Chapter Forty-Three
Mia
The breaths I inhaled were lodged in my chest, unwilling to release until he spoke after seeing my nod.
“I don’t think I’m what you need, Mia, and I think you still need more time to be yourself before tying yourself up to someone.”
That breath came out along with a quick frown before I masked myself to look neutral.
“With that said, I don’t think we should talk about it right now. We’ve still got two weeks left in our program. I think we should just keep working as is and see where things end up. Including the possibility of an us because I don’t think six weeks will be enough with you.”
My heart, my soul, if they didn’t belong to him before, they did now.
“I’d like that. No stressing about what will happen.”
I could do this. I didn’t believe for one second that he wasn’t what I needed. Logan was himself as he was right now to his core. No doubt lingered inside me that, when the six weeks were up, he’d magically become an ass. He wasn’t made that way. Would there be tough times like any relationship? I expected so. But Jay had sent me a message today that said tough times never lasted, but tough people did. Logan and I would be tough and could make it. I felt that deep in my heart.
But, for now, I was content to let this play out and not obsess over one more thing, like where Logan and I were going with this relationship. Go with the flow instead.
“Perfect. Now, let’s talk about that Vegas trip you have. Any fun plans besides work?” He pulled out a strawberry from the pile and bit into the lucky fruit.
“Not that I’m aware of. Should I?” I had just planned on working and hanging out at the hotel, maybe reading or sleeping.
“I think you should do something from your list of things you enjoy or try something new.”
I thought about what all Nevada had to offer and how little I’d actually experienced of it despite having traveled there multiple times in my life. I wasn’t much of a gambler, but I did like Red Rock Canyon just outside the strip. If only wild man Logan would be there to push me toward things that made me feel slightly out of my comfort zone.
“I wish you were coming,” I admitted while grabbing one of the small sandwiches between my manicured fingers.
“Your wish is my command. I happen to love Vegas.” He grinned.
A bubble of giggles shot straight from my lips as I took in those pearly-white teeth covered in strawberry seeds.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” He smiled wider and then leaned over to kiss me, strawberry mixing with cucumber on my lips.
“Goof. Seriously though, you wanna go? You, like, just got back from Utah.”
“Do you really think I wouldn’t go?” His right eyebrow rose suggestively, and I thought about it.
Logan was the truego with the flowandalways up for an adventuretype of guy. No, he would go, and he would be smitten as a kitten to do it.
“Okay, but you don’t need to go buy a ticket. You can ride with me.”
I was feeling even better about this mini trip than I had before. Once everything was settled with the hotel, Logan and I would go out and make a splash in Sin City. Excitement blossomed in my chest, spreading throughout my body like joyous vines.
“I like that smile on your face.” He was looking at the waves, eating more of the picnic, but I could feel the honest words deep inside me.
“I like smiling. It’s a big difference than when we first met. Albeit I’m still finding myself, but I feel free. I know you’re getting paid for it, but what you do is nothing short of a miracle.” My hand snuck out to touch his, forcing every bit of gratitude I had into our connection.
“The truth is, anyone can change if they want to. Everything I’ve said has been written for thousands of years. You can read about it, hear it all day, and even know how to set yourself free on your own. But it’s hard. Absolutely no part of looking inside yourself and accepting yourself and life as the way it is and choosing to live on regardless is easy. All I am is a glorified hand-holder and guidance counselor.”
“Bull. You are so much more than that. You bring hope of change, and you help those who are in need with your very breath. While you might not be the glue that binds our broken pieces back together, you are the classroom where we learn to reassemble ourselves without judgment. The teacher who helps interpret the values that make us new again.”
He was all that and more to me. He was what had brought the sun back into my life.
“Thank you. Your words mean more than you know.” He looked at me with sincerity in those blue eyes and then returned his gaze to the waves.
I wanted to tell him that he meant more than he knew to me, but I kept that in. We’d talk about it later, as he’d said. For now, it was just time to enjoy being here with him, eating brunch on the beach, before I had to get back to work.
