Page 74 of Changing Tides

She sniffles. “Can I sleep with you?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Big girls sleep in their own beds. At least most of the night. Aren’t you my big girl?”

She rubs her eyes with her fist and nods.

Amiya’s head pops in, and she comes to sit on the edge of the bed. “Night, kiddo.Sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite,” she sings as she tickles Leia’s feet.

I swat at her. “Don’t get her all riled up,” I say.

She moves up and kisses Leia’s forehead. “I just wanted to say goodbye because I’ll be gone by the time you wake up in the morning.”

Leia starts to cry again.

Great.

“Hey, stop that and give me a hug. I’ll be back so soon that you won’t even have time to miss me.”

Leia sits up and throws her arms around Amiya’s neck. “I already miss you,” she mumbles against her chest.

Oh, my heart, Amiya mouths to me as she pulls her in tighter.

“Remember, you can video-call me anytime,” she tells her.

We both tuck her in, and I blow her one more kiss before we click off the light and back out of the room, pulling the door shut.

“That kid sure knows how to make me melt,” Amiya mutters.

“Yep. She’s a pro,” I agree. “I’m going to head to bed myself. You and Anson enjoy yourselves.”

She squeezes me. “I’ll come say goodbye before I head out.”

“You’d better.”

I enter the bathroom and quickly shower, moisturize my face, and pull on my pajamas. It’s the same blue set Sebastian peeled off of me the other night.

Ugh.

Suddenly, I don’t want anything that reminds me of him to touch my body. I walk hastily to my room and change into an oversize T-shirt.

Better.

I curl up under the covers and slip off into a fitful sleep.

I’m shaken awake by Amiya.

“I’m heading out,” she whispers.

I glance over at the window. It’s still dark out.

“What time is it?” I ask groggily.

“Five. I want to get ahead of the morning traffic. If I leave now, I can be at the office by noon.”

“Okay. Drive safe and text me when you get there,” I mumble.

“I will. Have a good first day,” she says, and I roll over and drift off for two more hours.

When my alarm sounds, I jump up and hurry to prepare breakfast before waking Leia.

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