Page 33 of Sex, Lust & Lingerie

A sheepish smile slid across his face. “Because I believe you are in love with Gloria.”

In love?“I don’t do love,” I snapped back. “I’m incapable of love.” My fucked up father and mother destroyed that concept for me years ago. Love could only hurt, tear lives apart. Even destroy them.

The doc adjusted his horn rim glasses. “That’s untrue. You love your work. You love your employees.” He paused. “And you loved your father.”

“But that’s different.” My tone defensive, I squirmed in my chair.

“Yes, it’s different, but it still shows you are capable of great passion. Of putting others’ needs before your own, giving all of yourself…of making a commitment and feeling great loss. That ring you gave Gloria wasn’t a friendship ring as you called it. Diamonds symbolize something way deeper. And from what I know from my wife, entwined diamonds define a love that is deeper than most. A profound connection.”

Silently, I processed his words. I was still in denial, but raw emotion—the naked truth—slammed against my heart making it beat so fast and hard I thought it would burst through my ribcage.

Dr. Zimmer’s voice filtered into my ears. “Jaime, time is almost up. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?”

Gloria’s future was on my mind along with the risky game I was playing. “Doc, what should I do?”

“Go tell Gloria how you feel.”

“I’ve told her that she’s special.”

“That’s not enough. She needs to hear something more.”

And with that the phone went dark.

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