Page 46 of Hooking Up

---

Iris: You're kind.

Walker: No. I'm hard. And I'm not gonna fuck myself with my sister in the next room.

Iris: Oh.

I let my eyelids flutter together. I let my head fill with thoughts of him stripping out of his clothes, wrapping his hands around his cock, and—

Buzz.

Walker: Isn't going to therapy part of training?

Iris: In my program, it's strongly encouraged. I see someone every week.

Because it's supposed to help me figure out how to stay clean. How to want to stay clean.

Not because it's required.

But this is the truth.

And it's really none of Walker's business.

We're fuck buddies. Not lovers. He doesn't get the key that unlocks my heart. That's the whole point of casual.

Iris: For someone who doesn't date or do relationships, you ask a lot of personal questions.

Walker: This is why I need you. To teach me the ways of wooing women.

Iris: You have problems with that?

Walker: Well…

I can see him smiling. Hear his laugh. Feel the warmth in my gut.

Walker: No. I don't. But what if I get into an accident that mars my perfect face? Then I'll have to rely on my personality.

Iris: You think it's perfect?

Walker: You don't?

Iris: No comment.

Walker: That's a yes.

It is. He's out of this world hot. And way out of my league too. All those years of not caring what I eat coupled with the post rehab sugar addiction means I'm not exactly in tip-top shape.

I'm getting there.

I'm going to complete all these stupid steps. Including the exercise one. And the eating one. And the sleeping one…

Well, I'll save that for last. Or second to last. Before making amends. There are too many people on that list. I'm not ready for it.

Iris: You'll still have your perfect body.

Walker: Thanks for noticing.

Iris: Can I ask you something?

Walker: I asked you if you're in therapy. Seems fair.

---