Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Have I told you both how much I love you?” I asked as I lingered in my doorway, smiling at my friends. These morning coffee dates with them were invaluable to my mental health.
“Not enough,” Ella teased, while Nora just winked at me.
“So, when is your next session with him?” Ella asked. “That bat crushing video didn’t seem to scare you at all.”
“If anything, it makes me more determined to help him.” Ethan was good to his core. I could easily tell that. I knew abusive assholes like the back of my hand, and he wasn’t one of them. But he clearly had some trauma he needed help working through.
“Plus, he’s like a billionaire,” Nora said.
“You know I don’t care about the money,” I said, and they both nodded with understanding. They knew all the dirty details about my past—well, all the ones I’d had the courage to share with them. Some details remained tragically just for me. “And I’ll see him later today for our next professional session. Strictly. Professional.”
Ella laughed. “Sure,” she said. “Be careful,” she added. “He may have my vote because of the donation stunt, but he still clearly has a short fuse.”
“Agreed,” Nora said.
“You know me,” I said. “I have a sixth sense about angry episodes.” Cultivated from living with my abuser for over a year. “It won’t get to that.”
Ella smirked. “Well, after he’s no longer a client or hell, while he is, he may be one to give an exemption to your thirty-day rule,” she said, bringing the conversation back to a lighter side. “He seems like a good time. Maybe worth a few months at least.”
“Yeah,” Nora agreed. “Especially since the anger thing seems contained to the field.”
They weren’t wrong. He was smart, funny, kind, all the things that would make me want to break my no-long-term rules.
But it didn’t matter.
“He’s a—”
“Client,” Nora and Ella said at the same time, waving me off.
“We get it,” Ella said, grinning at me as they headed down the hallway.
As I got ready for the day, I’d picked up my phone at least a dozen times to text Ethan, only to set it back down.
I needed to schedule our next session, but I also needed to thank him for what he’d done for my friends.
But what could I possibly say to encompass the gratitude I felt about his donation?
Finally, unable to stall any longer, I picked up my phone. He’d probably be asleep anyway, since it was before seven in the morning. It would be at least a few hours before I got a response.
Me: I honestly don’t know how to thank you, but I hope you know how grateful I am for what you did for my friends.
I sent the text before I could delete it, knowing it paled in compared to his gesture. I was about to sit my phone down, but three little bubbles appeared immediately, and it sent my heart straight into my throat.
Ethan: I’m the one who wanted to thank you.
Me: I’m not sure I earned that.
I hesitated a few seconds after sending, then typed out another fast text.
Me: And I hope you didn’t feel obligated after I rambled about my volunteer time.
Ethan: Oh no. You didn’t. I promise. I was just blown away by your commitment. It checked me. I need to pay more attention to things like that.
My heart kicked up a few notches, excitement trilling through me as I read his text.
Me: Well, thank you either way.
Ethan: You’re welcome.
I moved from the kitchen and into my bedroom, settling into my mattress as it was still incredibly early in the morning. I was ready for the day, but taking a quick break wouldn’t hurt.
His last text could’ve easily been a dismissal, but I wasn’t ready for the conversation to end yet.
Me: I figured you’d be asleep.
Ethan: Funny, I was thinking the same about you.
Me: Nora and Ella got me up before the sun to tell me about your generosity.
Me: I’m in bed, but wide awake.
I added the extra text before I could stop myself, a thrill rushing through me at my eagerness to flirt before I remembered I wasn’t really supposed to. But it was so damn hard with him. He made it too fun, too easy.
Three bubbles appeared and disappeared several times, like he was writing something and then deleting it. Tension built in my body, wondering if I’d crossed a line.
Who was I kidding? Of course I’d crossed a line.
Why did I tell him I was in bed? Why paint that visual? He was a client.
A client who I’d kissed.
A client whose kiss haunted my dreams every night in the best way.
A client whose laugh made my skin warm and heart flutter.
I was blunt and honest for a reason. I couldn’t stop that just because he was assigned to me. I’d learned that—for me in particular—being coy and quiet and submissive got my heart broken in the end. Not that Ethan had my heart, but he definitely had my attention.