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“Why not?”

“Because I need to decide for me. Not for you. Not for Crim. Not for anyone else. I need to know I chose this because I want it. Not because someone wants me to want it. Does that make sense?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not saying no to you. I’m saying I need time to say yes to myself first.”

“Take the time you need. I’ll be here.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

We walked to the parking lot together, his hand finding mine in the dark.

He kissed me one more time beside my car, a promise instead of a goodbye.

“Text me when you get home?” he said as he stepped back, his fingers lingering on my face.

“I will.”

I got in my car and drove away, watching him get smaller in my rearview mirror until he disappeared.

Marzipan was waiting on the back of the couch when I got home, her yellow eyes landing on me the second I walked through the door.

I dropped my bag. Kicked off my heels. And collapsed onto the couch.

She hopped down and climbed into my lap, purring before I even started petting her.

“I had sex with him,” I told her.

Her tail flicked once.

“In the treatment room. On the table.”

She slow-blinked.

“He said he loves me.”

Another slow blink.

“I said it back.”

She headbutted my hand, demanding scratches.

I gave them to her, staring at nothing. My phone sat on the cushion beside me. I should text him like I’d promised. Let him know I got home safe.

Instead I checked my email, finding one from Denver.

Dr. Lundrig, we hope you’ll seriously consider our offer. The position would start in three weeks.

In three weeks, I could change my entire life.

I closed the email and opened my texts.

Home safe, I typed to Brashe. My cat, Marzipan, says hi.

Tell her I said hi back. Are you alright?