had a pool going.

“Oh, hell, honey, by the blush spreading across your face, I think you are holding back on us. What exactly has been happening up at that cabin?  Or should I call it the love shack?”

Mia couldn’t help but laugh and threw a crumpled-up napkin at Tenley.

“It’s definitely not what your dirty mind is thinking, Tenley. We have done a lot of talking. Plus, I’m still coming to terms with what happened. I guess you could say it has been more of a coming together for the two of us and a healing for me.”

She felt the hands on her shoulders and knew it was Stitch before he whispered in her ear.

“Hey, beautiful. You doing okay?”

She turned and looked up over her shoulder and smiled.  Man, she loved this guy with all her heart.  She stood up and hugged him, and he chuckled.

“I’m going to take that as a yes.”

She pulled back and looked at him.  “I’m perfect.  Especially now that you’re here.”

“You seem to be enjoying yourself with your friends. What have you all been chatting about?”

She grinned.  “They’re trying to get me to gossip about us.”

“Us. What about us?”

“They want to know what exactly you and I have been up to at the cabin.  You know, since we’ve had the place alone.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Well, why don’t we just show them exactly what we’ve been up to?” And, before she had a chance to say anything, he dipped her backward and kissed her deeply as everyone hooted and hollered and cheered them on.

When he pulled her back up, he hugged her close and nuzzled the skin just behind her ear.  “I love you so much.”

She gave his trim, muscular waist a good squeeze.  “I love you too.”

He gave her one more quick kiss before he disappeared out the back door with the guys. Derek had arrived a few minutes ago and summoned them all to the other side of the room. Hopefully, it wasn’t a sign they were being called out.

When she turned back to the table, all the women were staring at her, but in a dramatic fashion; it was Tenley who was using her hand to fan her face.  “Damn, chica, that was hot! Even I need a cold shower after witnessing that.”  Everyone, including Mia, burst into giggles.

Mia looked around.  She was surrounded by everyone she loved; friends, family, and most importantly, Stitch, and she knew she wasn’t making a mistake in wanting to move here. She was looking forward to meeting Dr. Katz tomorrow.  Stitch’s mom had called him right before she and Stitch had left their house, and he too seemed excited to meet Mia.

Mia started to take a step toward her friends when a strong smell halted her in her tracks. It was familiar, but very different and smelled awful. She inhaled again, and her eyes went wide. She felt her chest tighten, and suddenly everything around her faded into a blur as she was thrust into one hell of a flashback from the night she was attacked.

She couldn’t see a damn thing.  It was cold, and she shivered.  The hard slap to her face had her jerking backward. She felt violated as hands roamed her body. “I’d love to get a test ride on this one,” One of them said.  She was breathing rapidly as the men continued to grope her despite her pleas to stop.  Suddenly hands landed on her shoulders, jolting her out of the horrible memories.

“Mia?”

She blinked a few times to get her eyes to focus. Her body shook with fear. When she saw Alex standing in front of her with a concerned look, she realized others had seen her in the moment of the flashback.  Before a tear could fall, she quickly wiped it away.

“Mia, are you okay?” Alex whispered to her.

“I just need some air. Excuse me for a minute.”

Mia headed toward the back doors that led to the patio. She heard Alex call after her, but she didn’t stop. If she did, she was afraid she would fall apart and make a fool of herself in front of everyone in the restaurant including Stitch.

As soon as she stepped onto the wooden deck, the ice-cold air hit her face, but it did nothing to calm her.  She walked deeper toward a corner that overlooked the beach and was secluded by a couple of fake potted trees.  She closed her eyes and tried to relax by taking a couple of deep breaths.

◆◆◆

Stitch was watching Mia from across the room while he and the guys talked about a possible upcoming mission. He knew something wasn’t right.  A second ago, she was laughing and chatting up a storm with the other ladies.  Now her facial expression was completely blank and looked to be zoned out.  He saw her say something to Alex before she headed toward the back patio door.  Why the fuck would she go out there? It was freezing outside.  Then it hit him.

“Shit!”  He said as he jumped from his seat and headed towards the door that Mia disappeared through.

He hadn’t realized Ace and Potter had followed him until they caught up with him.  “What’s going on?” Ace asked.

“It’s Mia. I think she just had a flashback.”

Stitch heard Ace mutter something under his breath as the three of them made their way out the door. He scanned the empty area.  This time of the year, Paul, the owner, only turned on enough lights for the smokers. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness, and then he saw her.  Tucked into the far corner was Mia.  She was crouched down with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head bowed.

Not wanting to scare her any more than she probably was, he called her name. What he wasn’t expecting was for