I learn a lot about Flynn’s family and how they banded together to help Carson raise her daughter. It’s nice to see someone who went through something similar to me come out happy on the other side. I mean, she has her daughter and a husband and a successful business.
Since Emily died, I still feel like a huge part of me is missing. Maybe it’s different since she was my daughter. I’m not sure if that part of me will ever heal. I can’t replace her, not that I’d ever want to, and I’m not even sure I want more kids.
I guess that’s something I should discuss with Flynn sometime, since things are progressing pretty seriously. Not that I can ever imagine Flynn wanting children, but I still think it’s something we should discuss.
This meeting isn’t as open format as the others. Once Carson is done talking, people talk to her privately. A lot of people seem to be commending her on her strength, which I would do as well, if I wasn’t being held back by Flynn’s surprising strength. She’s half behind me, attempting to hide as if her sister will miraculously forget she saw her here. Flynn nudges me toward the exit, but we’re stopped before we can escape.
“Flynn, what a surprise. I assume you didn’t come here just to hear me speak.”
“As much as I love hearing your sob story, seeing you here was as much of a surprise for me as it was for you.” Her smile is tight and sarcastic.
“Somehow I don’t think that’s true.” She glances up at me. “Are you going to introduce us?”
“This is Liam.” Carson’s eyes go wide before her brows furrow. She glances between the two of us and I can only imagine what’s going on in her head.
“Mom’s going to love hearing about this.”
“You’re talking to Mom again? Way to stand by me.” Flynn’s tone turns gritty and she rolls her eyes.
“She called me and wanted to explain. Of course I heard her out. She’s our mother.”
“Well, you can’t tell her about this. It’s none of your business.”
Carson grabs Flynn’s arm and tugs her away in an attempt to gain privacy. Still, I can hear every hushed word. “He’s twice your age. What are you thinking?”
“He’s not that old.”
“How did you even meet him? Wait…did you say Liam? The same Liam you’ve been seeing?”
“No, a different Liam.” Her tone is harsh and sarcastic.
Carson’s eyes snap back to me, horrified. “When I spoke to Mom, she wanted me to talk to you. She told me your therapist has been a great deal of help and she was hoping you were talking to him about it. Mom told me his name, Flynn. When she raved about Dr. Liam Whitmore, the name didn’t ring a bell that time. But now I remember.”
Flynn’s eyes snap to mine in a grimace. We both know where this is going.
“Flynn. Tell me you’re not dating your therapist.”
Twenty-Five
Flynn
“Okay. I’m not dating my therapist.” My sister looks at me as if she believes me about as much as she believes her daughter never sneaks candy before dinner.
“Flynn, are you serious right now?”
“Can we not talk about this here?” I walk back over to where Liam is standing and my sister is right on my tail. “I’ll tell you everything just not here.”
She’s not thrilled about going anywhere with Liam, but she doesn’t have a choice. He and I are a package deal now. She follows us to the only place I feel safe and comfortable with Liam: his apartment. Her eyes go wide and her mouth forms an ‘o’ as she discovers my things sprawled throughout the space.
“I knew you weren’t living at home right now, but I thought you took Luke up on his offer to stay with him and Liv.”
“Please, as if I want to witness those two in all their glory. They’re sickening.”
“Can I get you guys anything? A water? A shot?” He laughs as if to lighten the mood. He’s already bending over backwards, being overly polite to make her comfortable.
“No thanks. I’m driving.” Carson’s voice is full of disgust. She takes everything too literally. If she’s going to continue to sit here and blindly judge him, I’m not going to tell her anything.
“Look, sis, he and I met before I knew he was my therapist and in a few more weeks he won’t be my doctor anymore anyway. It’s irrelevant, really.”
Liam hands her a bottle of water and is ready to sit on the couch beside me, but thinks better of it after glancing at my sister. “I’ll give you two space to talk.” He kisses me on my forehead before retreating off to the bedroom and I’m glad he didn’t blow me off just for Carson’s fragile feelings.
“It doesn’t matter how or when you met. It should’ve stopped the minute you realized he was your doctor. He should’ve been the one to enforce it.”
“He did. He tried. It’s more complicated than that.”
“He’s taking advantage of you.”
“He’s not,” I bellow, angry that she’d even suggest it. “He gets me. He knows everything about me, the good and especially the bad and he still wants me. He’s the first person I’ve ever been able to open up to, to trust. And don’t try and say it’s just because I had to talk to him, because he’s my therapist, because we both know that hasn’t made a difference in the past. He’s the only person who knows me, all of me, and he hasn’t run scared.”
She’s thoughtful for a minute, cocking her head as if to see things from
