Mia was able to escape from the house the following evening and walk to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn to meet Noah.
Sitting together in a booth inside the Dragonfly Pointe Inn Café, Mia told Noah she wanted to go for a spin with him on his Harley.
Knowing that more than likely it had something to do with her dad being too judgmental, he heaved a sigh, looking at her intently. “What’s up?”
She pursed her lips. “It’s my dad. He always brings out my rebellious streak because he never has anything positive to say.”
Noah grimaced. “Alright. What did he say about me?”
She shrugged. “The usual—hair, clothes. Dad would say the same thing about any guy, unless he was the one who picked him out.”
This time Noah shrugged. “You told him I’d be gone at the end of summer?”
She frowned. “Yes.”
“So, let’s not let it bother us. It’s going to be hard enough going away without mixing your dad’s opinion into the picture. At this point, I’m not going to let what he says bother me.”
She smiled wryly. “Alright.”
He grinned. “Are you serious about the bike?”
Mia looked like she was pouting when she answered, “Yes.”
“I need to find you a helmet first. And we won’t be going any long distances.”
She looked ready to be stubborn. “I want you to kiss me again.”
Noah blinked. He wanted to kiss her too, but the problem with that? He’d been thinking way too much about doing a hell of a lot more than that, and it would have been too big of a step for both of them to take. Even though she was nearly seventeen, he’d be going away, and the timing wasn’t right.
He said softly, “You know why I’m trying to be careful, Mia?”
“Yes,” she answered, looking determined. “But I don’t want to be careful.”
Noah laughed, and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer. Digging his spoon into her ice cream, he shoved the spoon into her mouth.
“Hey,” she muttered and swallowed.
“It’s just that everyone in the café has been listening to this conversation, so I think it’d be better to drop the subject until we’re alone,” he said dryly.
Mia giggled.
The next day, Noah was anxious when he pulled his bike into the driveway of Mia’s house. Despite what he’d said to reassure Mia, he didn’t really like the idea of Mia’s dad being against their relationship. She was the best thing that had happened to him, and he was determined to keep in touch with her, even if he deployed overseas.
Looking around as he walked toward the house, he realized Phil and Bree were here too, so that would probably help ease the tension of meeting Mia’s father.
He’d hadn’t been far off base about the situation, Noah realized, walking around the house toward the screened in porch where he’d heard Mia’s voice.
The dark-haired man standing near the door with a sullen look on his face must have been Mia’s dad. Tall and fit, it was obvious he wasn’t comfortable wearing the casual clothes he had on. Mia had shown Noah pictures of her dad on the golf course. Derrick Michaels was the kind of man Noah was completely unfamiliar with, someone obsessed with wealth and social standing.
“There you are, Noah,” Mia said, walking past her dad down the staircase from the deck, reaching for his hand.
Noah grinned, clasping her hand warmly.
Her father gave Noah an intense look as Mia climbed the staircase beside Noah. “Dad, this is Noah.”
Right away, Mia’s dad appeared to be looking at his earring. Oops, he’d forgotten to take it out. Noah was going to have to remember not to wear one when he wasn’t performing since it wasn’t allowed in the military anyway.
Phil was sitting beside Bree on the wicker couch inside the porch, and he grimaced at Noah.
Although Mia’s dad looked menacing, Noah reached out his hand to Mr. Michaels. “Nice to meet you, Sir.”
Whose response was lukewarm, when he returned Noah’s handshake halfheartedly.
“Noah,” he muttered quietly.
It was an uncomfortable afternoon, with the conversation stilted, and Mia’s father not easing up or smiling during the entire cookout.
Noah thought it couldn’t get much worse until Mia walked inside with Amanda, to dispose of the garbage and put away the leftovers.
Mr. Michaels pulled Noah aside. “I’m not sure what I think about your relationship with Mia, but I wanted to make sure you remembered she’s only seventeen. I know you’re going into the Air Force at summer’s end, but you’ll be doing her the biggest favor by not expecting her to wait for you. She has to consider the future, and college, and the last thing she needs is to be tied down.”
Especially with someone like you, Noah was sure Mr. Erikson was thinking it, even though he never said it out loud.
What the hell? Noah didn’t deserve to be treated like this. “I’m leaving the decision of where we leave off at the end of summer up to Mia, Mr. Michaels. She’s pretty special to me, and truthfully? I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”
When Mr. Michaels blinked, Noah knew Mia’s dad wasn’t used to having his demands ignored. But apparently, Mia had overheard the tail end of the conversation, and she gave Noah a misty smile as she rushed down the steps to walk with him to the Harley, since it was time for Noah to depart.
When they reached the bike, Noah kissed her for all it was worth.
She had that dreamy look in her eyes which he loved so much, when he finally started up the Harley’s engine. “I’ll see you at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn?”
“You will. I’m even going to take video of your concert,” she answered.
He gazed into her eyes. “Mia?”
“Noah?”
Noah muttered, “You don’t have a clue how much you mean to me.”
“I think I might,” she answered. “Because you mean an awful lot to me too.”
Dad was on his way back to Chicago a few hours later, and Mia was actually relieved. For the first time in her life, Mia questioned her dad’s choices, not only regarding her life, but about his own life as well. Apparently, Monique was several years younger than Dad, and Mia had a feeling she was going to be happy going away to college the following year.
The concert at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn was fantastic. The place was packed, and if Noah hadn’t reserved the seats for them, Mia, Bree and Phil, along with Noah’s grandparents, wouldn’t have had a place to sit.
Mia filmed the entire concert, with a fancy camera her dad rarely used. It had a setup with a tripod, so it could stand stationary near the band.
The background lighting they’d designed was fabulous, and there was actually a big blue moon in the sky overhead when Noah began singing Mia her song.
This time they moved together, dancing like they were the only ones there. It was getting serious quickly, and even though she was only sixteen, Mia knew she was deeply in love with Noah, and it was the most beautiful feeling in the world.