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Chapter 6
Mia
Rolling over in bed, Mia savored the soft cotton of her sheets against her bare skin. Opening her eyes, she searched the room. She got up and brushed her teeth before pulling on her running clothes and throwing her hair back in a ponytail. Her stomach grumbled as it always did when she ate greasy food the night before. Bently had been great company, offering to take her to dinner after their dance. He’d walked her to her car and wished her goodnight like the perfect gentleman.
Running into Bently and Andre was the last thing she had wanted when she went to The Shipwreck. She’d wanted to not drink alone for once. For some reason, returning home and noticing the empty driveway next door had stirred up a burning sensation in her chest. Heartburn from the greasy food most likely.
Mia drank a few sips of water before heading out the door for her morning jog. The first mile was slow as she moved sluggishly. She was off. Good thing she had a meeting with her therapist today. Her last half mile was met with the familiar sounds of footfalls thudding behind her. Anger flared as her guard went up.
This time he didn’t pass, keeping pace with her from behind. She grew impatient, feeling his eyes bore into her. She turned. Andre’s glazed-over gaze was aimed at her ass. His eyes snapped back to the road.
“Enjoying the view?” she teased.
He grumbled and sprinted past her. If she had been keeping score, she’d have surely won this round.
***
Mia took an extra-long shower after her yoga before getting ready for the day. Even though she had no plans of leaving the house, she got dressed and did her hair. It helped her to stay motivated. One more tool in her toolbox when it came to fighting depression.
The familiar song of a Skype call sounded from her laptop. She clicked it open and greeted her therapist.
“Mia, it’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Dr. Martinez,” Mia said.
“How have you been doing? How was the move?” she asked.
Mia smiled. “It’s been mostly great.” Mia caught her therapist up on the events of the last week, both the good and the bad.
“Sounds eventful.”
“Yes,” Mia agreed.
“Have you had any more of your blacking-out episodes?” the doctor asked.
Mia shook her head. “Not since the last time.”
“What about panic attacks?” Dr. Martinez questioned.
Mia nodded. “Just one, but I know the trigger. Unfortunately, I can’t avoid this one for the foreseeable future.”
“Why not?”
Mia shrugged. “The man is a bully, but he happens to be my neighbor, my contractor, and the brother of one of my new friends.”
“I see.” Her therapist nodded, adjusting her reading glasses to perch on her nose. “Is it possible to find another contractor?”
Mia thought about it. Could she? She’d liked their work so far. They had been the only company willing to start right away, and for the best price. Plus, Remy was her friend, and to take business away from her husband seemed childish. “I’d rather not. I’ll just do my best to avoid Andre. I don’t know why he’s so . . . ugh . . . I don’t even know how to describe the way that man gets under my skin.”
Dr. Martinez smiled. “Are you romantically attracted to this person?”
“He’s hot. Like a ten out of ten. But the moment he opens his mouth, I just want to punch him in the face—not that I would.” Just knee him in the balls.
“Okay, well, you know what to do to manage your panic attacks when they happen. It’s best you try to minimize your contact with someone who isn’t respecting your boundaries, or consider eliminating them from your life as much as possible. In the meantime, I want you to try and open up more with someone—one of your new friends perhaps? Share some things with them about yourself. I know personal sharing is hard for you, especially with your situation. But this can be simply what your dreams are or fond memories. Open up,” Dr. Martinez instructed.
Mia swallowed, shifting uneasily in her seat. Her heart raced as she forced in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I will.”
Mia said her goodbye and signed off.
