My Lucky Stars

Chapter 13

Mia

It's been a week and I still don't have any courage to call Ryan. I know he said he will be waiting for me but..

There's a lot of things I take into consideration about his proposal, that he wants to be with me, but I come along with the twins. Although he said that he will love them unconditionally, which I know he will because I don't doubt him but, is his family willing to accept us? 

I learned it the hard way as I grew up, I grew up in an orphanage, my parents died in a car crash when I was 10 years old. My parent's family didn't want me, so they sent me to the orphanage. I don't blame them, who am I to them anyway, just a kid that shares the same blood in their veins.

I sigh loudly, mess my hair, and drop my head on the table loudly. I turn my head to the side as I watch the door, waiting for Ryan to magically appear from it. I sigh when there's no sign of him at all for the day. Slowly I walk to rearrange the bookshelves while my mind runs a thousand miles inside.

I miss you, Ryan... Honestly, I do want to be with you, but..I'm afraid...The same thing happened to me, my babies will experience it too..The rejection of a family...

Suddenly I hear the door chime, my feet automatically runs to the end of the bookshelves. I expected to see the owner of the bright blue orbs, but disappointed when I see hazel eyes, Ace smiles brightly at me. He holds up a white cake box and swings it slowly while smiling charmingly, too bad he's not the blue orb's owner. I pout and walk back to the shelves to continue my task before Ace comes in.

"I can see that you're not ecstatic to see me.."

I continue pouting as I continue my task quietly. I see from the corner of my eyes, Ace leans at the end of the bookshelves looking at me.

"You're expecting someone."

My heart thumps at his statement, he's not asking me because he can read me. Even though we haven't met each other for a really long time, he can still read me.

"And I believe from your reaction now, that person is a man."

I close my eyes and sigh. I turn my body to face him and make an annoyed face at him. He smiles mischievously and I quickly grab a book and toss it at him, which he catches perfectly without ruining the book.

"Stop reading me."

Ace laughs out loud, thus making me laugh together with him. Ayla and Ayden suddenly come out of their playroom to know what's making us laugh.

"What's funny mommy?"

Ayla looks at me with her wide round blue eyes, I admit her eyes remind me of Ryan, they have a lot of resemblance especially the eyes. Ace sits down to Ayla's level and he smiles brightly.

"Hi, I'm your Mommy's best friend, Alexander Ace Kent. You can call me Uncle Ace or A.K like your Mommy does, princess."

Ayla hides behind my leg and Ayden quickly stands in front of her, protecting her from the stranger.

"And I believe you're Ayden, Mia's little prince. Hi!"

"Is it true Mommy? Is he your best friend?"

Ayden takes a step in front of me, protecting me from the stranger. His action reminds me of Ryan, his protectiveness was shown when we went out to the park about a week ago.

"Now, help me will you Mia? Are you going to let your kid hate me?"

I laugh again and shake my head. I put a hand on top of Ayla's and Ayden's head as I kneel down to their level.

"Yes, it's true, he's my best friend. We've known each other since we were 10."

"How..how come we never meet him?"

"That's because he was gone for a pretty long time, but we found each other again.."

"I found you, you didn't even try to find me."

I glare at Ace when I hear his slow mutters and he just shrugs. Ayla slowly takes a step to Ace and she holds a hand out to him, making him surprised and slowly extends his hand to her.

"Nice to meet you, Uncle A.K."

Ayla's smiles cutely and let their hand go as she turns around to face Ayden who's quietly looking at their interaction.

"Come on now Ayden. Mommy didn't teach us to be rude, A.K is Mommy's best friend."

Ayden sighs and takes a step forward to Ace as he holds out his hand to him.

"I'm sorry for being rude. I just want to protect Mommy like Ryan did. Nice to meet you, Uncle A.K"

My eyes widen and I can see Ace stiff when he hears that name from Ayden.

"Nice to meet you too. There's no need to be sorry, you did the right thing since you're the man in the family."

"No, he's not, there's Ry.."

I quickly put my hand on Ayla's mouth to stop her from saying anything about Ryan. I know I can trust Ace about anything, but anything about Ryan is sensitive and new to me, to my heart.

I'm still deep in my thoughts when suddenly a hand touches my shoulder, making me flinch.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..yeah i'm okay. No worries."

My voice turns high pitched whenever I lie and I know Ace catches on it as he smiles.

"You know you can tell me anything, right? Just like old times."

"I know, but I.."

"If my guess is correct, It's about that Ryan guy, right?"

I nod slowly, as I walk out of the bookshelves while Ace follows suit after me.

Both Ayla and Ayden are running while laughing as they play tag around the café.

"It's okay if you're not ready to tell me, but can I say something?"

I turn around looking at him and smile softly as I nod. I know he will still say it even if I say no.

"You should give him a chance."

My smile dissolves as he says it, but he continues.

"I know what you're thinking, Mia. Without you saying it, I know you too much for you to deny my claim. I don't know him, hell I've never met him. But I know he makes you feel something deep down. I know it, because when you ran to the front door, you were disappointed when you saw me instead of him. I only happen to know extra information, because of the kids."

I look down because I know Ace is quick to catch on and what he said is the truth.

"I don't know the whole story, but, I know you need a chance, and he needs it too. I can see the kids love him and are okay with him being added to the family. If it makes you feel more assured, I'm here, and will always be here if he hurts you or makes you sad, Mia."

When I look at him, my eyes are full of tears and that makes him laugh as he pulls me in a warm hug. I hug him back and squeeze him tightly as he laughs again, I'm no match for him now, he's bulkier than me. Ace sways me around making me laugh as he became the playful little Ace. I knew then that we would be close like before... before he went to his foster parents.

I turn to look outside the window when I see a figure walking away in the rain. I quickly let Ace go and run outside as I see two men holding an umbrella and looking at the road ahead of them. I recognize one of them as they turn to look at me, James, Ryan's driver. 

I look around to find him, but he's nowhere to be seen. Someone covers me from the rain, and I look at him questioningly.

"I'm Nathan Pierce, his secretary."

"Where's he?"

I hear the bell door chime and Ace comes out holding another umbrella as he walks closer to us.

"I'm afraid, he's seen both of you embrace each other and he ran away."

"What?"

My voice quivers from the cold and from my scary thoughts.

"Mia, is everything okay?"

"Where did he go?" 

I ignore Ace's question and hold Nathan's hand, in my desperate attempt Nathan just looks at me curiously.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. And from my experience, he will be gone for a while. There will be nothing that can connect us to him when he.. runs away."

My hand drops as I look lost. Nathan nods again and leaves when he switches positions with Ace to cover me from rain.

Come back Ryan, It's not what you think.. I..I like you.