I swallow.
“When I realised how much she’d been through—how much she needed—I told her she should see someone else. I didn’t want to fail her. But she said she trusted me. She didn’t want to start over.”
Eli places his hand over mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Maybe I should’ve insisted,” I murmur. “Maybe someone else would’ve helped her sooner… or maybe she always would’ve taken matters into her own hands.” Despite everything, despite my mistakes, I can’t regret keeping her as a client. She’s one of my closest friends now.
“Well, anyway.” I wave a hand, clearing the heavy thoughts. “It was her case—listening to her, actually helping her heal—that made me realise I didn’t want research. I wanted this. To help.”
I smile faintly. “I finished my PhD while working at the practice, then stayed there until I moved back to England a year ago.”
The timer dings so I grab the food from the oven while Eli sets plates out. We sit and chat more about why I became a therapist while we eat. It’s… nice.
After dinner, Eli puts on a film for us and pulls me close. I let him. Let my head rest on his shoulder. His body radiates heat against me.
At some point, his fingers start running up and down my arm absentmindedly. Each stroke has my skin burning, electricity dancing in waves with every touch.
God, I want him.
I fucking hate how much I do.
But it would be so easy to give in. Even just temporarily. To experience Eli in all his glory.
I almost do. I’m ready to.
But then a shadow passes by the window. I jolt.
Eli tenses, his arm that’s resting around me going solid. “What is it?”
I peer into the darkness, not breathing. There’s nothing there.
I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I just thought I saw something. Can we close the curtains?”
Eli jumps up immediately to pull the curtainsclosed, though not before giving the area outside a sweep, his head swinging back and forth.
“I’m sure I imagined it,” I tell him as he settles back beside me.
The good thing is that whatever I did or didn’t see, stopped me from accidentally making a huge mistake.
31
You Look Incredible
Emily's Search History: what does it mean if I'm worried my stalker might lose interest in me?
Emily
“Ihavetogoto work today, but I don’t want to leave you in the house alone. So you’re coming with me.”
I just stare at him, not blinking.
Eli sighs. “Please, will you come with me so I can keep you safe?”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “Sure. This is the tattoo parlour… not your other job, right?”
He rolls his eyes. “Yes. I have a client coming in at one.”
It’s mid-morning. I’ve been working on my laptop while Eli sits beside me doing the same.