Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“How could anybody ever want to be married?” Henley mutters under his breath.
I look over at him, my faith in men completely and utterly ruined.
“Fuck. Off.”
Chapter 20
Henley
Rebecca cries against Blake’s chest as we all watch, unsure what to say.
“Come on, Bec, you’re staying at my house tonight,” Juliet says.
“That’s a good idea.” Blake nods. “Okay?” he asks her softly.
Rebecca finally nods. “Okay.”
With her tucked safely under his arm, they follow Juliet over to her house. I trail behind them, unsure what to say.
They walk up the front steps, and Juliet opens the door. Blake and Rebecca walk inside, and I go to follow them in, and Juliet steps in front of me, blocking the doorway.
“No.”
I frown.
“The door did hit me on the way out, Henley, and it knocked some sense into me.”
My eyes search hers.
“You’re not welcome here anymore. Stay the hell away from me.”
I step back and nod. “Fine.” I’m shocked but not surprised.
Juliet closes the door in my face, and I hear Rebecca start to cry from inside. I wait for a moment, unsure what to do. Unsure where to go.
You’re not welcome here anymore.
I close my eyes in disgust at myself. What did you expect?
Eventually I drag myself home, and I sit on my front steps in the darkness.
And to the sounds of Rebecca’s heart breaking in the distance, mine does too.
“Henley.” Aaron smiles. “Come in. Please take a seat.”
I walk past him and sit down. “I don’t know why I’m here. This is a waste of fucking time.”
He smiles and sits behind the desk opposite me. “How have you been?”
“Okay.”
“Anything new happen since I saw you last?”
“Nope.” I roll my lips and look around. I just want this over with.
“Henley.” He pauses. “I know you are only here because Dr. Grayson is making you come.”
“I told you before, he’s dramatized the entire thing. I’m fine. I don’t need to be here. You are wasting your time. Spend it on someone who really needs it.”
“Okay.” He nods casually. “That’s good to hear that you are doing well.” He scribbles down some notes while I wait.
“So . . . let’s pick up where we left off, shall we?”
I shrug.
“Have you thought any further about Juliet since we spoke last?”
“She’s all I fucking think about.”
“That’s good.” He sits back with a smile. “You care about her.”
I roll my lips, choosing to stay silent.
“Are you and her getting along well?”
“No.”
“Did something happen?”
You’re not welcome here anymore.
“Ahh . . .” I shrug. “She told me that she never wants to see me again.”
“What caused her to say that?”
“I . . .”
“You what?”
“Every time I see her, I”—I shrug, ashamed by my behavior—“I become very nasty toward her. I say things.” I wring my hands together. “Terrible things.”
“You try and hurt her?”
I nod.
“Like she hurt you?”
I clench my hands into fists. “I don’t know why I do it . . . I can’t seem to stop myself. Horrible things just blurt out.”
“I see.” Aaron watches me for a while. “Why are you angry with her?”
“I’m not.”
“Did she sleep with someone else?”
I frown. “No,” I snap. “She’s not like that.”
“She’s not a nice person?”
“She’s the best person,” I fire back in disgust.
“She lied to you?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“How so?”
I puff air into my cheeks. “She told me that she wanted a sexual relationship only.”
He frowns as he listens. “Go on.”
“And then . . .” My voice trails off.
“She made you fall in love with her?”
My eyes drop to the floor, and I nod.
“You’re uncomfortable with those feelings?”
I stay silent, unable to answer.
“Why do you think that is, Henley?”
“I don’t know,” I reply softly.
“Do you want to be in a loving relationship with Juliet?”
“No.”
He goes silent, and eventually I have to look up at him. He gives me a reassuring smile. “This is a safe space. You can express your feelings freely in here. But I think we both know that you do.”
“Trust me, I don’t.”
“Have you told Juliet how you feel about her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I like being on my own.”
“It’s easier this way?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“In a perfect world, where you aren’t you, how would your life be?”
I pause as I contemplate his question.
“Would you be married with children? A large family of your own?”
I nod. “I guess.”
He smiles. “Let’s make that a goal.”
“I gave up having personal goals a long time ago.”
“When your mother died?”
“Leave her out of this.” I sigh in frustration. “My mother has nothing to do with being in love.”
“Because she died?”
“Stop saying that.” I close my eyes to try and block him out.
“Do you remember what we talked about on your last visit, Henley?”
I roll my lips. I just want this fucking over with.
“Let me refresh your memory. We went over the day your mother passed away and the trauma you have suffered over it.”
I inhale with a deep shaky breath as that dark day floats back.