Page 76 of Secret Love

“That doesn’t sound easier for me at all, but I’ll agree to whatever you say.”

I nod. “I think that would be the best. We can gradually move back to house sessions if she gets more comfortable, but for now, let’s do this.”

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead.”

I lean up and kiss him on the cheek and he turns at the last second so our lips brush against each other’s. I suck in a breath and meet his eyes, feeling a rush of adrenaline so powerful it makes me woozy.

“I’ll just go sit down now with my friends,” I say, breathlessly.

He holds his hand out gallantly. “After you.”

When we get back, a table has been pulled up to ours and the guys are sitting there. Henley ends up next to me, his thigh touching mine. He slides his hand up my leg and looks over at me.

“Things are looking up, tiny dancer.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

NEW NORMAL

HENLEY

The next day, I’m in the school parking lot, tapping the steering wheel and wondering whether I should go in and see what’s taking Cassidy so long. Her tutoring session with Tru was supposed to end ten minutes ago. I turn on the radio, trying to chill because I know part of this impatience is that I want an excuse to see Tru.

But I also really want to make sure both of them are okay in there.

Finally, Cassidy walks out of the building and saunters to the SUV. It’s a weird phenomenon that happens when kids get to a certain age. They go from running everywhere to experimenting with the speeds of turtles.

She gets inside and slumps back in her seat.

“How did it go?”

“Fine, Dad. It went fine. Okay? I wasn’t rude. I didn't act like a child the way you expected me to.”

I touch her shoulder, and when she doesn't look at me, I tilt her chin so she meets my eyes.

“Bunny. I know you're not a rude person. I didn't expect you to act like a child. I'm asking how it went with the reading.”And okay, yes, how it went with Tru.“I’ve been in on this process for most of the time you've worked with Miss Seymour. I want to keep hearing about how it goes even if I'm not around some of these tutoring sessions for a while.”

She waves her hand. “That part was normal. I don’t know…it’s helping, I think. But I felt dumb. Like I made it weird the other day. I didn'twantto be weird. I like her. You know I like herso much.”

She looks at me and empathy floods through me. My girl is trying so hard and it’s fucking hard to grow up and deal with all the things.

“I know you do. I know all of this is strange. And weird and uncomfortable. But your sessions with her are important to me and I know they’re important to her. I don't want anything to get in the way of that.”

“It won't. She was nice. She acted even better than normal.” She sighs and lets her head fall back against the seat. “She's really great, okay? I'm sorry I'm being mean about you and her.”

“You don't need to apologize for anything. In fact, you don't have to think about me and Tru at all. Focus on your schoolwork. Focus on being who you are. Being the great sister and daughter you already are. And I'll focus on my…stuff too,” I finish lamely.

I try not to swear in front of my kids, but the battle is uphill a lot of the time.

“I love you, bunny.”

“I love you too.”

“Okay, let’s get home. Your sisters are anxiously waiting for you so you can play this new game we got…about cats.”

“How about you justgetus a cat instead of giving us a new game about cats?”

“Very funny, har-har.”

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