He had a single thin scar through his right eyebrow, almost unnoticeable. I wondered how he got it. I would not ask. Iwas committed to knowing as little as possible about this very pretty man.
“You have a nice nose,” he said.
“Don’t,” I replied, bristling. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a nice nose. It was something I liked about myself. It was just that compliments came with expectations. He was trying to pry information out of me. He was a grown frat boy, well versed in charming a woman, I was sure. And his only goal was to charm me into giving up facts about myself.
“Don’t what? Don’t give you a compliment? I’m standing here staring at you. I can’t help but notice things. Like your gorgeous eyes and your glowing skin and your perfect lips.”
My brows drew closer together with each compliment until I could feel the scowl on my face.
He just laughed. “You’d think I was insulting you.”
“Just don’t,” I said.
“I’m getting to know you better and better by the second. I can see how this exercise could strengthen a relationship.”
“It’s like she knows what she’s doing. Maybe your brother and Tara would benefit from some of these skills.” If I could convince Elijah to convince his brother to go to therapy already, he and I could stop going.
“Maybe,” he said.
“Then why fight this so hard? Why this stupid bet?”
“Because I support my brother,” he said.
“Even when he makes questionable decisions?”
He rubbed at his shoulder while adjusting his position against the wall. “I’ve learned that people can’t be told they’re making questionable decisions. They have to figure it out on their own. But in the meantime, I support him.”
“So youdothink he’s making a stupid decision.”
“In this case, I understand his side. Their relationship is fine. Why nitpick a good thing?”
“Strengthenis the word you used earlier.”
“You hanging on my every word?” He rubbed at his shoulder again. He had nice shoulders. Broad but lean. I wondered if his shoulder was bothering him. Was it sore? Why was it sore? No, I didn’t care.
“I have listening skills, yes,” I said.
“They have to figure out their own relationship,” he said.
“And yet here we are, right in the middle of it.”
He blinked, maybe realizing I was right. But then his teasing eyes, the ones he wore most of the time, I was learning, were back. “Are you sayingwe’vemade a stupid decision?”
“Phenomenally stupid.”
He let out a surprised laugh. “But you’re going to see it through.”
“One more session,” I said. Because I cared about Tara. Because I could show up for her despite the times I hadn’t in the past. “Because Tara is right, Elijah.”
“Why do you say my name like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like an expletive.”
It was my turn to give a surprised laugh. “I didn’t realize I was.”
“You are.”
