I laughed, ignoring his question. Giving Danielle a goodbye gift turned my stomach. I didn’t want to give her a goodbye anything. I came here broken and angry, and she gave me back the sense of self I thought had broken along with my leg. When we’d talk outside of therapy, the world and all its uncertainty faded away. Our connection was strong and immediate—something she still wouldn’t fully admit to. Her words said she couldn’t, but her body wasn’t listening.
Danielle was tough and sweet and so goddamn beautiful, I stopped pretending not to stare. And those lips … God … Granted, I was coming off a drought, but a kiss never brought me that close to blowing in my pants. When she relaxed in my arms, giving me as much as I wanted to give her, she’d hooked me. But the more I coaxed her to open up, the more she’d close off. Something had happened to make her this way, but I had hopes about us, too.
Ignoring the fear that I was getting my hopes up only to have to watch them crash in a blaze of glory—twice—was taxing as all hell.
I waved a quick goodbye before heading into the hall. My phone buzzed in my back pocket before I arrived back at my room. Groaning at which Garcia was breaking my balls now, I dug it out and smiled at the name on the screen.
DANIELLE: Making sure you didn’t flake on your session today.
Maybe I was reading into all the good signs I could grasp, but her contacting me on her only day off since I’d been her patient was telling in the best way.
ME: Flake? You’re the one who told me I’d get you all into trouble for lingering in there for so long. Is this your way of saying you miss me?
DANIELLE: I’m checking on you. I do that with all my patients.
ME: Do you make out with all of them in a closet, too? I was hoping you reserved that treatment only for me.
I laughed until a long beat of silence followed my snarky reply. I never knew whether I was making her uncomfortable or flustered. I pushed her, but the last thing I wanted was to scare her away.
DANIELLE: I do a lot of things with you I don’t do with my other patients. I’ve lost track of all the unprofessional lines I’ve crossed. Just texting you is another violation.
ME: I’m almost out of here. All your violations will be sweet memories soon.
DANIELLE: Sweet memories?
ME: That’s what I’m calling tasting your lips while you grabbed my ass. Sweet as sugar.
DANIELLE: I didn’t … oh God, I did.
I laughed, picturing that flustered crease in her forehead after I riled her up. If only she’d just let go of whatever held her back. We’d be amazing together. Wewereamazing together. She saw it too, but I could tell it scared the shit out of her.
ME: Anyway, to answer your question, I did 50 squats and 50 steps during and after my session. My quads are like rocks today.
DANIELLE: Oh, I know that.
ME: Are you admitting to checking me out during therapy? I think that’s another one of those violations.
DANIELLE: I meant I know you wore yourself out in therapy today.
ME: Nah, I think you’re flirting with me.
DANIELLE: You’re exhausting and relentless.
ME: And you’re beautiful and amazing.
DANIELLE: Jack …
Another long silence. I hated that I couldn’t see her face. For someone so rigid, her chocolate eyes put every emotion on display.
DANIELLE: It’s been a long time since I considered someone a possibility. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.
My gut burned thinking of whoever hurt her so much that she thought alone was the only way to be. I’d change that, if only she’d give me a chance.
ME: You knew what you were doing in the closet. And on the bench …
DANIELLE: Okay, enough.
ME: You taught me how to get back on my feet. After I leave, maybe I can show you too. In a different way. An awesome way. All you have to say is yes.
