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“Hey, babe,” I said. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing, just chilling before getting ready for work. You?”
“Um, same. Sort of. I need your advice on something first, though.”
“Definitely the high boots. Those make your legs look so good.”
“No. Not fashion advice but thank you. I need some advice about Ryan.”
“Hit me.”
I took a deep breath. “I really like him. But you know me. I don’t like talking about myself and everything I’ve been through.”
“Is he pressing you about it? You know lawyers are always asking questions, even when they’re just making conversation.”
“I think it’s more than that.”
“I see the way he looks at you. The man is in love with you, Laura. He’s gonna want more from you.”
I closed my eyes. My heart did a little happy dance at her words, but alarm bells rang in my mind. What if he found out and left me? I hated to admit that it would destroy me. I’d tried to keep my distance but lately it had gotten harder and harder.
“There’s something in my past. I’m not ready to share with anyone, but I feel like it’s getting between the two of us.”
She was quiet for a few minutes. “I get you not wanting to tell everyone about your life. You’re entitled to your privacy. But if you really want to start something with Ryan, you’re going to have to be honest with him. You can’t build trust on shaky ground.”
“I know.” I rubbed my forehead. “My heart wants to trust him, but my head… well, it just wants to protect me. It’s what I’ve done for most of my life.”
“Just talk to him, Laura. Feel him out. Give him a little and see how he takes it.”
Mmm… That’s not a bad idea.
Maybe I don’t have to bare my soul all at once. Maybe only a few pieces at a time.
I inhaled and my chest felt looser, as though I could breathe a little easier now. “Thanks, Sam. That really helped.”
“Anytime. I’ll see you later at work.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
Tossing my phone onto my bed, I grabbed a towel to shower before work.
“Hi honey, I’m home.”
“Oh, hey, Dad. Just in the bathroom, getting ready for work.”
“All right.”
I stepped under the hot water. My muscles relaxed and my shoulders drooped. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been but speaking to Sam had made me feel a lot better.
I dried my hair and added in some waves with a curling iron. I even wore the high boots tonight, as Sam had suggested.
My dad was in the kitchen, staring at his phone.
“Are you going somewhere?” I asked. He wore a black baseball cap and a black jacket, instead of his usual after-work clothes.
“Huh?” he said, looking up from his phone.
I pointed to his jeans. “Looks like you’re going out. Where are you going?”
