Page 160 of My Only

But my feet wouldn’t move.

My hand loosened. The printout crinkled as I shoved it into the back pocket of my cutoffs.

My breath hitched.

The weight of the moment pressing tight against my ribs.

I’ll get it later…

Or maybe I won’t.

I turned toward my car, blinking hard.

Don’t cry.

Not here.

Not now.

Why are you even crying right now, Ayla?!

I swiped my hands over my damp cheeks, whispering to myself, “Quit trippin’. This is not that big of a deal.”

But even as I said it…

I wasn’t sure if I was right.

CHAPTER 18

HASSANI

The soft hum of conversation and the occasional scratch of Dr. Aldridge’s pen filled the cozy office. The space felt warm, inviting, not at all clinical, which was exactly what I needed.

“Welcome back,” Dr. Aldridge greeted us with a smile that was both sharp and kind. “How are you two feeling today?”

I glanced at Ayla.

She did the same.

“Well… I’m good,” I answered, pressing a hand to my chest then focusing on Ayla once more.

Ayla giggled. “And I’m good too.”

Dr. Aldridge’s smile widened. “Great. Last session, we focused on why you’re here—communication struggles, expectations, and what you both want to get out of counseling.”

I nodded.

The first session had been pretty laid-back. Things between Ayla and me had gotten better in some ways since then, but there were still cracks we hadn’t filled. And if I was being honest? I didn’t trust myself not to say the wrong thing these days.

That’s why I was here, again. Why we were here.

“Today,” Dr. Aldridge continued, “I’d like to go a little deeper. This is your second session, and I want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ayla said, throwing a glance my way.

“Same.”

Dr. Aldridge studied us for a beat before asking, “How do you both feel about being back here today?”

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