Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Most everyone so far just wants to vent their frustrations, unload their secrets, and simply have someone unbiased to listen to them. It’s definitely a far cry from the meeting I had with Jude earlier.
My next appointment, Dempsey, is fifteen minutes late. I’m not surprised as Nathan warned me it could be the case. Dempsey is a bit reckless and a bad boy. He’s always getting into trouble. Now that I have Nathan’s take, I’m curious to see what all Dempsey has to reveal.
“Hi, Tate,” Gemma says, waving from the doorway. “If Demps doesn’t show, I can take his place.”
Gemma is a stunner. It’s obvious why Nathan is so protective of her. From what he said, she doesn’t need therapy, but she could use a friend. Despite her bright smile, perfect makeup and hair, and flawless outfit, her eyes glimmer with something akin to loneliness. Maybe I can get her alone to talk “as a friend” and see what’s bothering her. I make a mental note to make that happen.
“I’m here, I’m here,” Dempsey grumbles, playfully shoving past her into the office. “Go dazzle your fans with your skin care routine or whatever it is they salivate over.”
Gemma rolls her eyes, the long, thick lashes fluttering. “They don’t salivate. They come to me for advice on products to purchase so they don’t waste money on crap. It’s a very important job, which earns me money, by the way. At least one of us is a contributing member to society.”
With those huffed words, she slams the door closed. I lift a brow at Dempsey. He shrugs and saunters over to the desk. Unlike Spencer, who dresses a bit like me—preppy and put together—Dempsey is the stereotypical bad boy. His dark hair is messy and hangs in his eyes, he has plenty of visible tattoos, though I don’t think he’s even eighteen yet, and his favorite color is clearly black as he’s fitted in that color from head to toe.
“She’s an ‘influencer,’ she says,” Dempsey reveals with a wolfish grin. “I think she made that up to sound cool.”
I can tell he uses ribbing his sister as a security blanket to keep the attention off him. Rather than bite, I dive right in.
“You like having a twin?”
He snorts out a laugh. “She’s all right.”
“Are you close with your other siblings?”
“Callum not so much,” Dempsey offers, “but Willa helps with that. I was going to fuck Willa, but I let him have her since he’s so obsessed and shit.”
Dempsey, not unlike Gemma with her social media job, likes to put on his own show for outsiders. I’m skilled at pinpointing this behavior, though, and cut straight to the point.
“Do you feel guilty for what happened between Callum, your dad, and your mom that resulted in the birth of you and Gemma?”
Dempsey’s eyes glimmer with a fiery emotion, but his easygoing expression gives nothing away. “How is that my fault?”
“I didn’t say it was. I asked if you bear guilt for that?”
“Did you get Jude to take off his mask?” he deflects, voice sharp.
Undeterred, I continue on. “It’s not your fault. I know you know that. Sometimes people fall in love and it’s terrible timing. Hearts get broken. It is what it is.” I lean forward in the chair, pinning him with a serious stare. “I know your parents love you. I know Callum loves you too. Despite his beef with your dad, he is protective of his family.”
“I guess.”
“How are things with you? Life treating you okay?”
He smirks. “I’m a Park. Life was made for us to consume and then shit out. Easy.”
Liar.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
His entire body stiffens and his jaw clenches. Good to see there’s an actual nerve I can hit with him. Interesting.
“Most girls try to date me because they want to marry a Park one day. I’m easy pickings.”
“What about guys?”
“Sorry, bro. I heard you’re gay, but I’m not interested.”
At this, I grin. “You’re not really my type.”
“Oh yeah? You like the pissy older guys like Callum?”
“Not going to lie, your brother is extremely attractive. No, my type is actually all wrong for me. It’s why I’m not going to date again for a long time.”
“All wrong how?” He sits up, brows pinching. “You’ve piqued my interest.”
“I attract toxic men. I guess they see me as someone they can control. I don’t like who I am when I date. I’m not me.”
“Who’s having the therapy session now?” he jokes, grinning.
“I want to help you all,” I admit. “I know this is in a professional capacity, but I’d like to earn your trust. If that means revealing parts of myself to help make that happen, I will.”
He relaxes and nods. “I only love one woman and she’s off-limits.”
“I didn’t think anyone was off-limits for a Park?” I lift an eyebrow at him to see if he follows my drift. Spencer said Dempsey knows about their little threesome.