Page 3 of Fear of Intimacy

“Well, make sure your schedule is clear for the 25th.”Her tone left no room for argument. I was going whether I liked it or not.“If you bring someone, try for a suitable date.”This time, I really had to clench my jaw together to stop from saying something.

A few years ago, I took Josie with me, needing someone by my side. One look at her and my parents immediately deemed her unfit. She didn’t come from a wealthy family or a family of status, so in their eyes she wasn’t good enough to be my friend. Or be in attendance at one of their functions. It had taken everything in me that day not to say anything.

“I have to go. See you in a few weeks.”Not even waiting for a reply back, my mother ended the call. I pulled my phone away from my ear and stared at my screen until it turned black.

Always a joy talking to her. It was basically a call telling me I better be at the gala in a few weeks and nothing else. Not once did she care to know how I was doing or about anything in my life.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I wasn’t sure why I still wanted their love and acceptance. I learned long ago that it would never happen, yet there was still a small part of methat hoped one day they would. I should know better than to get my hopes up about anything having to do with them.

Blinking back tears, I took a few breaths before focusing on the paperwork in front of me. There was no point in letting her get to me.

Just brush it off, Tasha.

God, I really did need this vacation.

2

TASHA

Ihated packing. There was just something about it that was the absolute worst. I loved going on the trip, but having to somehow fit outfits, shoes, and makeup in a suitcase was the bane of my existence. And don’t get me started on having to repack to come home or how you somehow had even less space and nothing seemed to fit right in your suitcase.

I was currently sitting on the floor of my bedroom with my suitcase on my bed, overflowing with clothes. I was taking a break, drinking a glass of wine, before I tackled folding it all and trying to make it fit. I was more than tempted to push it off and deal with it tomorrow, but I knew I was just putting off the inevitable.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day making sure everything at work was settled while I was gone. I had a few patients that I still had to call and inform I’d be gone for a week. So packing tonight would be the smarter option for sure, especially since I didn’t do it last night after work like I said I would.

I was in the middle of telling myself one more minute when a knock sounded on my door. Confused about who would be there, I padded over and peeked through the peephole. A grin stretched across my face at the sight on the other side of the door.

“Guys!” I yanked the door open to find three of my best friends. Josie Scott, Lydia Ellis, and Mila Jones standing there grinning with Josie holding a bottle of wine. “Did I forget girl’s night?”

I stepped aside, letting the three in, and shut the door behind me.

“The guys wanted to do a last minute poker night, so I thought why not come and hang out?” Josie moved toward my kitchen in search of glasses.

“And to see if you’ve packed yet,” Lydia whispered as she passed by. I snorted, not at all surprised. Josie knew I’d put off packing until the last minute. I followed the girls into my kitchen, glad that they dropped by—and if I was being honest, that they were giving me a distraction.

“Are you girls ready to go on vacation?” Mila asked as I helped pour four glasses of wine and handed them out.

“Yes. I need to be sitting on the beach drinking a margarita.” Lydia let out a groan-like moan. “Haven’t taken a vacation in so long.”

“That’s cause you are a workaholic.” Josie shot Lydia a motherly look. Lydia may have been the oldest at twenty-nine and Josie’s boss, but Josie was definitely the mom of our group.

“I won’t deny that.” Lydia just shrugged. Hard for her not to be a workaholic when she owned one of the fastest-growing magazines in Toronto.Fusion Weeklystarted off as a small magazine with few employees, but was now a magazine where people got to see everything that went on in thecity. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lydia’s next move was getting it into all stores across the province.

“This will be the perfect trip for all of us to unwind.” Josie said over her shoulder, headed for my living room. Mila flashed me a wide grin before schooling her expression. This trip had a lot more in store than Josie knew.

“Can’t wait to show off some of the bikinis I bought. I've been hiding them from Bryton so he would be surprised.”

“I did the same thing.” Josie flung her legs onto mine as I settled on the couch. From the look on both Josie and Mila’s faces, their boyfriends had no clue what was about to hit them. Mila’s boyfriend, Bryton Young, star left winger to the Toronto Knights, was in for a big surprise.

When I met Mila a year ago, I instantly knew we’d be close friends. She had the same spontaneity about her that I had. The two of us were definitely the troublemakers of our girl group. Where Josie typically settled my crazy ideas, Mila encouraged them. Like the time we went to karaoke night downtown and got kicked out for dancing on the tables. Of course Josie nor Lydia participated, but Mila and I had a blast.

“Maybe I can find a hot Australian man while we’re there,” Lydia mused, sipping her drink on the other side of Josie.

“What about Landon?” Mila asked.

“What about him? He could fall into the ocean for all I care.” Lydia shrugged. The relationship between her and Wyatt’s older brother, Landon, was an interesting one. The two claimed to hate each other, but there was clearly something there. The sexual tension between the two was almost stifling.

“Uh-huh.” I smirked over the lip of my wine glass. “Did you pack any skimpy bikinis?” I asked. When she went silent,all three of us howled in laughter. She could deny it all she wanted, but there was definitely something between the two of them.

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