With that in mind... Jensen invited me out to New York next weekend and it gave me so much anxiety thinking about going home—back to our apartment. Why did it do that? Should I go? I was thinking maybe I’d get a hotel…
Leo
Christ, Alley. Seriously. Make a damn appt.
It makes sense, though. That’s where most of the trauma was, yeah? All your worst memories. Even if you have good ones there too. The trauma can overpower the good unless you process it and work through it. Which is why you NEED to get yourself a BLOODY THERAPIST.
I laugh softly. I love pushing his buttons.
Leo
Not to mention couples therapy. You could use someone helping both of you while you navigate this.
I frown, mulling it over. He’s probably right. I know I need my own too. I’m just not there yet.
Fine. You’re probably right with that one. Got any recs for a couples therapist?
He shoots over a contact, and I save it in my phone before searching for Zach’s name.
I snap a selfie of sleeping Jensen and me, careful not to expose any body parts, and send it to him. He and Joey have been in Jamaica for the past two weeks, and he made me promise him updates. He’s been way easier to share this stuff with than Scarlett. Probably because Joey has a pretty colorful past, and hearing his stories makes him more open to believing people can change.
Pretty sure I haven’t gotten anything done this weekend… well, except for Jensen. Lol.
I stand, step into my underwear, and pull Jensen’s tee back over my head before heading into the kitchen for a drink. I grab a glass from the cupboard and fill it with filtered osmosis water.
My phone buzzes.
Zach
HELL YES, BOO! GET IT!!!
Balloons float up my screen and pop, and my grin stretches a mile wide.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
JENSEN
I pace Matt’s kitchen,palms sweaty, nerves buzzing. Alley’s on her way over, and I’m a fucking mess. Not because I’m nervous to see her—we spent most of yesterday together. I picked her up from the airport in the morning, took her to breakfast, then grabbed coffees to go and bundled up for a walk around Central Park. We had lunch, couples massages, and stopped at a new cozy bookstore where I let her wander (for what felt like forever) and choose whatever she wanted. We sat at a table with another coffee for over an hour, laughing as I read dirty scenes from some of the books she was deciding on. It was fun and easy and exactly what we needed.
She had dinner with Scarlett and stayed at her place last night. She plans to go back there after the game tonight.
I’m nervous because she’s cominghere. To our building. Where our home sits a few floors below. Matt said she’s only been back once, a few weeks after she moved out, to grab some things.
I just want everything to be perfect. For her to feel comfortable. For her to miss this, and miss being here with me.
Who am I kidding? I want her to stay the night with me. Tonight. In our home.
Megan and Kevin are coming…
Oh, and Scarlett too—so, that’ll be fun.
Like I said, I’m a mess.
I blow out a breath, raking a hand through my hair. Then check the fridge for the third time, making sure the sparkling waters are cold.
“Jesus, dude. Calm down.” Matt’s voice carries from the foyer as he comes down the winding staircase with two cases of beer in his arms.
“It’s not like you’re trying to impress some new girl or get laid for the first time,” he says, setting the beer on the counter and slapping my back. “This isAlley.Yourwife.I know you’re nervous, but you don’t need to put on some show. That’s just gonna make it fucking weird.” He waves a hand in front of me. “Whatever this is? Not normal. The last time I saw you this nervous was when you took Ashley Bengal to junior prom. Relax.”
