Page 53 of Marring an Athlete

Chapter Eighteen

Michael

Sefina stared at them as they sat in their counseling session the next day. She had her pen poised as she glanced from Anna and then back to Michael.

“Well, you two are particularly quiet today,” she said. Her smile felt forced as if she could feel the tension emanating from them but didn’t want to come out and say it.

Truth was, he hadn’t really spoken to Anna since they’d kissed the night before. He’d gone into the hut and went straight to bed, sleeping restlessly on the couch. Anna had come in around ten and fell asleep pretty fast after that.

They managed to avoid each other all morning, picking activities that didn’t require two people. Sitting by her during their counseling session was the first time they’d been next to each other since he’d had her wrapped in his arms.

“We, um. . .” Michael glanced over at her and widened his eyes. Her body was turned, and she had her leg crossed away from him.

He’d hurt her. Bad.

He hated leaving her like he did. It just about ripped his heart from his chest. But there was no way he could lead her on as he had. Plus, he’d lied straight to her face. He hadn’t expected her to ask him if he was in a relationship. And when she did, he panicked. He wished he could fix this without hurting anyone.

Sefina tapped the pad of paper with a pen. "Let's start with something easy. When was the last time you two had sex?"

Michael just about choked on his tongue. Even though he had been expecting this question he hadn't thought that she would be so straightforward about it. As he sat there staring at her, he couldn't quite form the answer in his mind.

"We don’t—I mean, we only believe in sex for procreation," Anna said in a speed that could rival NASCAR.

Sophia stared at them and then turn back to her pad of paper. She wrote a few things down and the silence in the room felt as palpable as humidity in the summer. When she finally looked up she had an intense look.

"I don't want to step on anyone's personal beliefs, but sex in a marriage is extremely important."

Michael cleared his throat and shifted on his seat. He didn't want to be thinking about a physical relationship with Anna at this moment. Even though his body desperately wanted to reach over and wrap her in his arms, that wasn't a road he wanted to go down again. He wasn't good enough for her, and he never would be.

When he glanced over at Anna, her cheeks were so red that it looked like she was about to burst into flames. Seeing her reaction made him feel a bit better. Although he hoped her reaction had nothing to do with the thought of a physical relationship with him, and everything to do with the fact that they were discussing it with the resort’s therapist.

“I was an idiot last night,” he blurted out. Anything to get this conversation off the topic it was on.

Anna’s eyebrows rose as she stared at him.

“In bed?” Sefina asked as she clicked on her pen and continued writing.

“What? No.” Heat raced to his cheeks. Was that the only thing Sefina talked about?

“Okay. So, what was the fight about?” Sefina asked as she glanced from Anna and then back to Michael.

"I hurt Anna. I pushed her away." When he glanced over in Anna’s direction, he saw that her gaze was focused on her clasped hands in her lap.

"And why would you do that?" Sefina asked.

"Because I'm not ready for any relationship." The words tasted like vomit on his tongue. This was the last thing he wanted to say. If anything, he wanted to confess his feelings to Anna. But that was selfish, and he couldn’t be selfish. Not when he had made so many ridiculous mistakes in the past.

Sefina's eyebrows rose. "Then why did you get married?" Her gaze had turned icy as she studied him.

He didn't blame Sefina’s reaction. Only a jerk would get married just to turn around and back away. He was being a coward, taking the easy way out. And from the intensity of Anna’s kiss last night, he seemed to be winning her over which scared him.

He lost count of the number of times that he had done that with a woman. And even though he had decided to give up the dating life, he couldn't let Anna fall for him. She needed to know the real him. The one he been trying to hide since he got here.

Just as he opened his lips to speak, a knock sounded on the door. Sefina glanced over at it and then down to her watch. “Who would disturb. . .” She muttered under her breath as she set the pad of paper and pen next to her and stood.

She walked over to the door and opened it.

“Hey, Sefina.”

---