Page 50 of Pour Decisions
Keep your hands to yourself.
“Oh! John David,” Mom says, appearing behind Kat. My smile falls. “Who’s your friend?”
The way she says friend insinuates that she knows we aren’t friends. Why did Wes have to be right? I barely smile at my fucking siblings and here I am, grinning at Kat. Mom knows something is up.
“Mom, this is Katrina. We…” I pause, trying to explain. But recognition dawns on Mom’s face.
“Your…former girlfriend?” Mom puts on her former pageant queen smile. “So good to see you. I didn’t know you two were in touch again.”
“I just moved back to Jepsen, so we reconnected now that some time has passed,” Kat says with way more composure than I did.
“Good.” Mom looks at me, her smile bright. “Well, I need to get back to the adoption booth. We’re finding so many animals their forever homes!”
She kisses me on the cheek, then squeezes Kat on the shoulder before walking away.
“I didn’t think we’d run into each other again,” I say, running my fingers through my hair.
“It’s fine, JD.” Kat glances around. “It had to happen anyway. And it wasn’t a big deal.”
“I know. But it’s not taking it slow like you wanted.” I’m more frustrated than I thought I’d be at this. “I wanted it to be different.”
“It isn’t. And it wasn’t like you set this up.” She runs her fingers along the text on my t-shirt before letting her hand fall. “It’ll be okay, JD. Even if it’s not perfect.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
KATRINA
My boss is pretty laidback,but I’ve always been a model employee. I’m not sure if her laid back attitude extends to living with and being in a relationship with a client.
I put a fifteen minute meeting on my boss’s calendar for first thing in the morning on Monday so I won’t have that hanging over my head all day.
I rehearsed what I’m going to say yesterday, but hopefully it’s not so rehearsed that she picks up that JD and I have already gotten together already.
God, why did I do this? Ithinkwe should be fine if JD moves to another PT, but what if we can’t? I have feelings for him but I can’t wreck my career for him. I’d have to start over somewhere new.
I wait next to my boss’s office until she arrives. Candice is anywhere from her mid-forties to her sixties—I genuinely can’t tell and don’t want to be rude and ask. Her brown skin is lightly wrinkled, but she carries herself with the confidence of a woman who’s lived life. Her background in sports and physical therapy probably helps that.
“Morning, Kat,” she says, gesturing for me to go into her office.
“Morning!” I grip my travel mug of coffee, which JD put together for me this morning and left with a note, along with a fancy sandwich he made on ciabatta bread. His note just saidEat lunch, Katrina. -JDNothing else, but it made my heart flutter anyway.
She shuts the door behind me, making my heartrate pick up.
“What’s going on?” She gives me a gentle smile.
I take a steadying sip of my coffee and a measured breath. “It’s about my client, JD Stryker.”
“Is everything okay? He’s not making you uncomfortable, is he?” She frowns.
“No! Not at all.” Well, not in the way she’s thinking. Unfortunately that’s not an unheard of issue in physical therapy. “It’s just that I’d like him moved to another physical therapist to finish out his treatment. We, uh, have a relationship outside of work, and I don’t think it would be right to continue treating him. A conflict of interest.”
Candice’s expression shifts and she nods. “Personal relationships with clients are hard to avoid in a town this small, but you’re right—they aren’t allowed.”
I look down at my hands. I was a good student and never got in trouble when I was a kid. I bet this is how it felt to sit in front of the principal.
“I know. Which is why I want him to switch. If possible.” I clear my throat and look her in the eye again. “He’s made significant improvements, and I want him to continue to heal and get his life back. He just has a few more weeks left.”
Candice sips her own coffee and looks at me over the edge. My stomach twists in knots. I can’t read her to save my life.
