159 Liz and Mia talk

In Elizabeth's apartment…

Liz closed the door of her apartment, leaving Max and Isaac in the hallway and she saw that both of them are confused but she didn't care. Her mind is a mess and she is upset and it's all their fault!

She went to the kitchen and when she returned to the living area, Liz slumped on the sofa with a bottle of wine and a glass. This is what she needs: silence and wine.

Liz was halfway through the bottle of wine when she heard shuffling from the direction of the front door. Liz narrowed her eyes angrily, ready to scold Max. Who else could it be? No one called to announce their visit, and the person at the door obviously has her apartment passcode which means it's either one of her besties, Olivia, or Max. Bri and Mia would announce themselves and it's too late for Olivia, which leaves Max. Didn't she tell Max not to come until she calls him?

Liz was surprised to see Mia.

"I hope it's not a problem that I came here.", Mia said awkwardly when she saw Liz's deep frown.

"Of course, it's not a problem."

"I am not interrupting anything, am I?", Mia asked while glancing toward the bedroom, assuming that Max is there.

"No. Both Max and Isaac are at Max's place."

Mia could not hide her surprise. "How come?"

Liz brought a glass for Mia and poured her wine while responding irritably: "Let's not talk about them. The two of them are fine… like two peas in a pod."

Liz sighed and turned to Mia. "What brought you here? How come you are not with Hunter?"

Mia took the glass of wine which Liz offered and gulped it down before responding: "Tonight's dinner reminded me that things are not simple. For years I am pretending that my family does not exist, but I think I reached the point where I can't do that anymore… not if I want to stay with Hunter."

Liz observed Mia and she can see that Mia is troubled.

"Mia, I don't know about your family, and I never asked because I don't think it's important. I also believe that you have your reasons for not talking about them. And I am confident that Hunter has the same opinion."

"I know he does but… I heard Hunter's mother, and she is right. I can't ignore family ties because their ghosts are around me and they will affect us when we least expect it."

"No matter from what kind of a family you are coming from, I'm sure that Hunter loves you for who you are.", Liz offered encouragement.

Mia nodded in agreement. "Hunter is incredibly supportive, and he is the best guy in the world, but… my family is dangerous. And I feel that I need to tell him about them so that he knows what he is getting himself into."

One word stuck of for Liz and she had to ask: "Dangerous?"

Mia half-smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to answer. Her sight fell on a bowl with apples and a fruit peeling knife.

Mia stood up with an apple in her left hand and the knife in her right one.

Liz watched without blinking while wondering if Mia will peel the apple, or slice it up or… what will she do with an apple and the knife? She held her breath when Mia threw the apple in the air and in the next instant, the knife flew toward it, hitting it dead center and stabbing it into the wall.

Liz stood up abruptly and counted twelve steps between the sofa and the wall.

She removed the knife carefully and was glad that the hole in the wall is barely noticeable. She is NOT a handy person to fix damaged walls. What is Mia thinking? The security deposit for this place is a significant amount and Liz has no intention of losing it.

Mia saw Liz frowning, so she quickly explained: "My dad taught me this when I was five years old. He said that hitting a moving target with a knife is an essential skill for everyone in my family. As I grew older, so did the weapons and challenges I needed to overcome..."

Mia observed Liz's reaction and she could not read her. "Do you hate me?"

"I will hate you if you damage my wall and leave without fixing it. Don't do that again.", Liz said seriously and put the apple with the knife on the table.

After a second of shock, Mia's tension burst into laughter of relief. "Thanks, Liz."

Liz waved her hand, indicating to Mia that it's not a big deal. "I don't care about your family or about the skills you have. As long as you treat me well, and don't cause damage to me or my property, I've got your back. And I am sure Hunter feels the same."

"I don't know how to tell him.", Mia admitted.

"Tell him how you told me.", Liz gestured toward the apple on the table which still has a knife inside it.

"Uhm… it's not that simple. For him, it is more than just saying from where I am coming from and what I can do. To simplify the explanation, my dad is the boss and I am an only child. As my partner, he would need to prove himself."

Liz thought about Mia's words before asking: "Are you slated to be the next boss?"

Mia looked at Liz and blinked while thinking how Liz is smart. She got to the important part right away.

Liz saw Mia nodding in confirmation, and she found that this is strange. "You are the next boss in the dangerous family, and they allowed you to leave and do whatever you want with your life?"

Mia didn't understand this question. "What do you mean?"

"I watch movies…", Liz gave Mia a knowing look. "Do you believe that your dad is not keeping an eye on you? If your dad is in a position of power, he has enemies who could use you against him and he would be foolish not to have some surveillance around you."

Liz saw that Mia frowned and gave her a minute to think about it. She refilled their glasses.

"My dad erased my past when I left.", Mia said. "No matter how you look, my identity can't be connected with them."

"Mia, you can alter the IDs and electronic data, but can you erase people's minds? Do you believe how there is not a single person who can recognize you? Or that your father will let you explore the world without taking precautions?"

Mia took another gulp of wine before sharing her thoughts: "You are saying that I am avoiding something pointlessly because I am already in the middle of it?"

Liz nodded. "You are trying to save Hunter from your family. But they already know about him. Sweetie, your only task should be to think if you love him and if you want to be with him. If the answers are yes, then tell him about everything and let him decide if he is up for the challenge."

"What if he leaves me?"

"Do you think that you can stay with him while keeping this a secret? If you don't tell him, Hunter will not know that he might be in danger and that is not a good idea."

Mia gave Liz a hug. "Thanks, Liz."

"Don't worry about it. Do you want to go to Hunter? If you need a break, the guest bedroom is available, but tell him that you will stay here so that he does not worry."

"I don't know about staying a night, but I need some time to figure out how to tell him."

Liz nodded in agreement and returned her focus on the glass of wine.

Now that Mia's topic is out of the way, she remembered that Liz's apartment is missing two men: "What happened with Max and Isaac?"

Liz exhaled. "When you left, while we were out… Madeline told Isaac that I am pregnant."

Mia was unable to hide her surprise. "What? Where did she get that? The two of you didn't go all the way…"

"I know that. You know that. And now everyone else knows that.", Liz grumbled. "Max told everyone that we never had an intercourse."

"Everyone?"

Liz nodded dejectedly. "His parents, Isaac, and Sabrina. I was so embarrassed that I thought I will pass out."

"And then what?"

"I left and Max and Isaac followed, and Isaac was so elated how Max is a gentleman and praised him endlessly for not touching me that I felt like throwing up in the car."

"And you didn't let them inside your place?", Mia guessed.

"Something like that.", Liz admitted.

"Do they know why they are ousted?"

Liz waved defensively. "They are smart guys, they will figure it out."

Mia shook her head in disagreement. "They are smart, but they are guys…"

"What do you mean?"

Mia exhaled. "Oh, Liz… When Max said in front of everyone that he didn't touch you so far, from his perspective, that is a positive for you, and a negative for him."

Liz frowned. She does not understand this logic. "I don't care about positives or negatives. I am upset that he blurted out in front of others something that should be kept between the two of us. It's private."

"That is not how he sees it."

"Are you sure?"

Mia nodded. "No matter how smart he is, he is a guy. Their brains are wired differently, and he will not see it as a breach of privacy. You need to tell him where your boundaries are. As for Isaac, he just loves you to pieces and he is happy that Max cherishes you."

Liz sighed in defeat. "You are telling me that I overreacted and that I am unreasonable and harsh and that I am waiting in vain for them to realize their mistake because those two have no idea why I'm upset."

"Yes."

Liz gulped down the wine from her glass and stood up. "Thanks Mia…"

Mia watched Liz walk out of the apartment and she guessed that Liz is heading across the hallway.

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