“You can nap here.” He tilted his chin toward the bed.
Cautious not to disturb his notes, she crawled up over his legs to kiss him. “You need to spend some Becca-free time with your family.”
And she needed some Linx-free time because she worried that she could very well get attached to the man in a way that was not fling-y.
“You sure it’s not that you need some family-free time without them?” He did set his guitar aside this time, kissing the stuffing out of her.
“I need a nap.” She smiled against his mouth.
“Is it bad that I don’t really want to stay here alone with them?” he asked.
Her happy-go-lucky Linx suddenly became Mr. Frowny Pants. Becca didn’t know how Linx preferred his soothing. Finding out tipped them into relationship territory. So she did what she would never tell one of her clients to do—she went for the quick, precise escape.
“Not bad.” She gave a final peck on his lips before crawling back down his body. “You can always come nap with me later, if you want.”
He let her go. “Then we won’t nap.”
She grinned because he was correct. Then she yawned because she hadn’t gotten hardly any sleep. She was knackered.
“When can I see you again?” he asked.
After last night? Her skin warmed. Anytime he wanted to, if the truth were told. “Text me later?”
He nodded, pulling his guitar back to his lap and strumming out a few chords while she slipped out of the room.
Moving past Gibson, who insisted she stop to rub his head, Becca kept her steps light as she turned the corner of the hallway, hoping to slip past the living room to the front door but… gah… Linx’s dad holed up there watching television.
She back peddled. Literally, walking backward as silent as she could in Converse sneakers. The kitchen door worked as well as the front door. Slipping out that one made much more sense and required substantially fewer opportunities for uncomfortable exchanges with the parentals.
She slinked into the kitchen, checking the car icon on the app, and ran smack dab into Courtney.
Not literally. Courtney was sipping at a cup of hot tea, staring at her laptop.
Okay, well, this was fine. Courtney didn’t want to talk about anything, anyway. They were, according to her specific requests, not to mention the unmentionable.
“Hey.” Becca shrugged off her purse and set it on the dining room table next to where Courtney had set up a laptop and workstation. She rummaged through the bag, fishing out her fake, supposed-to-look-like Kate Spade sunglasses.
Courtney glanced up from her screen. “Hey.”
She said nothing, seeming to dare Becca to speak first. Okay, Becca could speak first. That wasn’t a problem. Turned out she didn’t have to because Courtney asked, “You’re really a counselor?”
Becca nodded. “Officially. Though, I’m taking a break.”
“Seems like everyone is taking a break.” Courtney continued working on her laptop. Becca checked the car icon again—it was a touch closer, but not much. “Linx is getting restless. I can feel it.”
“On behalf of Dimefront fans everywhere, I hope they get this figured out soon,” Becca said. “Do you know the other guys?”
“I do the publicity for the band.” Courtney smiled, but it didn’t meet her eyes. “For now, at least. We’ll see what happens with my life in the next few months.” She went back to staring vacantly at the screen.
“I’m sure they’ll make accommodations.” Becca went for chipper, but to be honest, her stomach got a little sore because she didn’t want Linx to be without his band much longer.
“I know we don’t know each other well, but your brother is awesome.” Becca blew out a breath from her cheeks. She wanted to sit, start an intake, offer to help Courtney process the intense emotions she had to be feeling. Except this was not a therapy session. Becca’s job was not to fix anything or help anyone else fix anything, either. An intake would be stressful. So, in this moment, she was not a counselor. She could be a friend, though. “And your family is, too.”
“Linx is an easy guy to care about,” Courtney said, sounding like she totally believed her words. “My parents are okay.” The way she said it indicated she thought they were much more than just, okay.
“They’re worried about you,” Becca said.
“Nothing to worry about.” Courtney’s smile didn’t meet her eyes. “I’ve got it figured out.”
