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...
"What if we put a white ribbon around her waist?" Amy asked as we tried to get Izzy's dress ready for tomorrow. "We have some left from the flowers."
"Whatever works." I said. I was curled up in a chair in the living room, avoiding the dining room table that was covered in flowers for tomorrow.
"I'm going to make coffee first, I can't see straight." Mom said, getting up off the floor.
It was already late afternoon on Friday, and we had been working all day.
"How about I run to Starbucks?" I asked, hopeful they would agree.
"That sounds better." Amy said nodding. "I don't mind going so you can stay."
"No, no. I'll go. It won't take long." I said, needing any excuse to get out of the house.
"We will text you what to get." Amy said as I grabbed my keys and walked out to my car.
When I got in the car, I just sat there for a second and took a deep breath. I rolled down all the windows as I drove. It was still kind of cold, but it felt good. I parked and walked inside, to stand in line.
I pulled my phone out and read over what they wanted me to get. I laughed at Amy that she wrote 'take pops' like Izzy says it.
"Mia?" A woman's voice said.
I looked up, but didn't recognize anyone.
"Mia?" I heard again to my right.
I turned to see the girl Damien kissed standing next to me. I swallowed hard as I started to feel dizzy.
"I can't do this." I said under my breath.
"I know you must hate me, but can I talk to you?" She asked.
"About what?" I snapped.
She kind of jumped, and stumbled over her words.
"I... I... I wanted to apologize." she said looking guilty.
I motioned with my hand for her to lead the way to a table. She sat at a table in the corner, furthest from everyone else. I sat across from her and crossed my arms over my chest.
"My name is Jessica." she said softly, "I don't know if you know that." she said.
I just shook my head 'no'.
"I'm really sorry, Mia. Jealousy just took over, and I lost complete control of myself." she said as her cheeks blushed in embarrassment.
"So you knew he was with me?" I said, glaring at her.
She nodded sheepishly.
"Tell me what happened." I said firmly.
She took a deep breath as she re-positioned in her seat. "I was a patient of D's. I destroyed my knee playing soccer, and I had to do a ton of physical therapy for it." she said, pausing. "I guess seeing him so often, and for such a long time, I kind of became obsessed with him. I knew he couldn't date his patients, so I waited until my PT was done. I asked him if he wanted to get a cup of coffee or something, but he turned me down. Then the next week, Chad told me that he was flirting with the massage therapist he went to see." she said looking up at me.
"At what point did you decide to force yourself on him?" I asked disgusted.
"I was out with friends at the same bar. I had already had too much to drink, and decided to kiss him. I thought that maybe if he kissed me, he would feel something, and want me instead. I gave my friend my phone and told her to record it. I figured, even if he rejected me, I would have a video of me kissing him." she said, shrugging. "So... um... I pretended to trip, and he caught me, then I threw my arms around him excited to see him. He started to lean back, and I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him. He immediately pushed me away, and left me standing there like an idiot." she said.
"How did I get the picture?" I asked as I wiped a tear off of my cheek.
"I was mad that he dismissed me so fast. His friend went to the bathroom, and then D got up and went to the bar for another drink. He left his phone on the table, and it was unlocked. I found your name and number, while he was distracted. Once I sobered up, I knew it was a bitchy thing to try and break you guys up so I didn't. But then a few weeks later, I got drunk again, and I sent a screenshot to you. It was pointless though, because he left just after that." She said, shrugging.
I gave her a furious look. "He left because we broke up over it!" I said, raising my voice slightly. I put my head in my hands and desperately tried not to puke.
"I'm really sorry, Mia." she said softly.
"Yeah, I am too." I said getting up and walking out to my car.
Through a fog of tears, I drove home.
Damien's POV
All Saturday morning, I stayed in bed. To say I was miserable would be the understatement of the century. I was so sure she would have come back to me. I thought she was going to call, after remembering and thinking about what we used to be.
I stayed in bed until 4pm. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to witness any of this. But it might just be what I need to be able to live without her.
I got up and showered. I shaved, and did my hair, and even put on her favorite cologne. Pulling down a pair of black dress pants, I put them on. Refusing to wear a tie, I put on a back long sleeved shirt and my suit jacket over it. I opened the drawer on my nightstand and pulled out my wallet, and keys. I put everything in my pockets and walked out of my room.
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Isaac looked at me as I walked through the living room to the garage door.
"You look like you're going to a funeral." He said.
I paused at the door, with my hand on the handle.
"I am." I said, opening the door and walking out.
I pulled up to the little chapel, and stepped inside. I sat in the very back row, and I was well hidden by the wall to my side. Mia wouldn't even see me as she walked in.
The room started to fill as people showed up. Thankfully the chapel was small enough that there were people sitting around me, but not big enough to make me stand out sitting alone in the back.
I reached into the inside pocket on my jacket, and pulled out her necklace. I held it tightly in my hand, and ran my fingers over the stones.
