Chapter Sixteen
Logan
In the past thirty minutes, I’d been watching out of the corner of my eye as Mia stretched and moved her body with purpose. The creases in her forehead relaxed, and her features softened. She had been tense and filled with emotions when she entered the work out room. I didn’t know which emotions, but there was fire in her and not the good kind. Still, she needed to let it go herself. To see that she was her own superhero and not me all the time.
Throughout the session, that was exactly what she had been doing. She’d been saving herself with the guidance of Lindsey and her breathing.
But, now, one fart might change everything that we’d accomplished.
Would she get embarrassed? Would she ignore and keep the final stretch? As silly as it was to be nervous about something so trivial, her mindset was one that could flip from being at peace to chaos in seconds.
“I guess I let too much go.” She giggled.
I swore, I’d never wanted to reach over and kiss her more. Her smile and her infectious laugh made me want to feel that wide smile against my own.
She kept the downward dog, and then we ended the session in mountain pose.
“Namaste. Well done.” Lindsey ended our session.
I helped roll up the mats before joining the girls, who were talking about the practice.
“I’ll definitely call you. Thank you. Thanks, Logan, for the opportunity.” Lindsey smiled at me, and it had zero effect on me compared to Mia’s smile.
She was a nice woman and had helped me a lot with clients and I was constantly helping drum up interest in her business. When Mia had said she wanted to get over her ex earlier, I had known this wasn’t going to fix that—only forgiveness would, like I’d said. But this was a step in the right direction. Learning to let shit go was a weapon against being a control freak.
Lindsey left the gazebo while Mia and I watched her go back inside the building.
“I’m glad you made me do this. Sorry about disturbing your flow with my passing of wind.” Her cheeks reddened, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It was the highlight of my week,” I teased.
She shook her head, arms going above her tiny frame for one last stretch.
“Are you feeling better than before?” I asked curiously.
The answer was written all over her body. But I wanted to hear her thoughts about the session.
She walked over to a bench that faced the beach a few yards away. “I am. What I was feeling was stupid and petty. And that made me feel even worse, but I stretched it out. I honestly thought you were going to step in and Yoda me first. But I’m glad I did it myself. Well, Lindsey helped, but you know what I mean.”
I mentally patted myself on the back. She was beginning to feel more confident in herself. Her steps in the program were moving along nicely. At lightning speed really.
“You did it on your own. That was all you, Mia.” An extra compliment as the cherry on top.
“Mia, there you are. I looked in the fitness room but didn’t see you. Hey, Logan. Sup, man?” Jay walked over to the gazebo with a phone in his hand.
Instantly, the relaxed Mia changed into business Mia. Her posture was one of authority, and she radiated those vibes, even in workout attire. I hoped that her calm mental state would help her deal with whoever she was about to talk to on the cell phone.
“It’s Terrance Jackson. Things are hot in New York.” He looked at his boss with a regretful expression of a fake smile and pleading eyes.
Mia was immediately on the phone and started to walk away toward the beach for more privacy. Quickly, her movements became more rapid, pacing back and forth, as did her hands, waving in the air in frustration. Business was tough for anyone, but I could imagine the stress of someone running an empire was times ten of the average person. The more complicated you made life, the more complicated it was. That was why I liked things simple. I had this job that helped people, and that was it. No further complications.
“So …” Jay stepped up closer, eyeing me while I watched Mia as she started to raise her voice in a mixture of Italian and English. Even I had to admit, her speaking in Italian, even if she was cussing that person out, was attractive.
“So …” I commented and then turned to look at him, giving whatever he was about to say my full attention.
“I like what you’re doing with her. I’ve seen a change since you walked in her office. A good one. But, from one man to another, besides her sister, I’m the closest person to her.” He looked at her, loyalty brimming in his gaze.
I prepared myself for theyou hurt her, and I’ll hurt youspeech, but I wasn’t ready for what actually came next.
