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I drop my head into my hands, but deep breaths aren't offering any relief. I leave my room, heading downstairs and outside to wait for Eli's session to end.

I can't let this woman walk away, and I won't take no for an answer.

Chapter 33

Caitlyn

"What about tomorrow?" Aspen asks, and I can tell that she's trying to hide her real emotions.

I know me letting them know when I arrived today that I was making plans to move out of the area wouldn't be received well. It's sort of helpful for my ego to know that I'm valued by them as Eli's therapist.

"I'll still be here for all appointments this week. It may take a few weeks for me to iron out everything I need to move," I assure them. "I can make suggestions on a new therapist for him. It's very possible we can have tandem appointments to get him used to the idea of seeing someone new."

I get two flat smiles from Aspen and Nolan, and when I feel the sting of tears in my eyes I know I have to go before I get even more unprofessional by crying in front of my client's parents.

Sadness immediately turns to rage when I spot Roman standing with his back leaned against my driver's side door. I have no doubt Nolan told him about my plans to move when he followed him out of the room earlier.

"Excuse me," I say, more pain in my voice than I like.

Seeing him doesn't make the threat of tears from earlier dissipate. If anything they press harder against the backs of my eyes, making my nose burn.

"You can't move away."

I glare at him. "You need to move."

He shifts on his feet but he doesn't step away from my vehicle.

"Tell me why you're leaving. We can fix it."

I shake my head, trying my best to pull in a deep breath to fortify myself against this man, and the shaky sound of air makes me want to pound my fists against his chest in anger.

I hate how easily he affects me.

I had my mind made up. I was going to leave the area, maybe move to some place where the air doesn't hurt my face. I was set on the idea, and now just the sight of him makes me ache for something I'll never have.

Nolan is mad at him. I'm sure the man believes that what happened between Roman and me is likely one of the reasons I feel the urge to suddenly leave town. I imagine Nolan followed him up to his room demanding that he fix it so I'll stay.

It can't happen. I don't think there's a way to fix any of it, us, me, him... we just...are.

"Roman," I say, my voice trembling as much as my breathing.

He takes a step forward, his hand reaching up to cup my jaw.

I nearly crack right down the center, and wouldn't the two pieces of me in the driveway be impossible to explain to the people inside?

Anger swells inside of me. The truth hurt me right to the center of my being, but any form of manipulation is enough to make me want to stomp on his boot and knee him in the nuts.

"Enough," I growl as I take a step back, hating the way he so easily looks saddened by my response to him.

"Caitlyn," he whispers, and I falter.

Only he's looking down at the ground rather than using his eyes to plead.

It seems superficial, another way he's trying to manage me.

"The other night," he begins.

"Was a big mistake," I interrupt. "I was trying to say goodbye. It was nothing more than that."

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