Page 80 of The Chemist

“Not too shabby for a man with a broken ass,” Diesel joked, grinning like a stupid imbecile.

Zero choked out a laugh, then kissed the top of Diesel’s shoulder.

“Thanks. I was highly motivated by a perfect ass offering itself to me for my own pleasure.”

Zero chuckled when Diesel smacked his ass from behind.

Yeah, he could definitely get used to mornings like these. He smiled and let the warmth of Zero’s arms take him away once again.

31

DIESEL

The ticking from the vintage clock was the only sound that filled the room. Diesel watched as the large hand slowly made its way around the surface.

Thirty more minutes.

He could do it.

They were having another one of their standoffs. Diesel was in his corner, refusing to acknowledge anything that was said. And Dr. Bloom, sitting there motionless, patiently waiting for him to answer her question.

“Mr. Pratt?” she asked, tilting her head slightly to the right while keeping her hands folded neatly in her lap.

“Huh?” Diesel asked, as if he hadn’t heard her ask the question three fucking times.

“Do you feel that you are worthy of love?”

And there it was. Time number four.

Sliding his gaze across the room, he shook his head slowly. “That’s a stupid question to ask. What do I give a shit what other people think?”

“I didn’t ask you if you cared what other people thought about you. I asked you if you felt that you were worthy oflove?” Again, with the tilting of the head. What the fuck was her damage? Did she have an inner ear problem? Was she going to fall over the moment she stood and tried to walk away?

Diesel smirked.

“Is something funny?”

“Nah, just thinking.”

“Okay, let me ask you this. Do you believe that Matteo loves you?”

Diesel shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, of course, he loves me. Just like he loves everyone else atLa Maison.”

“And whose idea was it to come to therapy?” Dr. Bloom asked.

“Matteo’s.”

“And why did you agree to come?”

Staring down at his fingers, he fidgeted with his palms, praying that the minutes would tick by faster.

“I agreed to come to therapy because I promised Matteo I would.”

“And why did you promise him that?”

“Because I could see how much my actions were hurting him.”

“So, you did it because of your love and respect for your boss, mentor, and friend.”

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