Page 61 of Dreamscape Therapies

Jay watches me approach, those warm brown eyes following every step. I'm pretty sure I'm about to do something incredibly stupid, but for once, I don't care.

"So…" I say awkwardly because apparently, my brain has stopped functioning.

"So?" he echoes, amusement creeping into his voice.

"I kind of want to hug you."

Smooth, Vincent.

Real smooth.

His lips twitch.

"Thank you for not saying something dramatically inappropriate."

A laugh bursts out of me.

"I can still be inappropriate if you'd prefer, but I'd still really like a hug. If you don't mind."

I hold out my hand.

Then I wait.

I'm giving him every opportunity to turn me down. To remind me about professional boundaries. To tell me this is a terrible idea.

Instead, he takes my hand.

I pull him into a hug.

Probably too tight, but I don't care.

I'm so touch-starved and exhausted that the moment my arms close around him, something in me finally relaxes. He smells like lavender, and he feels like safety. Warm and solid and real.

For a long time, neither of us says anything.

I just hold him. I breathe him in and let myself sink into the comfort of his arms, relaxing more and more the longer we're like this until I feel like I'm nothing but putty against him. I don't think I fully realized how badly I needed someone to hold me.

Eventually, Jay pulls back just enough to look up at me through those ridiculous, adorable circle glasses.

"You don't have to do everything alone anymore," he murmurs.

"Thank you," I choke out, because what else am I supposed to say?

His eyes search mine.

For one suspended heartbeat, neither of us moves.

Neither of us breathes.

Then Jay does something I don't think either of us expects.

He lifts one hand and cups my cheek, his thumb brushing gently beneath my eye.

"Jagiya," he murmurs.

I lean into his touch before I can stop myself.

"Is this okay?"