Page 28 of Taken Online

But then, another message.

Blake:Come over. I’ll introduce you.

Here’s the address.

My heart stopped.

His house.

A real address.

Nice area too. Like,reallynice.

Twenty times better than this dump I live in.

I shouldn’t go. It was unethical. Obvious boundary-crossing.

But Kaleb was older. A therapist. He seemedfinewith it?

God.

Could I actually go?

I looked down at my outfit, tank top and pajama shorts. I looked like a slut.

So I changed.

Asher:Isn’t that against ethical laws?

Blake:You’re following laws now?

I flushed.

Blake:Don’t worry too much. I’m helping you. Call it exposure therapy.

I didn’t even think. I just grabbed my keys and left.

The moment I got there, I knew I didn’t belong.

It wasn’t Blake’s fault. It was the house itself.

Huge. Clean. Manicured lawn. Two stories. Whoneedstwo stories?

It made me rethink what I knew about him.

If he had a wife, or a girlfriend, I’d know… right?

I mean, Ihadseen him wear a ring once. But that woman at his office, the one practically drooling over him, she didn’t act like he was taken.

Still… staring up at his house, I suddenly felt very small.

I looked down the street and saw my beat-up car.

That contrast hit hard. I didn’t belong here.

I got closer to the door. Could hear the sound of chatter inside.

Didn’t knock. Just texted him.

---