Much to Ellis’s horror, she spares no detail, telling story after story until my eyelids droop andexhaustion once againtakesme under.
“You’re making great progress, Scarlet,”McKenna, my therapist says.
“Am I?”An inelegantsnortrips out ofme.“I’m just saying… because Ellis won’t stop treating me like I’m some fragile butterfly with a broken wing.”
“Give yourself—and him—some grace. It’s only been two weeks since you both experienced something deeply traumatic. Everyone copes differently.”
“I know, but...”My shoulders slump.“Imiss the dynamic we used to have.”I miss his playfulness andsex.I really miss sex, but Ellis isonce again holding out on me—this time under the guise of not wanting to push for too much too soon. Ican’tseem to get him to understand that Ineedhim. If anything, his touch will help to erase Clint’s.“I just want everything to go back to normal.”
“Have you communicated all of this to him?”She crosses her legs, waiting patiently for my reply.
“Not in so many words.”
Shenods.“So maybe you could be more direct in asking for what you need.”
More direct...there’s a thought. “I can do that.” In fact, an idea is already forming.
“Great.” She snaps her fingers. “Oh, while I’m thinking of it, did you decide what to do with your townhouse?”
Slowly, I nod. “It is officially on the market.”
“I’m really glad to hear that. Same time next week?”
“Yes. Please.”
She marks the appointment in her tablet before writing it on a card. “Here you go.”
I always tell her the reminder text is sufficient, but she insists.
“You’ll notice I wrote the name of a book on the back. I really think you’d benefit from it.”
I flip the card over and note the title. “Thanks. I’ll check it out.”
We both stand and she walks me to the door.“As always, I’m only a phone call away if anything comes up between now and our next appointment.”
Ellis pops up when I enter the waiting room.“You ready?”
“More than you know,” I murmur, my mind fully on the plan I’m concocting.
“Good.”He wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple.“Atlas texted and asked if we want to get lunch.”
A sigh tries to escapeme,but I manage to swallow it back.“You mean Nora forced Atlas to text.”
“Maybe.” He shrugs. “What do you want me to tell them?”
“Might as well.” My stomach grumbles like it’s a paid actor. “Gotta eat.”
“I was hoping you’d saythat,”he says, grinning down at me.Clearly,he already agreed on my behalf. I want to be mad, but...seeing Nora and James is always a bright spot.
The thought sparks like alightbulb.“You just want to see James,”Iharrumph.Atlas may be his best friend, but Ellis is absolutely smitten with James.
“Guilty as charged.” He boops my nose. “And you do too.”
“Obviously.” My tone is completely unrepentant.
He laughs, and the soundwraps itself around me like a warm hug as we walk to his truck.
Those hours with Clint, when I didn’t know if I’d seeEllis’sface or hear his voice again, were some of the worst of my life.But they also gave me a new lease on life, so to speak. I’ll never take the little things for granted ever again.Which is why him holding himself back from me hurts so much.
