Page 172 of Masters of Secrets

Connor

Having Julie’s mom as a client was the last thing he’d expected. She was a last-minute addition to his day. When she’d called and asked for him, Aubrey had apparently told her about a cancelation today and said he could fit her in. He hadn’t realized she was his girlfriend’s mom. If Connor had known she might come, he would have told Aubrey not to schedule her for him, but it was a little late now.

“Okay, I know I’ve already seen your range of motion recently, but let’s check it again,” he said, gently holding her arm as he helped her move it back and forth and up and down at various angles.

“Did Julie tell you that I wanted to apologize for inviting John to the barbeque?” she asked as he moved her arm. “She wouldn’t give me your phone number so I could.”

“I appreciate the apology,” he said easily, backing off on her arm when she winced.

“I hope it didn’t cause that fight between you and Julie.” She paused. “I know she can be sensitive.”

“Any disagreements Julie and I have are purely between us,” he replied. “Okay, we’re going to start off with a massage to help loosen your shoulder muscles up, then we’re going to do some stretches. After that, I’d like to put you on the tens unit to help keep everything loose. Sound good?”

His own shoulders were bunching up because he did not like having to tell her no. He felt the urge to reassure her, to tell her that everything between him and Julie was fine, but he didn’t know how much Julie would want him to divulge. He sure as hell wasn’t going to guess. The best thing to do was to not tell her anything, no matter how hard that was for him.

“Yes, that sounds fine.” There was a hint of exasperation in her voice. “You know, Julie⁠—”

“Mrs. Kim,” he interrupted her, keeping his voice professional but firm. His heart was pounding in his chest, knowing he needed to do this, even if it meant Julie’s mother became angry at him. Even if it meant she never liked him. It felt like the wrong thing to do, contrary to who he was, but he knew it was the right decision. “I’m very happy to help you with your shoulder, but that’s what we need to focus on. If you continue to bring up Julie, I’m afraid I will have to transfer you to another physical therapist. If you’d like, I can do that now.”

Julie’s mom looked up at him, obviously displeased, but there was begrudging respect in her eyes, too.

“I’ll stay with you, thank you,” she said primly.

“Glad to hear it.” He smiled at her because he really did think he could help her. And he’d like to help her.

As they went over to the massage table, he caught Sandra’s eye, and she gave him a thumbs-up, making him wonder how much she’d overheard. At least someone was approving. It did help with feeling like Julie would have approved of how he’d handled the situation, which eased some of the tension he was still feeling.

It shouldn’t feel this difficult to say no to someone or lay down a boundary, but it did. He wondered how Julie managed to handle it for so long. No wonder she’d been so wound up when he’d broken it for her parents. He couldn’t imagine how much harder it was to do with family.

That Mrs. Kim had taken it really well and they proceeded to have a good session, which she’d thanked him for at the end of it, also went a long way to helping him feel better. Even if she wasn’t happy about it, she accepted it, and she wasn’t mad at him.

That helped a lot when, twenty minutes after she left, Beth came up to ask him to take her last patient.

He said no. He couldn’t. He had a date.

And despite Beth’s disappointment, she was happy for him.

This saying ‘no’ thing was getting easier every time he did it.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Julie

Dinner date at Marquis, the downstairs restaurant, and Julie had something to confess. Though she wasn’t quite sure how to work around to it, or if she should.

Thankfully, it didn’t take Connor long to bring it up. Once they’d sat down and ordered, once the server had whisked away, he looked across the table at her very seriously. He had dressed up for the date in a maroon button-down shirt that strained across his broad shoulders and chest but fit him well enough, it didn’t look like buttons were going to pop off or anything. Julie rather liked it.

“I have something to tell you,” he said. It was clear he was nervous but determined. Even though she was already pretty sure she knew what he was going to say, Julie nodded.

“Okay.”

“Your mom came in for an appointment with me today.” His gaze was on her face, studying her reaction.

She smiled at him, reaching across the table with one hand, palm up. Connor slid his fingers into hers.

“Sandra called me when she got there and let me listen to part of your conversation.”

Connor blinked.