“It wasn't asession, it was just...maintenance.”
“Maintenance.”
“Yes.”
“On the guy whose dick was still inside you when you fell asleep.”Her nose crinkles, but I can see she's doing her best not to judge me.
“It's called being thorough!”
“It's called being absolutely insane.”But she's smiling now.“You really like him, don't you?”
“I don't—that's not—” I splutter.“This was a mistake.A one-time thing.We agreed it was just to get each other out of our systems.”
“And did it work?”
The question hits harder than it should.
Because no.It didn't work.If anything, it made everything worse.Now I know what Jay Cross sounds like when he comes.Now I know how his hands feel gripping my hips, how his stupid piercing hits exactly the right spot when—
She laughs, settling back onto her bed with her coffee.“You're so screwed.”
“No.I'm not.He's not my patient anymore, so I never have to see him again.”
“Never see him again?You're joking, right?”
“No—”
Knock.Knock.Knock.
“Expecting someone?”Kinsey asks.
“No.”My heart is suddenly pounding.“You?”
“At seven in the morning?Who would I be expecting?”
The knock comes again.Louder this time.More insistent.
“Ally.”A voice through the door.Deep, familiar, and absolutely the last person I want to hear right now.“I know you're in there.Open up.”
No.No, no, no.
“Is that—” Kinsey starts.
“Hart.”His voice is muffled but determined.“I can hear you.Either you open this door, or I start making a scene in the hallway.Your choice.”
Kinsey is already grabbing her phone and her keys from her nightstand.“You know what?I'm going to give you two some privacy.”
“What?No!You can't leave me alone with him!”
“Watch me.”She's grinning as she heads for the door.“Besides, I have a feeling this conversation needs to happen without an audience.”
“Kinsey—”
But she's already opening the door, and there he is.
Jay Cross.He's dressed, thankfully, but his hair is a mess and there's a pillow crease on his cheek that suggests he woke up recently.
Woke up and found me gone.
