“This must be Maddie,” Dr. Asher said as she greeted us in the waiting room, crouching in front of Maddie. “I’m Dr. Asher.”
“Hi,” Maddie said in an almost inaudible whisper.
“Did your uncle tell you anything about me?”
“My uncle Jesse told me that I can talk to you about whatever I want.”
Dr. Asher snuck me a smile. “That’s right. For the next hour, we can discuss whatever you’d like to talk about. I’m excited to get to know you.” She motioned to her open office door.
“I’ll be right here when you’re done.” I pointed to the chair behind me.
I had come to meet Dr. Asher last week to feel her out before I introduced her to Maddie. I’d liked her instantly after she’d managed to put me at ease in the first fifteen minutes. She was an older woman, but not as old as my mother. Her hair was platinum and fell slightly past her shoulders, but she had a grandmotherly way about her. I figured Maddie needed all the women in her life that she could get at the moment.
I settled into a chair and tried to exhale a calming breath after Dr. Asher closed the door behind them.
Right now, her sessions were just one-on-one, but I would be able to speak to Dr. Asher for a few minutes after.
After I dug my phone out of my pocket, I noticed a text from Caden once I swiped up.
Caden:You should have come out last night. It was fun.A lot more fun than that stupid reunion.
Me:I’m glad you had fun, but I wasn’t feeling like hanging out at a bar with people I hardly remember.
Caden:And you were in a rush to take Emily home after you dumped me. Really took me back to high school.
Me:Emily and I stopped at the diner on the way home.
I watched the texting buttons pop up then stop, then pop up again for a long minute and go away.
Caden:So, did she, like, throw coffee at you or smash a slice of pie in your face?
A chuckle slipped out, as I’d almost expected her to at one point.
Me:No. We talked. It was good. I think she might understand why I was such an asshole back then.
Caden:And I heard she’s single. Sabrina told me she’s been mostly unattached since she broke up with her fiancé a while ago.
Fiancé?It was further than I’d ever gotten with a woman, and I wasn’t sure why the thought of Emily engaged to someone stung.
Or Iwassure, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it.
Caden:Maybe this is your chance. Second time’s the charm and all that.
Me:That’s not how the saying goes.
Caden:Whatever. That girl has been under your skin since day one, and now you finally have another shot.
Me:It was a ride to the diner to clear the air. I wouldn’t call it a chance.
Caden:But you could.
I dropped my chin to my chest and groaned. Caden was the only one who could be just as big of an exasperating jackass in text as in person.
Me:You know as well as I do that I can’t. I am not available for her or anyone. No charms, no chances. I’m very glad she doesn’t hate me, and it was a nice end to the night. That’s it. Please drop it.
Caden:Your sister would hate this. She’d roll her eyes at you just as much as I am now. Just because you have a kid to take care of doesn’t mean you have to be a monk.
Me:Right now, only one woman has my attention. And she needs all of it.
