room, reminding me of a Disney princess on steroids. She looked so lovelorn and dreamy-eyed that I wanted to recite a Grimm fairytale—the ones without a happy ending—to her.
Hesitantly, I scooted closer to Riley. This couldn’t possibly be really happening. But when I felt Riley’s arm brush mine, the electricity that shot through me proved this was all too real.
This was an ex-fiancée’s nightmare.
I turned toward Riley, again avoiding eye contact. Awkwardly, I put my arms around his waist, feeling my cheeks heat at the action.
In return, Riley’s hands went to my waist.
At once, memories flashed into my mind. Memories of our first kiss. Memories of my yearning to spend forever by his side. Memories of the plans I’d once had for the rest of my life.
My sentimental side needed to die a quick death.
“Now I want the male to lie back against the couch. The female should flow with his leadership and lie back with him,” Lilsa continued with a flourish of her arms. “Be sure to keep your arms around each other.”
I was as stiff as a statue as Riley leaned back. My arms felt like cement. I hardly wanted to breathe. My neck might as well have a brace on it.
Even if we were married, going through this exercise in public would feel uncomfortable. I wasn’t much for public displays of affection.
“Now, you two.” Lilsa peered above us, her hands on her hips and shaking her head with adorable disapproval. “You’re both adults and you’re married. You belong to each other. Don’t act like strangers.”
I let out a shallow laugh and attempted to relax. It didn’t work. “I’m out of my comfort zone here.”
“Everyone needs to encourage this couple,” Lilsa said, reprimand on her face.
I glanced at the other couples. They all looked awkward, expect for Jim and Ginger, who actually looked like they were enjoying this. In fact, Ginger had a rather seductive look on her face and seemed lost in her husband’s gaze.
“What are your names?” Lilsa continued, her high-pitched, baby-like voice grating on my nerves.
“Riley and Gabby,” Riley said.
Why did he have to look at ease? He should be uncomfortable, just like me.
“Okay, everyone should encourage Riley and Gabby to be freer in expressing their affection for each other. I’m sure Dr. Turner will work with them as well. What do we want to say to them?”
“Marriage is good,” everyone chanted around us. “Relationships are work. Our partners are worth it.”
I cringed, feeling like I’d walked into a couples therapy cult. How long had they all practiced in order to be able to recite that together? The creepiness factor doubled for me.
“You’ll have the hang of that little ditty before you leave here,” Dr. Turner said, appearing beside Lilsa and staring at Riley and I as we “cuddled.” I might as well have been doing Heimlich with a grizzly bear.
I felt like I was touching fire, and I desperately wanted to pull away.
But I thought of the investigation. The greater good, I told myself. I had to do this so we could find answers. I tried to mentally block everything else. But dreams of forever didn’t disappear easily like that.
Maybe in the process of being here I’d get over Riley. Could I be that lucky?
“We haven’t done this in a very long time,” Riley said. “So excuse us if we’re awkward.”
“We all were when we got here,” Ginger called across the room. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all came here with baggage and issues. Being here will expose all those things.”
That was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to hide away all my feelings and pretend like they didn’t exist.
“Exposing myself is not on my agenda,” I mumbled.
Everyone froze and stared at me. I felt the air tightened around me.
My cheeks heated. “Exposing my emotions , that is.”
“Now, move in a little closer, Gabby,” Lilsa encouraged. “He won’t bite.”
Against my better instincts, I snuggled my head
Hesitantly, I scooted closer to Riley. This couldn’t possibly be really happening. But when I felt Riley’s arm brush mine, the electricity that shot through me proved this was all too real.
This was an ex-fiancée’s nightmare.
I turned toward Riley, again avoiding eye contact. Awkwardly, I put my arms around his waist, feeling my cheeks heat at the action.
In return, Riley’s hands went to my waist.
At once, memories flashed into my mind. Memories of our first kiss. Memories of my yearning to spend forever by his side. Memories of the plans I’d once had for the rest of my life.
My sentimental side needed to die a quick death.
“Now I want the male to lie back against the couch. The female should flow with his leadership and lie back with him,” Lilsa continued with a flourish of her arms. “Be sure to keep your arms around each other.”
I was as stiff as a statue as Riley leaned back. My arms felt like cement. I hardly wanted to breathe. My neck might as well have a brace on it.
Even if we were married, going through this exercise in public would feel uncomfortable. I wasn’t much for public displays of affection.
“Now, you two.” Lilsa peered above us, her hands on her hips and shaking her head with adorable disapproval. “You’re both adults and you’re married. You belong to each other. Don’t act like strangers.”
I let out a shallow laugh and attempted to relax. It didn’t work. “I’m out of my comfort zone here.”
“Everyone needs to encourage this couple,” Lilsa said, reprimand on her face.
I glanced at the other couples. They all looked awkward, expect for Jim and Ginger, who actually looked like they were enjoying this. In fact, Ginger had a rather seductive look on her face and seemed lost in her husband’s gaze.
“What are your names?” Lilsa continued, her high-pitched, baby-like voice grating on my nerves.
“Riley and Gabby,” Riley said.
Why did he have to look at ease? He should be uncomfortable, just like me.
“Okay, everyone should encourage Riley and Gabby to be freer in expressing their affection for each other. I’m sure Dr. Turner will work with them as well. What do we want to say to them?”
“Marriage is good,” everyone chanted around us. “Relationships are work. Our partners are worth it.”
I cringed, feeling like I’d walked into a couples therapy cult. How long had they all practiced in order to be able to recite that together? The creepiness factor doubled for me.
“You’ll have the hang of that little ditty before you leave here,” Dr. Turner said, appearing beside Lilsa and staring at Riley and I as we “cuddled.” I might as well have been doing Heimlich with a grizzly bear.
I felt like I was touching fire, and I desperately wanted to pull away.
But I thought of the investigation. The greater good, I told myself. I had to do this so we could find answers. I tried to mentally block everything else. But dreams of forever didn’t disappear easily like that.
Maybe in the process of being here I’d get over Riley. Could I be that lucky?
“We haven’t done this in a very long time,” Riley said. “So excuse us if we’re awkward.”
“We all were when we got here,” Ginger called across the room. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all came here with baggage and issues. Being here will expose all those things.”
That was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to hide away all my feelings and pretend like they didn’t exist.
“Exposing myself is not on my agenda,” I mumbled.
Everyone froze and stared at me. I felt the air tightened around me.
My cheeks heated. “Exposing my emotions , that is.”
“Now, move in a little closer, Gabby,” Lilsa encouraged. “He won’t bite.”
Against my better instincts, I snuggled my head
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