Page 46 of Rescuing Mia
“That explains why your English is so good. What brought you to Shanghai?”
“A job.” Once again, I deflect his questions as best I can. I’ve already said too much, but something about him makes me want to share the pieces of my past.
I wish I could open up to Rigel. I wish I could tell him everything and have someone to lean on instead of feeling so alone.
“Mia isn’t a typical Chinese name.”
My guard rises, but there’s a flicker of something like appreciation for his attention to detail.
“My parents had their reasons, I suppose. I never really thought about it, but it’s a bit unusual.”
I lean against him, loving how his arms wrap around me, keeping me warm.
“Tell me your life’s story.”
“My life’s story? Like my entire life?”
“Why not? We’ve got time.”
“Why do you care about my story?”
“Because I’m interested in you… If you hadn’t noticed.”
I glance out into the inky black of the sea, weighing my words and deciding how much of my story to share.
“Maybe one day.” I keep my voice soft but make it clear I’m not ready to share those bits of my life. “For now, let’s just say I’m someone who appreciates the stars more now that I can actually see them.”
My entire life is a loss and it’s only just hitting me how truly alone I am in the world.
“Fair enough,” he concedes with a gentle smile. “For tonight, let’s enjoy the stars together. No pasts to talk about. No complications—just two people and the vast, open sky.”
I relax, a silent thank you for him not pushing for answers.
“Thank you,” I find myself saying, the words soft but sincere. “For showing me the stars.”
He doesn’t respond with words. Instead, his hand squeezes mine, a silent acknowledgment that fills the space between us with an inexplicable connection.
He shifts slightly, and our bodies turn naturally until we face each other, close enough that I can see the reflection of the stars in his eyes.
His hand rises slowly, almost hesitantly, as if asking permissionwithout words. When his palm rests against my cheek, it’s a touch filled with the softness of a promise.
I lean into his caress, my eyelids fluttering closed for the briefest of seconds, allowing myself this single moment of peace.
There’s an invitation in his eyes, a question he doesn’t voice but one that hangs in the air between us.
Even though everything inside me wants to respond, there’s a cold chain wrapped around my heart—a reminder of the danger shadowing my steps. He can never know. The truth I hold is a death sentence.
What if my life were different?
If I wasn’t a fugitive but just Mia? A woman who could explore this insane connection?
I wish I could.
I want to be that person.
His thumb brushes gently across my cheek, and the tenderness in that small gesture unravels me. I take a shaky breath, fighting against the tide of emotions threatening to wash over me, the yearning to dive into whatever this is or could be.
“I should get back,” I whisper, the words tasting like regret on my tongue.