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“I know the job is good. And you’re having fun with Casey. But you know what I’m asking you here.” Her gaze dropped to her hands as she picked at the pink nail polish on her thumb.
“Do I?”
“Mavis, Austin. I’m asking you about Mavis.” Her hands stilled.
“What about her?” He frowned and removed his hand from her foot.
“She’s marrying our brother in less than a month. You may have run from home, but you can’t run from reality.”
“That’s what you think I did? You think I ran away?” He slouched against the armrest and heaved out a heavy breath.
“Didn’t you?” Her eyes widened. “I mean, you did leave, but you kinda ended up in her bed anyway, didn’t you?” Lauren tapped the wall behind the sofa and tilted her head toward his bedroom.
Austin slumped backward and groaned, cupping the nape of his neck. “What do you want me to say here, Lauren?”
“The truth. Are you over her?”
He turned, his tired gaze meeting her own. “I’m trying, okay? I really am.” He smirked and tilted his head. “But if you want the truth, I’m always going to feel something for her. We’re connected, always have been. It’s hard to just push those feelings away completely.” His palm dropped to the cushion with a smack.
“And Casey?”
He smiled, the growing grin on his lips releasing some of the concern and unease from her heart.
“Casey is absolutely fucking amazing.” He snorted. “She’s exactly what I needed.”
“You’re right.” Her toes nudged him in the gut. “She’s perfect for you, you know?”
“Subtle.” Austin rolled his eyes, turning his head to grin at her. “But I think you’re right.”
“What happens to her though?”
He squinted. “What do you mean?”
“When you make partner and move home. What happens to Casey?”
His body shivered as his gaze fell to the floor. “You know, you’re asking really obnoxious questions today.”
“As your therapist, it’s my job.” She leaned forward as her stomach dropped, churning angst with yesterday’s cheap beer. “August first, right?”
Austin shook his head. “That’s just when the new office opens. Boyd and Bernstein never told me...” He shuddered, dragging his hands along his cheeks. “Don’t make me think that far ahead, okay? The fucking paint color isn’t even picked out yet.”
Lauren nodded. “I earned my paycheck with this session, didn’t I?” she whispered, pulling her legs inward to tuck them against her body.
He stood and shuffled to the window. Drawing back the curtains, he eyed the passing train cars, their clatter roaring into the tiny apartment. “Can we just let this one go for a bit? Go grab a cup of coffee or something instead?” He turned to her with pleading blue eyes.
Forever conflicted. Exactly what I was afraid of.
She nodded. “Yeah, let me grab my bag, okay?”
Austin swallowed, turning back to the window as Lauren rose from her seat and tiptoed out of the room.
She padded down the hallway and pushed the door open to Austin’s bedroom. Lifting her purse to her shoulder, she yanked her phone from the charger on the nightstand and scanned the screen.
“Mitch...”
Her heart sank, falling into the empty void inside her chest as she scrolled through the growing list of missed calls and text messages from her husband. With a sigh, she tossed her phone into her bag and left the room.
Fuck him.
