Mia is a massage therapist, and Damien is a physical therapist. Damien brings in a client for a massage, and Mia catches his eye. Despite Mia tuning him down repeatedly, Damien is determined to convince her to go on a date with him.
Mia has tried...
That night Mom and Amy both stayed with me in bed all night. The next day they got up and did stuff around the house, but I just stayed in bed. They would take turns coming to sit with me and talk. It wasn't until Liam texted me that night, that he was on the way with Izzy, that I got up. My hair was a mess, so I put it up in a messy bun, and washed my face. I walked out of the bedroom just as I heard him knock. I opened the door to a smiling and happy Izzy.
"Mommy!" she said hugging my leg. I crouched down and hugged her, and when I pulled away she said, "Mommy, you're sad."
"Yeah, baby. Gigi and Auntie are in the kitchen, go see them." I said as I forced a small smile.
She ran into the kitchen as I turned to Liam.
"Mia..." He said softly. I looked up at him as I started to cry again. "What happened?"
"We broke up." I said as I covered my mouth to try and hold back.
"I'm sorry." He said as he took a step closer to me and hesitated. "Can I give you a hug?" he asked as he rubbed the back of his neck. I nodded and he hugged me. He held me for a minute as I cried. "What happened?" He whispered into my ear.
"I can't, Liam." was all I could get out.
"You don't want to talk about it. I get it, sorry." He said as he pulled back.
"Izzy got her medicine, right?" I asked him as I used my sleeve to wipe off my face.
"Yeah." He said as he nodded.
"Good. Thank you." I said as I took a deep breath.
"I um... I wanted to talk to you about Izzy's birthday, but I understand now isn't the time. Maybe call me when you want to talk about it?" He said.
"It's ok, what about it?" I asked.
"If you had anything planned. I was just going to offer to help with anything you needed."
"I haven't planned anything." I said shaking my head.
"When you are ready, let me know. And if you need anything..." he said rubbing my arm.
I just nodded as he walked back to his car. I took a deep breath. I hadn't even thought that I would have to tell Izzy. I walked back into the house and into the kitchen. Without a word, I picked up Izzy and went into my room, and shut the door. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I got on the bed, and leaned back on the pillows. I just held her for a long time.
"Mommy?" She asked, sitting up.
"Yeah baby?"
"Why are you sad?"
Here we go. "Because um... Because Bear went to Ohio to see Isaac." I barely said as I swallowed hard.
"When is he coming back?"
I couldn't do it. "I don't know." I said, shaking my head, as I broke and started to cry.
She laid back down on my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her.
"That's ok. We'll wait." She said.
I lost all resolve. I rolled us to the side and just held her as I cried.
...
A week passed. I didn't go to work. I stayed in bed or sat outside most of the time. I have listened to his voicemail probably over a hundred times. Just to hear his voice. Many times I pulled up his contact and wanted to call him, but I just never could.
I was mad. I was hurt. I was sad. I don't know how to feel. I'm mad he even hugged her in the first place. Hurt that he hid it all from me, and sad that he just up and left, even if I did end everything. I guess I expected more of a fight from him. But it's my fault too. I said goodbye.
"I'm going to go to the store and look for some stuff for Izzy's party. Do you want to come with me?" Mom asked.
"Do I have time to shower?"
"Yeah. There is no rush." She said smiling.
"Ok." I said sliding out of bed.
I went into the bathroom and took off Damien's Ohio State hoodie, and my leggings and got in the shower. I got my hair wet, and reached over for my shampoo, but stopped when I saw his stuff on the top shelf. I grabbed his body wash, and just looked at it. He always smelled so good. I opened the top and smelled it as I leaned against the cold tile wall. I set it back down and washed my hair. I let my conditioner sit while I shaved, and I couldn't help myself but to use his body wash.
I dried off, and just towel dried my hair. I didn't bother with makeup, and just went to my closet. I quickly grabbed jeans and a white sweater, and went back into the room. Half of the closet was his. He was practically moved in.
I got dressed and let my hair air dry.
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Mom had gotten Izzy ready by the time I walked out.
"You look cute." Mom said, smiling.
I just gave her a tight lipped smile as I picked up Izzy. I grabbed my purse off the table and we walked out to the car. I buckled Izzy in and we left.
"Where do you want to go?" I asked mom.
"There is a party store over by Target. I was going to look there first." She said.
"Ok." I nodded.
We found everything we needed. It was going to just be us. With everything going on, we decided to just keep it small. But we still wanted to decorate. Izzy picked out all the Frozen stuff she wanted and Mom and I both paid for half of it.
We wanted to have her party next weekend, but It's Liam's weekend to have her. When we got home I went out into the back yard, and called him to see what would work.
"Hey." He said when he answered.
"Hi. I wanted to talk about Izzy's party, do you have a minute?"
"Yeah, of course. What are you thinking?"
"Well, since her birthday is next Monday, we were wanting to have her party this weekend, but it's your weekend to have her." I said.
"We can make it work. I mean I'll be there for her party, so I don't mind. I still get to be with her." He said.
"Um, ok. What if you picked her up Friday like normal, then you guys came back to the house Saturday afternoon? We will decorate while she is gone." I said.
"Yeah. That sounds good."
"Ok, maybe come back at 2?"
"Perfect. Hey, Mia...?"
"Yeah?"
"How are you?" He asked gently.
"I don't know. I left the house today and put on real clothes for the first time this week, so you tell me." I said.
"Did it help? To get out?"
"I don't know. Maybe briefly. I better get used to it. I go back to work tomorrow." I said.
