Leo:I was mad at him, too. When I went to see him the last time, I wanted to hit him. You know I never would, but I was so pissed.
Quinn:I know you wouldn’t. But you had a right to be angry. At Nate and at me.
Leo:I’m not angry at you, Mia.
Quinn:But you should be. And not just for saying yes to Nate. I never should have left you that summer down in Carolina. I ran out on you, I gave up on us ... I’m sorry for that, too.
Leo:Quinn? Stop being sorry.
Quinn:Don’t worry. I’m not living in regret-land. But I have to say it to you before I can move on. Otherwise, it would just keep eating at me.
Leo:Okay, apologies heard and accepted. Do you feel better now?
Quinn:I think I do. I actually feel like today, after talking to Kara and Allan about so many things ... and crying a lot, maybe I’m moving on. Maybe I’m growing. Imagine that.
Leo:Mia, I’m proud of you. This shit isn’t easy. So what’s the next step?
Quinn:I guess I want to just be for a little while. I want to see how it feels to live without the anger and the regret. It’s all part of healing. And then—I don’t know.
Leo:What about for us? What’s the next step for us?
Quinn:Is there an us? I thought maybe I broke that forever.
Leo:Babe, there will always be an us. The best days of you and me are still to come.
Quinn:How can you be so sure? I’ve done just about everything I could to destroy any chance we had.
Leo:No, you didn’t. And I’m sure because I can’t imagine a future that doesn’t have you in it.
Quinn:And here I thought I couldn’t cry anymore today. There you go, proving me wrong again. As usual.
Leo:You’re crying? Mia Quinn, why? I didn’t want to make you sad.
Quinn:You didn’t. They’re happy tears. Maybe relieved tears. Cleansing tears.
Leo:Okay, babe. Have I told you I miss you?
Quinn:Not today.
Leo:I miss you. So much. Although if I’m going to tell the truth, not sure if I’d want you to see the pitiful, broken man I am just now. You might decide I’m not worth the effort.
Quinn:That would never happen. Never.
Leo:You feel better now?
Quinn:Yeah, actually. I think I might take a nap before dinner. Allan and Kara are taking me to their favorite Italian place, but we couldn’t get reservations until late. I might fall asleep in my risotto if I don’t rest first.
Leo:Okay, babe. Text me later?
Quinn:I will. Thank you, Leo. xxx ooo
Leo:Sending you this picture to prove that I made it through spring conditioning in one piece. Today was the last day. Until the mandatory mini-camp, of course. Which starts next week.
Quinn:You know, you might warn a girl before you send her a photo that almost stops her heart. Uh, wow. I thought you were pretty damn cut and buff when you were working out during college, but ... excuse me while I wipe the drool off the screen.
Leo:If every part of me didn’t hurt, I might have jumped up and sprinted across the country to you just now. Pretty sure I’ve run the equivalent of 3K miles over the past month.
Quinn:I can’t even imagine. Although I have to say, I think I’m in better shape now than I’ve ever been, thanks to walking the hills of San Francisco. And of course Kara and Allan are health nuts. They’re always feeding me protein shakes, kale salads and veggies. I’m never going to be one of those super-athletic girls, but I do feel like I’m more toned. Healthier.
