Page 9 of It's Not All Fake

“Oh, Liam. I’m not going to be here forever. I want to know that you have a woman who will take care of you.” She presses her hand to my cheek and rubs her thumb over my cheekbone. “I’m worried about you. Who will make sure you stop working long enough to eat? How will you?—”

“Mom, I promise it’s going to be okay.” I take her wrist and pull her hand away from my face, cradling both of her hands in mine. My hands seem massive compared to hers. I remember when she would do the same for me, when I was a boy.

I’d hear him hurt her… and she’d come to me and try to comfort me through my tears.

“Oh, Liam. You’ve been through so much.”

“So have you.” I squeeze her fingers. “Let me see that list of yours and we’ll start making things happen.”

“The list is private.” She chuckles and squirms. “I can’t have you following me to the airfield when I jump out of a plane. You’ll never let me take off.”

Her comment brings a roar of laughter as I picture her with a helmet and a flight suit, jumping out of a plane at forty thousand feet. She has always had an adventurous spirit, and I love that about her.

“I think you’re right. You make me a copy of the things on your list that won’t give me a heart attack and I’ll make it happen.” I pat her hands.

Mom nods and stands up. “I’m going to turn in. Big day tomorrow. I have another session with Chloe.” She kisses my forehead and shuffles away, calling over her shoulder, “Goodnight, Liam.”

When she has gone off to her suite to settle in for bed, I take my whiskey glass in hand.

My thoughts turn to Chloe. I wasn’t her biggest fan initially, but I admit I really liked off-kilter Chloe. I think about her series of wardrobe malfunctions and smile. She is gorgeous, and charming, and real. In this town, that’s hard to find.

There is no denying that I am attracted to Chloe. But I feel more confused after our session. She made me feel things, and I don’t know what to make of it.

I swirl my drink and conclude that she Jedi mind-fucked me in some way. I don’t trust whatever mind tricks she’s using, and I can’t let her get under my skin like that anymore.

I have no intention of doing pseudo-therapy again.

But I have a much better idea.

CHAPTER SIX

CHLOE

Isit at my desk, sucking on a mint candy and feeling on edge. Lucas sent me a nasty email threatening to take our quarrel over splitting the business to the legal realm. I know he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, but it doesn’t make me any less nervous.

I can’t take another financial hit. I’m already in over my head with business costs, although my move out of my Santa Monica office will help.

I watch a pair of seagulls flying over the ocean in the blue sky and frown. I am not looking forward to my new office view of a parking lot.

“Hello, Chloe,” a deep voice says from the doorway. I whip around and I’m surprised to see Liam standing there, leaning against the doorframe.

“Liam?” I rise out of my seat, glancing around uncertainly. I expected to see Olivia for our four o’clock session, not Liam. “Is everything all right?”

He nods. “Mom has a migraine, so I came instead.”

“Oh.” I blink at him, caught off guard.

He grins and motions to the couch. “Do you mind if I sit?”

“Sure, of course,” I say, watching him close my office door.

He strides over, unbuttoning his suit coat, and settles on the couch. I sit across from him in the armchair, perching on the edge and feeling apprehensive for some reason.

“Do you want a session right now?” I ask gently. I’m not sure if he’s here today for coaching or another reason.

He gives me an amused smile. It makes my innards twist with anxiety. What has he got on his mind?

When he doesn’t answer right away, I find myself talking to fill the uncomfortable silence. “We could pick up with discussing your former relationships,” I suggest.

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