Page 46 of Marring an Athlete

Sefina clicked her tongue. “Mr. Jones, it is not healthy to hang onto past thoughts. If you felt it once, you will most likely feel it again. Please,” she waved toward Anna. “Be honest with your wife.”

Your wife.Those words rolled around in his mind. But Anna wasn’t his wife.

“You can say it,” Anna said, leaning forward. “I’ll be fine.”

If she only knew how much he wanted to tell her but couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to her, and he didn’t deserve her, even if there were a tiny possibility that she could care for him.

“Well, Anna is really oblivious to when other men are flirting with her. Or noticing when another man really cares.” He cleared his throat and leaned back, hoping the movement would dispel the uncomfortable feelings that were rising in his chest.

Sefina’s eyebrows rose. “There are other men flirting with her?”

Michael cleared his throat. “Yes.”

“And this makes you upset.”

“Yes.” He stopped. What was he agreeing to? “Wait. Yes and no. Yes, because I don’t want to see her get hurt. And no because she has every right to have men flirt with her. I just wish she would show a little more restraint.”

“Restraint?” Anna pulled back and stared at him. There was fire in her gaze. “I’m the one who needs restraint? You flirt with any girl that breathes.” She folded her arms.

“I do not.”

She scoffed. “Oh yes, you do. I’ve seen the magazine articles. New York Ranger at it Again.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re a date ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.”

He stared at her. Was that really what she thought of him? As much as he wanted to deny it, there was some truth to her words. He swallowed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right. I was like that. I’ve made mistakes.” He paused. “I’m sorry.” If she only knew how bad some of those mistakes were, she’d never even have agreed to be his fake wife.

“Wow. Okay. We unpacked a lot here,” Sefina said, sitting straighter in her chair. “Even though a lot was mentioned, I do have to say that it’s refreshing to have a couple that is so candid with each other. It takes many sessions to get couples to even accurately express just how they are feeling.” She nodded toward them. “It bodes well for you that despise infidelity. You can discuss this openly.”

“Infidelity?” Michael asked and then nodded. Right. They were supposed to be married.

“Yes. All the flirting and other men and women? Unless you two have an open marriage?” She glanced at them from above her glasses.

“Open? No,” Anna said.

Sefina nodded. “Okay. Then we have some work ahead of us.” She leaned back. “So, your assignment for our next meeting will be for the two of you to really dig down deep inside and remember why you fell in love in the first place. What is it about the other person that makes your heart beat?” She took some paper out of the folder and handed it to them. “Write it down, and then we will discuss it.”

Michael stared at the piece of paper and then nodded. That seemed like something he could do. Especially when he was alone and not sitting in front of the therapist who was analyzing his every move.

The last fifteen minutes were filled with answering questions about their own personal histories. Michael was grateful that none of them really had anything to do with his relationship with Anna. Or his growing feelings for her.

His occupation and his relationship with his mother was something he could answer with no deeper thought. But his emotions seemed to rise to the surface anytime the conversation moved over to how he felt about Anna.

The truth was, he didn’t know. And it was getting harder and harder to figure it out the longer he was around her. Perhaps this resort had been a mistake all along. He should have known better. Impulsive Michael does it again. Except this time, he’d be the one walking away with a broken heart.

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