AllFreeNovel
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Interesting. If we weren’t in a business relationship, I might try asking her about it.
Violet and I have very different personalities, but I still enjoy whenever we have sessions together. There’s an ease between us that doesn’t happen often with my clients.
Maybe that’s her habit of saying outrageous things.
Or maybe I’m just starved for companionship. I’d be lying if I said having Charlie around my house is horrible. I shouldn’t get used to him. Then I might come to depend on him, and that’s a whole bucket of issues I’d have to deal with when we peace out in a year.
“You don’t have to leave,” I offer to Charlie. “We’re just going food shopping. You should stay here. Play with all the toys.”
“Instruments,” Violet corrects with a playful prod to my side.
I smirk her way before meeting Charlie’s eyes again. Or at least attempt to. He’s currently gazing around the place as if already imagining his hands on every guitar in the shop.
Lucky guitars.
Shut up, horny brain.
“You don’t mind?”
“Nope. I’ll text you when we’re done and come back to pick you up then.”
Fifteen minutes later, Violet, Manuel, and I enter an organic grocery store. I don’t demand my clients eat organic food. As a dietitian I try to work with realistic expectations, and if they don’t want to go to the more expensive grocery store, that’s their choice. But Violet let me know she’s all organic. To the hipster market we go.
“You really think with the right diet I could be as strong as you?” The country singer glances at my biceps. I get a sudden flush of pleasure. With my shorter stature, people rarely notice my strength.
Not until they see me go a few rounds in the gym or get into a brawl.
Not that I brawl often.
Hearing the observation from Violet threatens to inflate my ego.
“Diet and the right exercise. Yes. No doubt in my mind.”
“Well then.” The A-lister makes sure her hat and wig are in place, then grabs a cart. “Lead the way. Pour all the magic food in my cart. Please and thank you.”
Her supplicant tone has me smirking. No way are we going that route. People can buy all the healthy food they want, but if they don’t eat a bite, then it doesn’t matter.
“You point out the things you would normally buy. We’ll work from there.”
Over the next half hour, we talk through Violet’s eating habits. There are some items I switch out for healthier versions with similar tastes. Food that I encourage her to consume more of for the benefit to her muscles, and items I suggest as occasional treats rather than staples of her diet.
Somewhere along the line, Violet starts treating the experience like a game, picking random items and asking me yes, no, or switch.
Then I test her.
All the while Manuel is our silent shadow.
“Oh, goodness. I know these are a no already, but my lord. Just look at them.” She picks up a large plastic-wrapped package of some name-brand cupcakes. The things are basically handfuls of sugar begging to rot out the teeth of innocent children. And country music singers.
Still, this isn’t about denying her things.
“Like I said. Make them a special snack.” I step past her and point to a similar package. “Here. These are wrapped individually. You’re more likely to only eat one rather than binging.”
“Makes sense.” Violet sets down her handful and reaches for the alternative.
Then she groans. “Goodness gracious. They’ve got chocolate and butterscotch.” She scoops them up and faces Manuel, as if they’ve been shopping together today. “Which one?”
“Neither,” he deadpans.
