Chapter Seven
Mia
Logan held me for about five minutes while I simply let out some tears and listened to his heartbeat. It wasn’t an intimate hug, and it did feel strange that we’d passed thirty seconds of hugging, but I didn’t feel awkward, like when I’d first stepped into his embrace. Everything just felt calm. Like focusing on him and right now pushed back everything else that was racing inside my head.
Slowly, he pulled back and looked me in the eyes, peering into my soul and seeing everything I was feeling.
“Most of the time, when people don’t even know what they want, all they need is a hug. That physical contact to bring them back to the present, to let them know it’s going to be okay.”
I nodded and walked back over to my couch to sit, feeling splayed open before him. I couldn’t even think about the last time I had been hugged or hugged someone besides family. The power of physical touch was unbelievable.
“Thanks. I do actually feel better.”
How long it would last remained to be seen, but at least I got this reprieve.
“You and I are going to be like best friends for the next few weeks. When you are feeling down—or any emotion really—I want you to call or text me even if it’s two in the morning. I am here to help you at all hours.” He remained standing before walking to the kitchen to pour a glass of the wine I’d bought on a whim.
That I could do—sip some wine and relax.
“I’ve got a few things for you to focus on tonight and tomorrow. Then, I’ll be back around six in the evening to get you. Do you have a notepad or something we can write these directions down on?” He looked around as he set the wineglass on my coffee table for me.
“Thanks. I’ll get something.” I bounced up from my seat and walked to my office that I didn’t actually like being in. Which was why I had business papers all over my bedroom at the moment. Everything was organized and in its place from the pure lack of use, so I found my notepad and a pen. Then, I walked back out to give it to my life coach.
“Great! First off, after you’ve eaten, you’re going to take a bath. I know you have a top-notch tub in here somewhere, and you’re gonna use it. Soak in the hot water and throw in some bubbles or whatever else you’ve got. Play music or listen to an audio book. No silence right now. That’s not good for you by yourself.” He quickly jotted down these directions and then looked back up to me to see if I was going to fight him on any of this.
Nope. I could use a nice, hot bath. Hell, it’d been forever since I’d done anything other than hop in the shower and hop out, not even enjoying it.
“Next, I want you to make sure you drink more water. It’ll help you feel better, just with that one little step. Then, I want you to write down things you have enjoyed in the past. Whatever it might be. As we age, and enter into adulthood, things that truly bring us joy get forgotten under the pressures of making money and accomplishing our goals. I wanna know what little things you liked. My bet is horseback riding. You look like the type of girl who loved to straddle a beast between your legs and just ride.”
His smile grew wide. I knew full well that he was simply teasing me just to get a reaction. It worked. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. But a tiny smile tilted up the corners of my mouth. This man was still a stranger by almost all standards, but that best-friends role he wanted us to play actually seemed like it would be a natural fit for us. Something about his confidence and demeanor made me feel comfortable. He wasn’t judging me or hitting on me. I knew I would still try to be on point around him because that was just who I was. But he’d already seen me at a mini low, and there was nothing in his expression that made me feel shameful for being sad. He made me feel like it was okay and to understand that it would end.
There was something to be said for that—just letting someone who was blue know it was okay to be that way. Society demanded that we be happy all the time, and if you weren’t, you were depressed and needed drugs. It was just not realistic. When you felt down, you already felt even worse for feeling that way. Especially when you had a great life and still had dark clouds overhead. Guilt for not being a positive ray of sunshine all the time was a true struggle.
“That’s it for now. We’ve got time, and I have no doubt that you’re going to find your way. So, eat up, and when dinner is done, work on your homework. I’ll be back tomorrow for some more fun. Six p.m.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed, as he dared me to object. Once again, I was not going to. I’d do as he’d said and be ready to go by six.
“You got it.” I could handle a bath, drinking more water, and listing things I used to enjoy before adulting took over my life.
“Perfect. You’re doing great already. And don’t forget what I said earlier. If someone offers help and it’s not the bullshit offering because it’s polite, then accept it. Start saying yes to things in life, Mia. You’ll find you don’t feel such a heavy burden all the time.”
Those blue eyes of his were intense every time they landed on me. It was unnerving and exhilarating, all at the same time. Like a roller coaster, you felt scared to be on something so wild and thrilling, yet you couldn’t stop smiling, and your heart was racing in your chest as you anticipated what was to come. All the twists and turns that would scare the shit out of you and make you scream elation from the fun. That was Logan. He was like my very own roller coaster.
He left after we said good-bye, and I ate while making a list of things I liked.
It was a fairly simple list.
Beach.
Swimming.
Reading.
Art.
I was never an amazing artist, but I liked creating art and looking at it.
I enjoyed traveling, but somewhere along my road to creating a hotel empire, I’d stopped traveling for me, only doing it for work.
