AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“W-what?”
“You look at him like he hung the moon, sweetheart,” Imani says. “And the amount of hope you have—I know you want this to work out. I want it to work out, too. But... what if it doesn’t?”
I sink into my chair. They’re right—I know they are. But he’s my Blaze.
“Have you slept with him?”
“Not exactly.”
Imani groans. “And what does that mean?”
“He—uh, well. He said he doesn’t want to have full-blown sex because he doesn’t want me to feel like he’s using me. But that’s not going to stop him from giving me orgasms. His words.”
Imani and Liling exchange a surprised glance.
“That’s actually really sweet.” Liling squeezes my hand. “And respectful. Damn. Can you imagine a man doing that?”
Imani laughs. “Honestly? No. Not really.” Then she lets out a long sigh, placing her hand over mine and Liling’s. “I’m worried, Brooke. And I want you to be cautious, even though you never are where your heart’s concerned. But just know that no matter what decision you make, I’ll support you. I promise I’ll always have your back.”
Liling nods. “Me, too. I love you, and I’m with you no matter what.”
Relief floods me. “Thanks, guys. It means a lot.”
And it really, truly does. I’ve grown extra close with Imani and Liling over the past year, to the point that I can’t imagine my life without them anymore. I need them. And I’ll need them even more if things go south with me and Blaze.
The thought causes a sinking feeling in my stomach that I try to ignore for the rest of lunch.
Please, Blaze. Please don’t hurt me again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
BLAZE
MEGAN’S OFFICE IS bright yet professional. Not too cluttered, but the couch and a few throw pillows and decorations give the place a relaxing atmosphere. But as I lean back against the cushions, I feel anything but relaxed.
Megan starts by asking me some preliminary questions and has me fill out some questionnaire asking about my childhood. By the time I’m finished, my palms are sweating.
“So you’re here because you’re having problems with your childhood best friend?” Megan looks at me from the couch opposite the one I’m sitting on. Her expression is neutral.
“Yeah. Brooke.”
She nods. “And what exactly do you want to get out of our sessions?”
Frowning, I let myself think for a minute. “I want to keep Brooke. I’ll do anything. Whether that means apologizing every day for the rest of my life, or working to understand her better, or whatever else. Literally, I will do anything.”
Megan gives me a small smile. “That’s a good start. Dominic told me about your situation. She cut you off out of the blue, and you two didn’t speak for almost a year. And then a couple months ago your social circles started overlapping more?”
I nodded. “Yeah. After she broke up with her fiancé and apologized to me.”
“Right.” Megan scribbles something on her notepad. “And that’s the apology you didn’t accept?” She says it with absolutely no judgment, but I still feel like an asshole anyway.
“Correct. She made me feel...” I rub the back of my neck. Why is it so hard to talk about this? “My mom left when I was a kid. Just dropped us. When Brooke cut me off, she made me feel the same way my mom did. Like I was nothing.”
“Do you still feel that way?”
I clasp my hands together and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. Do I still feel that way? How can I, after the way Brooke crawled into bed with me? After she clung to me? After she kissed me like I was the only man in the world?
“I don’t know.”
