you’re the sappiest romantic on the planet.”
I sat straighter. “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s true,” he said with a half-shrug. “And especially when it comes to this guy.”
“Michael, I’ve known him for like two days. What the hell?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I held his gaze, trying to read his expression. “What?”
“Seth.” Michael sighed. “I’m not saying you two are destined to fall in love or something, but I think you’re jumping the gun by closing yourself off to the possibility. And with this guy in particular, I’m thinking that knee-jerk reaction might be a mistake.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “How do you figure?”
“At the beginning of your appointment, I asked you what he was like.”
“And?”
“And there were two ways you could have answered that. One was the way you do when you’re lusting after someone and couldn’t care less if anything goes beyond that. You would have been describing his ass and his shoulders, and saying he had a mouth that was made for something you would describe in some poetically obscene way.” Michael’s eyebrow quirked. “When I asked you about this guy? You said he was funny and easy to talk to.”
My heart dropped. I hadn’t even noticed that myself, but of course this motherfucker knew me way too well.
Michael laughed softly. “And don’t even try to argue with me. I can tell at a hundred paces when you even think you might fall for someone.” He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned a little closer. “The weird thing is seeing you fight it this hard.”
I lowered my gaze. “I’ve only known him for a few days.”
“Never stopped you before.”
I didn’t respond.
Michael sighed. “I know the fact that he’s a minister makes you nervous. And you know I understand why. But if there’s something about this guy that’s making you sit up and take notice, and you have to fight this hard to convince yourself not to see where things go with him, then maybe he’s worth the risk.” Before I could answer, he added, “Seth, your parents cost you a lot of good things in your life.” He inclined his head, and his expression was serious enough to make my heart stop. “Don’t let them cost you this too.”
I avoided Michael’s gaze. “What happens if it doesn’t work out?” I gestured toward my building. “We live across the hall from each other.”
Michael shrugged. “So you just quietly pass in the hall like you would with any other shitty neighbor.”
I glared at him. “You really think it’d be that simple with an ex?”
“Probably not. But I’m guessing it won’t be much less awkward if you guys are just passing in the hall with all this tension and shit between you.”
Or if we keep dragging each other to bed, even when it’s probably not a good idea. “Fair point.”
“Just talk to him, take it a day at a time, and for the love of God, don’t fuck this up.”
I laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
“Good. Anyway, I have to get to my other patients. Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
“All right. Tell Nathan to set you up two weeks from Monday.” Michael picked up his clipboard. “But if it gets too painful, I can get you in sooner. And check into some of that ergonomic equipment, would you?”
“Will do.”
“Liar,” he muttered.
We both laughed. Then we hugged briefly, and he left the room while I put my shirt and shoes back on.
He was right about Darren. Of course he was. I barely knew Darren, but I could see myself wanting more from him than sex and friendship. We just clicked too well, and I couldn’t ignore that. Logically and intellectually, I knew that.
It wasn’t the logical and intellectual part of me that was terrified of getting involved with Darren, though. And that part was certain the only way I wasn’t getting hurt was if we just stayed friends. No matter how much I wanted him.
Wednesday was one of those days. Enough cancellations to put me in the red for the day.
I sat straighter. “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s true,” he said with a half-shrug. “And especially when it comes to this guy.”
“Michael, I’ve known him for like two days. What the hell?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I held his gaze, trying to read his expression. “What?”
“Seth.” Michael sighed. “I’m not saying you two are destined to fall in love or something, but I think you’re jumping the gun by closing yourself off to the possibility. And with this guy in particular, I’m thinking that knee-jerk reaction might be a mistake.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “How do you figure?”
“At the beginning of your appointment, I asked you what he was like.”
“And?”
“And there were two ways you could have answered that. One was the way you do when you’re lusting after someone and couldn’t care less if anything goes beyond that. You would have been describing his ass and his shoulders, and saying he had a mouth that was made for something you would describe in some poetically obscene way.” Michael’s eyebrow quirked. “When I asked you about this guy? You said he was funny and easy to talk to.”
My heart dropped. I hadn’t even noticed that myself, but of course this motherfucker knew me way too well.
Michael laughed softly. “And don’t even try to argue with me. I can tell at a hundred paces when you even think you might fall for someone.” He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned a little closer. “The weird thing is seeing you fight it this hard.”
I lowered my gaze. “I’ve only known him for a few days.”
“Never stopped you before.”
I didn’t respond.
Michael sighed. “I know the fact that he’s a minister makes you nervous. And you know I understand why. But if there’s something about this guy that’s making you sit up and take notice, and you have to fight this hard to convince yourself not to see where things go with him, then maybe he’s worth the risk.” Before I could answer, he added, “Seth, your parents cost you a lot of good things in your life.” He inclined his head, and his expression was serious enough to make my heart stop. “Don’t let them cost you this too.”
I avoided Michael’s gaze. “What happens if it doesn’t work out?” I gestured toward my building. “We live across the hall from each other.”
Michael shrugged. “So you just quietly pass in the hall like you would with any other shitty neighbor.”
I glared at him. “You really think it’d be that simple with an ex?”
“Probably not. But I’m guessing it won’t be much less awkward if you guys are just passing in the hall with all this tension and shit between you.”
Or if we keep dragging each other to bed, even when it’s probably not a good idea. “Fair point.”
“Just talk to him, take it a day at a time, and for the love of God, don’t fuck this up.”
I laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
“Good. Anyway, I have to get to my other patients. Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
“All right. Tell Nathan to set you up two weeks from Monday.” Michael picked up his clipboard. “But if it gets too painful, I can get you in sooner. And check into some of that ergonomic equipment, would you?”
“Will do.”
“Liar,” he muttered.
We both laughed. Then we hugged briefly, and he left the room while I put my shirt and shoes back on.
He was right about Darren. Of course he was. I barely knew Darren, but I could see myself wanting more from him than sex and friendship. We just clicked too well, and I couldn’t ignore that. Logically and intellectually, I knew that.
It wasn’t the logical and intellectual part of me that was terrified of getting involved with Darren, though. And that part was certain the only way I wasn’t getting hurt was if we just stayed friends. No matter how much I wanted him.
Wednesday was one of those days. Enough cancellations to put me in the red for the day.
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