Gia’s parting was not as sweet as Mom’s though. She hugged me and started crying on my shoulder.
“Hey, hey, what’s this?”
“I’m happy for you. I really missed this so much. I missed my sister. That man ruined you, and then you were just gone after it ended. You’re back.”
Her blubbering words brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t feel one hundred percent myself yet. I didn’t think I ever would because I wasn’t going back to who I had been before. I never could. I’d been through too much and changed. I was becoming a new me, and I had the chance to be whoever I wanted.
“Thanks, Gia. I missed you, too. So much. I’m not going anywhere again,” I promised, hoping that I could keep it.
“Make sure to send Logan a sexy photo good night. Get the ball rolling on that ordeal.” She let go of me to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Gia was an emotional drunk it seemed.
“I’ll do that.”
Wasn’t a bad idea actually.
I helped my sister inside where a makeup-covered Laurent met us at the door and helped her inside. He was a great dad and husband. Caring and supportive. He was there for her in the worst of her postpartum depression, holding her hand and being there in any way she needed him to be. He helped take care of the kids and loved his family with his very soul.
The whole ride back to the hotel, I thought about what life would be like if I had a man like Laurent. Someone who cared about me more than their need to be constantly selfish or right. Someone to hold my hand on my sad days and make me laugh when I needed it most.
Images of Logan’s smile came to mind, and despite knowing the thoughts were not likely to happen, I let them drift in that fantasy.
After getting home late, I showered, dressed in my jammies, and settled into bed, hoping that a night of deep sleep was waiting for me. Couldn’t show up at the gala with bags under my eyes.
Just as I closed my eyes and wiggled into my sheets, my phone beeped, alerting of a new text.
Logan: Good night, Mia.
I smiled. He’d taken the time to wish me good night. Something that he hadn’t done until now. Maybe he was missing me as much as I was missing him. He comforted me, made me feel like anything was possible. That I could be a better me.
I’d like to think that even in my vulnerable states I’ve been in with him that I’d had some sort of impression on him beyond physical. That he found comfort being near me too somehow.
Mia: Good night, Logan.
I went to bed, thinking about the next time we saw each other and how I was going to show him how much I missed him.
