Page 100 of Fix You

Tears stung my eyes. “I just want to be normal for him. I want to be normal for myself. I want to be able to partake in a fantasy without having to worry it’s going to trigger me.”

“Those emotions are very valid. When you want to speak negatively about yourself, you have to remember how far you’ve come. It wasn’t an overnight acceptance into intimacy. All you can do is go surprise Rafe and try.”

“Do you think I can do it?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. You hold all the power,” Dr. Leighton replied.

I was powerful. I could do this. I could give Rafe a birthday present he would remember for a long, long time. “Okay, I’ll try.”

She smiled. “And you have my emergency number just in case you run up against any pre or post performance anxiety.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then I look forward to hearing how it goes.” With a wink, she added, “At least the PG details.”

I laughed. “Yes, just the PG version.”

When my appointment was over and I exited the backdoor, Ciarán was waiting for me. With a smile, he asked, “Back home, Ms. Kavanaugh?”

“Actually, I’d like to walk around the garden while I make a phone call.”

“Whatever you wish.”

Across from Dr. Leighton’s office was a small public garden with beautiful flowers and plants. As I pulled out my phone, there were two Nerettis I could call for help with my plan. Since Gianni had already helped so much with my getaway plan, I decided to call Leo.

He answered just before the phone was about to go to voicemail. “Maeve?” he asked drowsily.

After glancing at my watch, I grimaced at the realization it was only six am back in the states, and Rafe was just getting in from his night of managing Inferno. “Oh, Leo, I’m so sorry to wake you.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, it’s just I needed a little favor.”

After yawning loudly, he asked, “You need someone killed?”

I laughed. “No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Then what could possibly have you calling me at six in the morning on a Saturday?”

“Um, well.” Oh God. What was I thinking? How was I possibly going to ask Rafe’s brother to help me surprise him…sexually.

“Come on, Maeve. I’ve got a leggy blonde in bed beside me that I plan on initiating some morning sex with.”

“Leo!”

He chuckled. “Just teasing. I sent the leggy blonde home at three am.”

“You’re a pig,” I pronounced before I could think better of myself.

“Yeah, so was my brother and until he fell for you.”

My heart thrummed wildly in my chest at his declaration. “Speaking of Rafe, I want to surprise him for his birthday by coming on Friday, rather than Saturday.”

“Nice. Want me to pick you up from the airport or something?”

“While that would be lovely, I needed your help getting him to the place I want to surprise him.”

“And where’s that?”

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