Page 146 of Frozen Flames

“You recently started therapy. When you come back to me, I don’t want you tethered to Gemma anymore.”

“I’m not, but you’re right regarding therapy. Everything’s coming out, and it takes time to process.”

“I know.” I squeeze his hand.

He shakes his head. “You’re perfect.”

I laugh. “Don’t be absurd.”

He looks away, pensive. “I meant it earlier—we can start going to couple’s therapy together. I’ll book an appointment for us with Dr. Lee next week or the week after.”

“I would like that. I don’t think we’ll need more than a session or two. I just have a few things to address.”

“Okay.” He gives me a small smile.

It’ll be a good excuse to see him maybe once or twice a month until he’s doing better.

As much as I knew I was going to tell him the same thing tonight, it still hurts to hear it from him. A part of me is proud that he’s taking these steps and being honest about what he needs and ensuring he doesn’t reel me in again at the wrong time, yet the selfish part of me wishes we could be together again instead.

He wraps his arm around me tighter, and I notice a sparkle light up his eyes. Then he takes my face in his hand and leans in for a kiss.

His mouth is warm, and his lips are soft.

I kiss him back fervently, hoping for more.

My hands hold his neck in place while he traces his thumb over my cheek. It’s as if a bright shining ball lives inside of me, giving off this incredible heat.

I open my mouth a little wider, giving him room to explore. Our kiss gets so passionate, I end up sucking on his tongue, wishing I were sucking on something else.

“Argh,” he says when he breaks our kiss. “Claire…” He shakes his head.

I want him so bad, though I won’t tell him that. I still feel a little worried about the fact that we’ll be apart once more.

This time, I can’t sleep with him despite what my body wants.

“Please,” he whispers, staring into my eyes, “don’t give up on me.”

“I won’t,” I mutter. As if my heart could ever bear being away from him for good. “You mean too much to me, Harvey.”

And so I kiss him again.

Harvey

“Tell us, Claire. Harvey said you had things you wished to address,” Dr. Lee says a mere two weeks later.

I’m sitting in his office on the couch next to Claire, who put a bit of distance between us when she came in after me and sat down.

I haven’t seen her since our date, and that’s been the hardest part in all of this.

I hadn’t planned on asking her to give me more time when I saw her at the grocery store. It wasn’t until our date when she spoke of her work and how well she was doing that I knew I had to do right by her and admit that I might need more time.

I want to process everything before I dedicate myself to her.

“Why don’t you start by telling us how you felt that night…when he professed his love to Gemma by text and you were told to leave?”

She chuckles nervously. “Ah…” She fiddles with her fingers, so I take her hand, hoping to take some of the anxiety away. “I knew he still loved her, but to have him confirm it and…put her needs above mine, it was hurtful.” She stares at me before continuing. “But I’m over it. They both apologized, and I’m willing to let it go if I can see that he’s moved on.”

“I see,” Dr. Lee adds. “And how do you think he’s doing so far?”

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