one
RYLEE
"LJ called XanderDadlast weekend,”Rylee revealed, her eyes on her therapist, Dr. Liz Peters. “And I haven’t been able to breathe since. Not because he said it, but because LJ said it with so much ease. It’s crazy for me to have that reaction, right?”
Rylee had rehearsed other ways to bring that up on the drive here—safer ones—but the truth always came out first whenever she had Liz in her sight.
Because so much can change in such a short time. Life can unfold in ways you never saw coming… and love, too.
Rylee Daniels knew that better than most. She sat comfortably in her therapist’s basement office, that question lingering in her mind, refusing to let go. She knew the answer was coming, whether she liked it or not.
And that’s why she loved it here. Liz’s office encouraged Rylee to get lost in her thoughts and to never brush them aside. To analyze them, study them, even question them, and today she needed to do all of the above.
Rylee lifted the mug of hot coffee to her lips to blow into the cup. Her eyes settled on Liz, who’d just taken a seat in the chair opposite her, a smile already resting on her lips.
“What a way to start today’s session,” Liz started. “And already I can see the weight of that question lifting because you asked it. So to answer it in short, no it’s not crazy.”
Rylee exhaled a deep breath.
“It’s good to see you, as always.” Liz settled in her seat, setting her black notebook on her lap. “We’ll get to what you asked in a moment. But before we begin, how are things?”
Rylee couldn’t help but smile at the question.
Because aside fromthat, things were actually... perfect.
“Great.” Rylee nodded, exhaling the deep breath she’d inhaled. “Really great. As you know, The Hope Collective is doing really well.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Liz answered with a nod.
“It’s flourishing,” Rylee continued, smiling. “We’re almost too big for the bookstore basement in Cobble Hill.” She focused up at the ceiling to gather her thoughts. “The kids are doing really well. LJ started preschool last September. And Nova’s loving kindergarten but is not looking forward to first grade after I informed her there will be no more naps at school once she starts first grade.”
Liz let out a soft giggle. “Honestly, I don’t blame her for being hesitant to leave kindergarten. If I’d had the option, I might’ve stayed there myself.”
Rylee laughed. “Oh, she is unsettled by that news.”
It was Liz’s turn to laugh.
“Hmmm… let’s see… what else?” Rylee’s eyes bounced around the office, soft sunlight beaming through the basement window, casting an unintentional spotlight over her. “Oh! Business is fantastic. I’ve been able to hire a couple of virtual assistants to give me more time to rest and relax.”
“Very good,” Liz responded, crossing her legs in her chair. “Andnowthe boyfriend?”
If Rylee’s brown skin were a few shades lighter, it would have brightened into a blush red. Instead, it glowed like the rest of her whenever Xander was mentioned or her mind wandered to thoughts of him.
“How’s everything going with Xander?”
Rylee couldn’t help but moan to herself, lift her mug once more to blow into it, hoping to hide her smile.
Rylee was in love. So in love… and feeling really guilty about it.
“It’s going… well,” she acknowledged with a slow nod. “Almosttoowell.”
Liz arched a brow.
Rylee leaned forward to place the mug of coffee onto the wooden coffee table in front of her and didn’t lean back in her seat, eyes fixed on Liz.
“Xander’s great, except sometimes I feel overwhelmed by how available he is to me.”
Liz tilted her head to one side, her cloud of salt and pepper tight curls moving that way.
