“It is.” I suddenly want to open and tell Vivian all about Dr. Hale. About our session, and my homework. To tell her about me. “It’s helping me to be less rigid.”
“So would ‘rigid’ have kept you from walking over here?”
I nod. “But, I made an exception.”
Her brows lift. “For the group?”
I meet her gaze.
“For you.”
A moment passes between us when she connects the words I’ve said to what they could mean. The air around us is thick, but I am not running from this feeling. And, thankfully, she holds my gaze and doesn’t look away.
“Careful,” she says, quieter now. “You’re getting better at this.”
“I don’t think that’s what’s happening.”
“No?” she asks.
“No,” I say. “I think I’m just saying what I mean.”
Her expression softens a fraction. “That’s dangerous,” she says.
“For who?”
She holds my gaze a second longer, and my stomach turns a somersault or fifteen.
“Undecided.”
Well now. That pulls something low and steady in my chest. But before I can figure out what to do with that, Lucy’s voice cuts in as she and Eva reappear, sliding back into their spots like they were never gone.
“I know you two look cozy and like you’re deep in the middle of something, but…” Lucy looks between us, then at me. “We’re hungry and time’s up.”
“I wasn’t aware there was a timer,” I say, winking at Lucy.
“There is now,” she replies, gently pushing me away. “Girls’ night. Remember?”
Eva smiles, a little apologetic, a little amused. “We’re reclaiming our friend.”
Lucy points toward the tables. “Your people are staring.”
I glance over, and they are. Liam’s crossed his eyes, making the other two crack up, and I can only shake my head. You are who you hang out with, right?
“Go,” Lucy says, flicking her hand. “Before they come get you and make it weird.”
“They will make it weird,” Eva adds. “I can even tell you that and I just met them.”
“Your words are filled with truth,” I agree, chuckling. “Have a fun night, you guys.” I look at Vivian. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
Her mouth tips. “Saturday.” There’s that same ease. That same—something.
Then I step back, turning toward the table, and I can feel it, even as I walk away, that this conversation didn’t stay in the category it started in.
Not even close.
CHAPTER 13
VIVIAN
