Faking Love: Finding Love Series, #1

1

Mia

Oh my God, can anything else go wrong today? As I approach the door to my fifth-floor apartment, I see a bright red notice stuck to it. Oh great, just what I need after the day from hell.

I rip off the eviction notice and try to unlock my door while trying to see what I’m doing around my full arms. I have my purse, a bottle of wine for dinner, the note, and key in one hand and my box of belongings from work in the other. It’s taking some time to unlock because yes, apart from getting this lovely note on my door, I also got fired from my job because I wouldn’t sleep with my creepy supervisor. Arrggg, finally the lock turns and the door gives way not a moment too soon as I’m about to drop my heavy load. I kick the door shut behind me with my foot, dropping everything on the kitchen counter. Sinking onto a stool, I place my head down on the counter, closing my eyes taking deep breaths in and out willing myself not to cry.

I’d been really good at evading being left alone with my supervisor, but he cornered me in the break room today when I was getting my afternoon coffee. He snuck in quietly, scaring the crap out of me when he touched my shoulder making me turn around. Big mistake. That just made him put his arms around me pulling me to him with a snarky, I knew you wanted me, you little minx, before smashing his lips onto mine. I tried pushing him away, but that just made him hold on even tighter. And that’s how the boss found us, firing me on the spot for luring his brother-in-law. Eewww like I would want some old, smelly creep when I have my handsome Greg.

Thinking about Greg brings a smile to my face. Greg and I only recently moved in together as we were constantly together and it made sense to only have the one apartment. I lift my head up taking note of the time; Crap it’s six thirty! Greg will be home in roughly half an hour, which gives me just enough time to shower off this crazy day and get dinner started. I can’t wait to see Greg tonight; being wrapped in his arms is just the medicine I need. After such a crappy stressful day, I can’t wait for him to kiss my troubles away. Maybe then I will pour a glass of wine for both of us to set the mood for what may come a little later … I shiver in anticipation.

I get up and head toward our room when I see a plain black push up bra on the floor. That’s strange, this doesn’t seem familiar or a style I’d wear, and looks way too tiny to be mine. What is going on? A few steps farther I see the shirt Greg put on this morning on the floor and a heel that is definitely not mine. Oh God, my stomach drops. No. This isn’t happening it’s … as I get closer to our room, I can hear voices.

Oh yeah, that’s it, baby, I’m nearly there.

Greg, oh God.

Oh no, he isn’t! I storm into our bedroom feeling furious. All I see is a blonde bimbo riding my boyfriend. I just stand there stunned, not quite believing what I’m seeing. I feel as though my whole world is falling apart around me. I’m slowly sinking into quicksand with no way out.

Yes baby, just like that. That’s all I need to wake me out of my stupor. I shake my head, I need to get out of here. I barely pull myself together as a thought runs through my mind: What did I do in a past life to deserve this day? I move farther into our bedroom.

Ah … don’t mind me, Greg. I’ll be right out of your way, I say with tears starting to run down my face, tears that I’ve managed to hold back all day.

But you know what? This, this right here is the last straw. I head to the closet and start to grab my suitcase when I hear, Oh fuck, Mia. I swear this isn’t what it looks like, as he pushes the bimbo off the bed.

What the hell, Greg, she yells, falling off the bed. I turn back to my suitcase.

Ah yes, Greg, it is exactly what it looks like, the bimbo over there was riding your cock. I’m grabbing my things and leaving. You can keep her, you made your choice the minute you let her into our apartment.

I start crying, my heart breaking while trying to pull clothes off the hangers when Greg grabs me by the arm, but I shake him off.

Come on, Mia, it’s nothing, she’s means nothing to me, please, why are you turning this into something it isn’t. I don’t get why you’re upset, it’s you I love, not her. She’s a no one. I hear a gasp and look up in time to see the bimbo frowning as she quickly gets dressed in her skimpy little black dress.

I take a look at the guy I thought I was in love with. Who is this guy? Has he always been this pathetic loser? My tears run down my face ruining my makeup as I stare at him. If this were a cartoon, I’d have steam coming out of my ears. Does he really think I’m that dumb and naïve? Looking at his face, I realize that yes, he really does believe that.

Are you serious, Greg? I say raising my voice. I lost my job today, only to come home to an eviction notice on the door that you somehow missed as you were preoccupied with … I point over to Blondie who is trying to find her other shoe. And then to top off this shitty day I find you in our bed fucking another woman. So, don’t tell me it’s nothing, Greg.

Please, Mia, he begs while trying to grab hold of me again.

Don’t touch me. I never want to feel your greasy hands on me again! Just leave, Greg. Give me some time to grab my things and then you can come back and I’ll be gone.

Mia, be reasonable, we can work through this—

Ah Greg, I think maybe I should go, Blondie interrupts.

Yeah, you sho— Greg starts.

You know what, Blondie, I cut Greg off. Stay, you can have him. He’s all yours, you deserve each other. Enjoy the cheating bastard. I’ll send Ella over tomorrow to get my things while you’re at work. I practically run out making sure to grab the bottle of wine that I had sitting on the counter along with my purse. Because after a shitty day, every girl deserves to have some wine. Scratch that … a lot of wine!

2

Mia

Once I get in my car, I grab my phone out of my purse but damn it’s on its last bar. Of course, with a day like today, it’s just my luck. I press speed dial to call my best friend in the world, Ella Mathews, who I have known forever. We have known each other since kindergarten. My parents moved us halfway through the school year and being that I was so shy, I kept to myself. One of the bigger boys named Billy used to always try and trip me over and there was this one time when I fell over a big stick and cut my face. Ella rushed over, kicked him on his leg, stuck her tongue out, and told him he shouldn’t be so mean. And ever since then we declared we would be best friends forever and ever and of course we have been partners in crime ever since.

Please pick up, please, I beg silently as my phone rings while the tears are streaming down my face, washing my makeup away with them. I don’t know how I’m driving, I just know I need to get away from that jerk. When I’m halfway to her house, Ella finally returns my call.

Mia, how’s it going? It’s Thursday. Isn’t tonight date—

Ella, I sob the tears getting heavier now. Luckily Ella doesn’t live far away or I would never make it in my condition. Please say that you’re home. At least I think I said that. It might have sounded more like pleasesayyou’rehoooooooommemeeeee?

Mia, hon, what in the hell is going on … are you okay?

I let out a big sob, which makes her reply quickly.

Yes, yes honey, I’m home, do you need me to come get you?

No, I’m around the corner with a bottle of wine, have the door open please, I cry out.

As I pull into Ella’s driveway, I see she’s pacing up and down her patio. She bought a cute little two-bedroom house in an up and coming area near Millbrae just out of San Francisco. I don’t know how she managed to find this place but it’s gorgeous, I guess being a real estate agent has its perks.

Before I even get a chance to turn the engine off, she’s running to the car and opening my door.

Oh Mia, let’s get you inside, Ella says as she leans over, grabbing my bag and bottle of wine. By this time, I’m full on ugly crying so she puts her arm around me, guiding me into her home. As I step into her cozy living room, I see she has already set up two glasses filled with wine on the coffee table, which makes me cry even harder. I have the best friend ever. I lean over, grabbing a glass and gulp it down in one swallow. After settling me down on the couch, Ella takes a seat next to me and leans over to grab the bottle and fills my glass back up.

Mia, talk to me, tell me what’s wrong?

And so, between my sobs, I tell her about all the events that led me to her front door and how my life is now over. By now, Ella is also drinking and we are well on our second bottle and she’s laughing at my story of Blonde Bimbo and Greg.

I mean really, how can he say it wasn’t what it looked like? I’m telling you, Mia, I’m going down there right now to let him have it. I can’t believe you didn’t hit the man or attack the … what did you call her? Ella says this all in a huff, standing up ready to protect me.

Blondie, bimbo, whatever fits really.

She looks down at me, pulling a face making us both laugh.

Oh Ella, it’s not worth it. My voice starts to soften. "And if I really think about it I should have known something was wrong, we haven’t even had sex for months because he’s been so busy at work."

Yeah right, work, Ella huffs out.

What am I going to do now? I have no job, no place to live, and now no one to keep me warm at night.

Sitting back down and taking my hand, she starts, First off, where to stay is a no-brainer, I have a spare room here and you know we get along so no issue there. And yes, stop shaking your head, Mia, you can stay here till you get back on your feet, and secondly, you hated that job, so now you can find something even better and you were way overqualified and you know it.

I take a moment to think about that as she fills my glass up again. Wow, how many glasses is that now. Oh well, I think I stopped counting at three.

But who will snuggle with me and keep me warm at night? I pout.

Not me. I love you, Mia, but I like sleeping alone. Ella laughs as she takes a sip of her wine. But I think Rocky here may be more than happy to, she says, nodding to her beautiful chocolate Lab who I have sleeping on my feet. I lean down patting him, he made his way to me when I arrived and sensing my distress hasn’t left my side.

Do you know something, Ella? I think I need to get away for a bit. I don’t know if it’s the wine talking or if it’s just this shitty day, but I need some distance. Somewhere hot and away from this miserable cold weather.

What do you mean, like now, or book a holiday soon?

Let’s get your computer out and look things up.

Mia, I don’t think you should … She stops talking as she sees my face. She knows me so well that all it takes is one look and she knows what I’m thinking.

Okay, but no booking anything. If in the morning you still think it’s a good idea then you can book. I’m not letting you do something stupid just because you’re drunk.

Yay. I clap my hands jumping up and down in my seat waking up Rocky. As Ella leaves the room to grab her laptop, I lean back on the couch closing my eyes and petting Rocky between his ears. Mmmmmm, where should I go? What about Vegas, nah, way too crowded, maybe I should …

What about Hawaii? I’ve heard it’s beautiful this time of year, Ella says as she sits down next to me, booting up her computer.

Ooh, Hawaii now that sounds great. I open my eyes. Yeah, let’s check that out.

Half an hour later and it’s down to Honolulu or a cruise.

Ella gets up and picks up our glasses and the second bottle of wine, but woe is me, the bottle is empty; yes, we have finished another bottle. I’m going to have a very painful head in the morning, but it’s well worth it in my opinion. As she heads into the kitchen to get another bottle the doorbell rings, and I can hear Greg’s voice yelling out for me. Ella just stares at me and says, Is he for real? I look between her and the door and back again.

Just get rid of him, Ella, I don’t want to see him.

After placing the glasses and bottle back down on the table, she storms off to deal with Greg. I can’t quite make out what is being said, but right now I don’t really care, I’m numb from all the alcohol and want to be as far away from the bastard as possible. I quickly grab my purse and looking behind me to see that Ella isn’t coming back just yet, I pull out my credit card. I know Ella said not to book tonight but you know what, enough is enough. I’m always the practical good girl doing what everyone expects from me. Ever since my father left us when I was eight, I’ve had to look after my mom and myself, as she became a shell of the woman she once was when he left her for someone half her age. So, ever since then, it has always been expected of me to be the responsible one. Well, not anymore. I press paid just as Ella walks back into the room.

"That man