“Immensely.”
“Have you talked to Amelia about it?” Eva asked.
“I have,” I said. “It’s like anything else I do: I hate not knowing all the variables. My mind keeps running through all the outcomes, and then I can’t convince myself to do it.”
“Logan,” she took my face in her hands, “sweetheart, it’s just a drink.”
“I think I’d prefer no alcohol be involved,” I admitted. I’d rather have all my faculties in order.
“Then it’s just a coffee. A coffee you can freely walk away from at any point. I know you’re thinking of all the long-term possibilities, but we need to reframe those thoughts. Take it one step at a time. Start with a coffee and a conversation. Nothing more. If more becomes an option later down the road, then we’ll work through those thoughts too.”
“I hate anxiety,” I muttered.
“Just slay your tiny anxiety dragons,” she teased, making me smile. I hadn’t heard her say that phrase in years. It came from her dragon books era. I missed it—more than I realized until I heard it. She kissed the tip of my nose. “You can do this, Logan.”
“Okay.”
“Say it.”
“I can do this.”
“One tiny dragon at a time,” she continued.
“One tiny dragon at a time,” I agreed with a small laugh.
“Yes, you can. I’m going out with that guy Nathan tomorrow. Maybe it’d be a good evening for you to go out as well.”
I made a sound because she was right—Eva usually was. I just needed to pull the trigger and make myself do it, no matter how anxious it made me. Just slay the anxiety dragons. I could do that.
Sometimes, I had great clients. Other times, I had clients who made me want to throw in the towel. This particular client fell somewhere in the middle, leaning toward making me want to quit. I ran my hand over the thick stubble on my jaw and sighed.
AsI did, my phone dinged quietly with a notification. I glanced at it, expecting Eva or Elliot, but instead found a message notification forTumble. If it was the only distraction I had from my client’s file, I’d take it.
GambitX:hey. so i suck at these kinds of things.
I frowned as I re-read the message.And apparently, he sucked at using proper grammar as well.He wasn’t starting strong.
GambitX:Autocorrect really wasn’t coming in clutch on that one. Sorry about that.
GambitX:Anyway, my name is Chad.
Journey81:I’m Logan.
GambitX:Nice to meet you, Logan.
Journey81:Likewise.
Ah, the little white lies.I had no feelings about this entire conversation so far, and thus, I couldn’t say if it was nice to meet him.
GambitX:So, I see you’re bi-curious.
Journey81:I am. I’m still getting comfortable with the idea.
GambitX:That’s okay. I didn’t realize until I was in my early thirties that I was also into women. It happens.
Huh.I made a face. Interesting, but I had no idea how to respond to that. This was where I got stuck. How the hell did I proceed from here to keep the conversation going?
The deep breath I drew in caught in my chest as it tightened. Swallowing the rising anxiety, I made myself type out my next response.