Page 113 of Fauxmance

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Maybe, like me, he would want everything we had to be real.

My heart was open. I just hoped Hayden's would be, too.

CHAPTER 21

Want to come see me and my band play tonight?

I got the text right before my appointment with Dr. Moorehouse.

It had made me giddy to see Hayden's name pop up on my phone.

I was excited he'd asked, thrilled at the thought of seeing him.

And yet…

"Magnolia," Dr. Moorehouse said.

I looked up. "Yes?"

"We're almost out of time."

"No, really?" I said, glancing at the clock on her wall only to see that she was right. "Wow, the minutes just flew by."

"Time does that when you have a lot on your mind," she said. "Was there anything you wanted to tell me?"

She'd been doing that a lot. Prompting me, trying to draw me out, get me to talk. But to be honest, there was only one thing I had on my brain. And he was a subject I knew was now off limits.

"Honestly, Dr. M," I said, "I don't."

"Really?"

I nodded, but her probing gaze made me crack a little. "Therearethings I want to talk about. It's just you're Hayden's mom."

She tilted her head. "And that's a problem?"

"Not a problem per se," I said. "But I don't know what I can and can't say. You know?"

"How are things going between you two?"

"They're fine," I said.

"Nothing has changed, Magnolia," she said. "I'm still here for you. Anything you say will remain completely confidential."

I knew that. I did. But I still didn't know what to say.

I think I'm in love with your son.

Or maybe more accurately: I think I'm in love with your son, and I'm afraid he doesn't love me back.

Yeah, no, there was no way I could voice those thoughts to her.

"Let's pretend I'm not Hayden’s mom," she said.

"I don't know if I can do that," I said.

"Just give it a shot. If it'll make you feel better to get something off your chest, go for it. If it doesn't work, we can end the session without any further discussion. Deal?"

I bit my lip.

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