Page 21 of Shameless Expectations

Oh, but you are.

Monti resisted the words. She stared Athena down. The woman looked small again, as if she was being brought down by the world around her. Monti was once again reminded of how deep Athena’s problems ran. This was a therapist’s dream, someone who would be in sessions for years if not the rest of her life.

“Then what are you asking?”

“I have this case.” Athena ran her fingers through her hair, mussing it. “I meet with the client tomorrow, and I need—I need—to be able to function for that meeting.”

“So this is for the short term,” Monti said, trying to make sure they were on the same page.

“Yes.”

Pressing her lips together hard, Monti shook her head slowly. “This isn’t a good idea.”

Monti turned to walk away. She couldn’t be there. She couldn’t let them do something that wouldn’t help either one of them. Athena needed more help than Monti could provide, especially in a simple massage. And until she got that help, she wasn’t going to be able to sleep.

“Monti, wait.” Athena raced toward her, her voice wavering.

Was that desperation?

“Please.”

Monti faced her again, those pleading eyes, the sharp lines in her cheeks and jaw. It was desperation. There was no mistaking it now. Monti straightened her shoulders and debated her options. She could make it a requirement to continue working with Athena that she see a professional therapist.

“If we do this…” Monti started, not quite sure when she’d decided to agree to this farce “…then you need to give me a bit more than you have. And I strongly suggest finding a professional to work with.”

Athena looked like she was going to object, but she stopped herself. The emotions that slid across her face went quickly, one right after the other, and Monti didn’t have time to decipher them all. She could barely manage to keep up with what was going on. “I’ll think about it.”

“Well, that’s better than nothing, I suppose.” Monti crossed her arms. She looked around the library as if judging it now instead of before when she’d simply admired. “I don’t have a table.”

“A table?” A deep line formed in the center of Athena’s forehead in her confusion.

“For a massage. I haven’t been giving massages for almost a year, and I don’t have a table.”

“Do we need one?” Athena glanced toward the chair, no doubt thinking they could keep going in much the same manner as before.

“Your neck and shoulders are very tense, Ms. Pruitt. It would really help if I could have you lie down fully in order to best give you a massage.”

“Oh.” Athena’s cheeks reddened, no doubt thinking about the fact that not only was Monti going to have to touch her again, but she was going to have to lie down for it.

“Is that all right?”

“I suppose.” Athena ran her hand through her hair again, far more agitated than the last time Monti had been there. No doubt the lack of sleep was really affecting her by now.

“Would you like to try some oils?”

Athena nodded sharply, not really paying attention to what Monti had asked. “I can lie in a bed.”

“That would work.” Monti stood still, waiting for Athena’s next move. “I have the oils in my bag if you want to show me where I’ll be massaging you.”

“Right.” Again, Athena’s hand was in her hair, as if the nervous habit was something she couldn’t control. “This way.”

Athena walked right past Monti, expecting her to follow. Bending her knees slightly, Monti turned on her toes and trailed after her. The halls were long, and they had to take several of them plus two flights of stairs before they stopped in front of a door.

This house really was a mansion.

How lonely must it be here? Alone most of the time except for employees? Then again, Athena did have a husband. Monti had to remind herself of that, even though the two of them seemed anything but close.

Before Monti could ask, Athena was pulling her jacket off and throwing it onto the chair at the desk. She probably worked from there often, most likely when she should be sleeping. It took Monti a moment to realize that Athena was standing awkwardly in the middle of the large room, as if waiting for instructions.

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