Chapter Forty-Six
Mia
Vegas had been a complete eye-opener for me. Not only was the new casino expansion on my hotel going to make profits soar, but I’d also had fun with Logan. I felt like a new woman when we flew back to Tampa.
I didn’t know where the future was going for me, but I felt beyond hopeful and even excited for the present.
Work kept me busy during the days, and Logan kept me busy in all the little breaks I could make for us.
Including this past weekend where I’d stayed at his house and gotten to participate in one of his favorite activities—walking around naked all the time. At first, it was weird, and I felt uncomfortable, just being naked while not having sex. But, after a while, I let those anxieties fade away and let my tits hang out.
We watched a movie and then made out like teenagers. Then, we ate some food and played chess before he got frustrated at how badly I was beating him, knocking the pieces away. Then, he gently laid me over the board.
“King takes the queen,” he’d purred before bringing his tongue to my core.
I couldn’t wait for more weekends like that even though they weren’t filled with expensive trips or jumping off the sides of hotels. It was the quality time that meant the most to me. Logan listened when I talked, and he genuinely seemed to enjoy being with me.
We hadn’t talked of feelings or that I was still hopelessly falling for him.
Well, that I’d fallen for him.
I was in love with Logan Woodland, the selfless dreamer who wanted everyone to be happy and was actively trying to help people.
Like he’d helped me.
Our time together in Inspired had ended last week, and it seemed like the girl who had woken up every morning, looking at the life around her with disinterest, lived years ago instead of only seven weeks ago. That Mia had been held back by fear, loss, and control. The new Mia had taken control of her ship that had been drifting around for too long and was heading toward the brighter future, wherever it led.
Was I perfect? No. Not in the slightest. I still had my bad days, and I let them be what they were. I made sure to take care of myself and remember that sometimes you just needed to unplug and then plug yourself back in and kick ass the next day.
Logan still paid attention to me even though he was no longer my life coach, and we had gone out on official dates where paparazzi caught us dancing at a club. The word was out that I had a hot date. Logan didn’t seem to mind, although I was nervous that seeing what fake trash they said about him would scare him away, but it didn’t. He didn’t care what people said behind his back. Logan knew the truth. I knew the truth, and to us, that mattered.
Tonight, he was meeting me at Tink’s after meeting a new Inspired client.
I’d dressed in the outfit he’d sent me while I was in New York. The pink and blue floral skirt flowing with every sway of my hips as I walked into the bar. Logan’s Jeep wasn’t here, but I went inside anyway, figuring I’d just hang out with Tink while I waited.
“There’s my girl,” Tate hollered.
Callum’s head popped out from beside him.
“You guys here every night? Don’t you two have fantastic lives to get to?” I teased and sat down next to them on the wooden stool.
They would keep my mind off life until Logan showed up, hopefully with good news about his program.
“We always celebrate a new Inspired client here. I’ve only got an hour before I have to head out, but it’s a tradition we try to keep as best as we can.” Callum raised his beer to his lips, looking at me with a smile before taking a sip.
Not a bad tradition, and I loved their brotherly camaraderie.
Tink came over with a large plate full of buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, and fried pickles.
“Hey, Tink.” I waved hello.
She gave me a wink before walking back to take care of the customers sitting at the bar. The place was pretty busy tonight, and I understood why. The atmosphere was calming and judge-free. No one cared what the person around them was doing unlike some bars where everyone loved to be in each other’s business. Here, you could be yourself, drink, have fun, and no one paid attention.
Ten minutes later, Logan still hadn’t shown up. I anxiously glanced at my phone, hoping that he was okay. I’d only known him for seven weeks, but being late was not really something he did. Even his two friends were constantly looking at me while talking and then glancing at the door and down to their watches.
I pushed away the uneasy feelings attempting to weigh down in my gut like a stone in the water. Everything was fine. He probably just hit that glorious Tampa traffic. At seven thirty in the evening. Totally normal.
Another twenty minutes passed, and the two men in front of me were shifting in their seats, fidgeting with their food, eyes moving from the clock on the wall to the door.
