That following week I couldn't think of anything else.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC1wO1BnnC
The text message weighed heavy on my mind. Let's talk another time. These words have been haunting me all weekend.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQx35iEYFF
When is another time? I hated feeling this way. Anticipating something. I never considered myself an over-thinker but lately my anxiety has been through the roof. It wasn't noticeable to anyone around me of course, but I noticed myself constantly feeling nervous and uneasy. The last time I felt this sort of anxiety was the night I heard West tell Frankie he was tired of feeling sorry for me. She was there for me then, this time she was the one causing it.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7Q5pKJ3Zj
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL08Owv0jp
I couldn't pinpoint why I was feeling this way. I was afraid of her response, that she might hate me or worse yet, that I'd never get to see her again.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWuIhS1xHG
I'd been waiting on her to text or call all day. I was instinctively tapping my foot in my bio class spacing out brainstorming ideas of what she might say when we talked.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpZpds8Mop
"T wake up." I refocused my attention to the class and saw Frankie, West and Gio in front of me.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrQ8MKzn5i
"C'mon dude, your class is over." Gio playfully pushed me while I was sitting in my seat. I stood up and tossed everything into my bag hurriedly realizing I was the last one left to leave. I followed them out and we walked towards the dining hall talking about some party I missed over the weekend.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy5sfNtLyy
We got to the cafe and I chose a turkey sandwich along with grilled chicken. I tried to start eating more since I recently began working out again. Frankie wasn't the only one that noticed my weight gain, I got a few compliments on my physique at the gym the other day that made me feel good about myself. Very different from the comments I used to get which were, are you eating or you look sick.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDarMpV856w
"Tommy, what are you doing tonight?" Frankie asked. I shrugged in response.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJserYORzE
"We want to go roller skating." They look at me all agreeing with her statement waiting to see if I'd come.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfffjNpmIK
"I don't know about skating, I'm not good at that." I scratched my neck.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSoa30TZOT
"Well afterwards we're going to drink at mine in the hot tub. You can come then." She didn't seem to want to take no for an answer so I gave in. "Okay."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZsfOBztQV
My phone buzzed directing everyone's attention to it and the caller ID was an unknown number. I hesitantly answered and put it up to my ear.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQSH94jCq2
"Hello?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzEb57gORY
"Hey, it's Summer. I'm calling you from my personal phone."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPAaHd2aZj
I sat up and looked around the table before getting up to find a more suitable place to talk to her.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZXvChhUuB
"Hey. Is everything okay?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotiKhvCIzk
"Yes, I just thought it would make more sense to call you from my number and not my work phone."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8I8vf0mbv
"Yeah, that makes sense." I said anxiously agreeing.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJsQ3cy6Y4
"Are you free to talk today?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0L4MxOKDz
"Yeah, what time?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaDQbkXJJM
"Well I get off in 30 minutes, so anytime after."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0je54ivhin
"I can be there in 15."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJonuTzmMDL
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW2lpBAVvp
I felt a sense of relief after hanging up. I thought she forgot about our talk so it was comforting to hear she still wanted to.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3mimO9GKl
I went back to the table and grabbed my backpack and tossed it on my shoulder, stuffing the rest of my turkey sandwich in my mouth.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V9ckUnYLp
"Where are you going?" Gio asked.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUdzGu3Wfm
I look around trying to find an excuse but come up blank. "I'll see you guys tonight."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59cH1B9R2j
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCLGmGklkS
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep1ZWD9jWW
Once I reached the office parking lot I waited in my car until I saw people started exiting the building indicating the office hours were ending. She was the last one to leave holding a binder and her laptop in one hand and a pink water bottle in the other. She had her glasses on and her hair half up half down with her usual professional attire. A button up and slacks.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCefb7E9QK
She threw her things in her back seat and looked around the lot until she spotted me. I got out of my car and met her halfway.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBh0bI7GvZ
"Hi." I said nervously.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xewcg8hLf
"Hi. Were you waiting long?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvog9UZ7kmU
"No I kept myself occupied."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs4OlIGADf
"By doing what?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lr4yAmi8P
"People watching." She chuckled at my answer making me smile.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6XnUZU8eV
"I'm going to change, then I'll show you where I want us to go."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl91YFCYI0V
I nodded slowly curious to where she was taking us. She walked back to her car and I leaned on the passenger waiting for her to finish changing. Her windows were tinted well so there wasn't much to see but when she walked back out from her backseat her long legs were revealed by the cotton shorts she had on. She had grey shorts and a graphic T shirt on.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYJ9RoKDym
I went to the other side of my car to open the door for her. I couldn't peel my eyes away from her face because I didn't want her to think I was just focused on looking at her body. She put an unfamiliar destination on my GPS and we sat silently as I drove.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEf8vIy4ci
It was a small waterfall just off the highway. It was a park with a walking trail but most people came to sit by the creek and take pictures of the waterfall. It was prettiest at night because they had lights around the most populated area.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLgrzJ1TcP
I got out to open her door before she could and she appeared appreciative but still kept her professional front. I followed her to the base of the waterfall where there were some kids taking pictures and videos. We sat on a bench in perfect view of the scenery.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1ghM4CjJk
"I've never been here before." I broke our silence.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KdSza3Ea6
"It's my favorite place second to my office. Also a good place to connect with nature and clear thoughts."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8GQJkdway
"How often do you come here?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrhsKrosA3
"Every day. Either before or after work." She sighed watching people walk by while recording the view. "I thought you might like it, you mentioned you like nature. I'm surprised you haven't visited before."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT0eCBuWiX
"I am too." I try not to smile after she mentioned remembering my comment about liking nature. I try to remember it's her job to remember things like that about patients so I shouldn't think too deeply about it.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU5y8WK4aG
"Thomas, the reason I wanted to talk to you is because I think we should talk about what happened at your dad's house." She turned to me but I was already looking at her. "I want you to know I care about you a lot, and I recognize you care about me as-well but I need you to be honest with me. Why did you kiss me?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWDv4tuiUW
She was anticipating my answer. I could tell she really wanted me to tell her it was a mistake and it meant nothing so we could go back to our patient-therapist relationship and get over this awkward misunderstanding . I was torn between telling her what she wanted to hear and telling her my real answer.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYGkfNy8bK
"Do you want the truth?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BjXMAUWla
"Yes please." She spoke softly.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UyX0u0AJd
"I don't know what it was that drew me to you and had me so interested in you. It started when you were crying alone." I paused and looked away from her afraid to look her in the eye and say the next part. "I find myself thinking about you, all the time, everywhere, always. You've been a constant in my mind since then, and that night I kissed you felt like maybe for a small second that you might have felt that way too."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW9vgffdLQ
She was quiet. I was afraid to look over at her but I took the risk. To my surprise she was still looking at me with a warm gaze her eyes held on to mine, never faltering.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCn1tQLWDo
"It's common to feel this way about someone who's supporting you after grief. You've opened up to me about things you've never said out loud to anyone else and allowed me in to the darkest parts of your mind. I get how confusing those emotions can be."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGXbCAsn7n
"I'm not confused about how I feel when I'm with you."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VH1ireCFs
She nodded her head before turning away "You have two options Thomas. You either sort out your feelings and we can continue our sessions or I'm afraid you can no longer be my patient."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WRTPb9CA1
I don't think anything could have prepared me for the second option. I was starting to regret my confession and thought maybe lying would have saved me from this heartbreak.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN1fPSwJoa
"I don't want to hurt you Thomas, I really don't, but you know how serious this is. I could lose my license and my job. If you really feel like you're not confused about your feelings for me we should end this now."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzByWuo6QC
"Okay." I said turning away not wanting to look at her any longer. She got up first and I did shortly after her and she just looked up at me with her pretty brown eyes that held so much worry in them.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLqubUfw4z
"I'm going to take an uber back." She started walking and I followed behind. I didn't argue instead nodded in agreement not sure what else to say.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiLr5RdWDi
I held her wrist before she could go in a different direction causing us to separate from each other and pulled her to where I stood. She looked startled but regained composure after some seconds. I looked at her one last time before impulsively embracing her.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2raHxb6UhU
"Is this okay?" I asked while holding her knowing I should've asked before. She didn't reply instead she wrapped her arms around my torso and buried herself into me.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
