Page 161 of My Only

I glanced at Ayla.

Ayla glanced at me.

The doctor’s smile tilted. “Do you always look to each other to make decisions?”

I blinked, shifting in my seat.

“I… just didn’t want to cut her off,” I admitted.

Ayla chuckled. “Same. I’ve never done therapy before, so I don’t know the etiquette.”

I snorted. “Can you imagine if therapy etiquette was a thing?”

“I bet there’s a book about it somewhere.” Ayla quirked a brow and grinned. “Probably a bestseller.”

I shrugged. “I feel like you’d buy something like that.”

“Oh, you know I would.” She smirked, leaning in and wrapping her hands around my biceps. “Especially if it’s a series. Then I’d steal more space on your bookshelves to house them.”

She stuck her tongue out teasingly, then laughed, burying her face in my arm.

“Laughing, but I know you’re so serious.” I smirked. “You little shelf bandit.”

Ayla laughed even harder against me. Her laughter was always so contagious, that light, sweet sound I hadn’t heard enough of lately. I found myself chuckling along with her, tension melting away.

When I looked back at Dr. Aldridge, her smile had shifted—something knowing, something warm.

“Oh, damn, I’m sorry.” I shook my head and exhaled a laugh. “What was your question again?”

She set her pen down. “Not important. Not after what just happened.”

Ayla and I exchanged a look.

“What just happened?” I asked, frowning.

Dr. Aldridge’s eyes bounced between us before she leaned forward slightly. “I don’t think we talked about how you two met.”

Ayla’s lips twitched, eyes flicking to me.

I licked my lips, a slow grin pulling at my mouth.

Damn. That was a good memory.

“So, let’s do it now… how did you two first meet?” Dr. Aldridge asked, interest gleaming in her gaze.

“In my parents’ kitchen,” Ayla started. “Hassani showed up with his parents for dinner. My dad had just started working at a firm where Hassani’s father was his boss, and my dad wanted to make a good impression.”

I snickered. “It felt like something straight out of a sitcom.”

Ayla giggled. “Right?! My parents made me dress up in my Easter Sunday outfit. Meanwhile, Hassani showed up in a tee, jeans, and sneakers. I was so annoyed by that.”

Dr. Aldridge laughed.

“Well,” she asked next, “was it love at first sight?”

“Yes,” Ayla answered immediately.

My head jerked toward her. “Wh—what?”

---