“No, not that. It’s her first ‘boyfriend analysis’ session.”
I could have killed her. I must have paled considerably, because Max was looking back and forth between us, an interested grin curling the corners of his mouth.
Cate pushed a glass of red into his hand. “We’ve sworn her off men for six months and we’re going to analyze each of her past relationships so we can get to the root of the problem.” She went bright pink. “Oh my God , no pun intended!”
Max laughed loudly, a hearty sound that made my stomach flip. He turned to stare at me intently. “And what do you think the root of the problem is?”
My paleness was replaced with an unpleasant burning sensation and I realized with increasing horror my face was now bright red.
“She’s addicted to men.” Scarlett’s dry tone interrupted our conversation from the doorway. She was smiling. I glared at her.
Max glanced at Scarlett, then back to me, his eyebrows raised in undisguised interest. “Addicted … as in a sex addiction?”
His question was far too hopeful and I finally managed to find my voice. “No, that’s Scarlett,” I told him, grabbing my wine and marching from the kitchen.
Out on the balcony the fresh evening breeze went a long way toward calming me down and returning my cheeks to a more natural color. I could hear them laughing inside about something, possibly me, and I took a sip of my wine to distract myself. God, we hadn’t even done my first session and it was already turning into a nightmare.
Cate came out to join me in the fresh air, her expression earnest. “I’m sorry, Christa, if I’d known it would be a problem, I would have suggested another night.”
I leaned over and gave her a quick squeeze. I found it impossible to stay mad at her because she only ever had good intentions—it was the main reason we’d been able to live together for so long without any major hiccups.
“You’re probably right,” I admitted, with a brief sigh. “It is only Max. I guess I’ve been caught unawares by the change in him, that’s all.”
“He is kind of gorgeous isn’t he?” she agreed, with a wicked grin.
“Thank God it’s not just me!” I threw up my hands in relief. “When I mentioned as much to Maddy, she practically bit my head off and reminded me of our agreement.”
“You’ve got to admit your willpower isn’t all that great when it comes to men.”
“Yes, you’ve brought that to my attention.”
“Plus, he’s her brother.”
“That too.”
“Still doesn’t change the fact that he’s hot.” She had a far off look in her eyes.
I laughed softly. “Maybe it isn’t me that Maddy should be worried about … ”
“What shouldn’t I be worried about?” Maddy’s voice was suspicious as she came to stand at the entrance to the balcony.
Cate swallowed quickly and gave her an innocent look. “Nothing, as it turns out. I was just convincing Christa that she needn’t be worried about a man in the house while we discuss her exes.”
“Who? Max?” Maddy waved a dismissive hand at us. “He doesn’t count.”
“Who doesn’t count?” Max had now joined us and I felt like we were having our conversation in one of those revolving doors.
“You don’t, because you’re only here to fix Cate’s computer,” Maddy told him briskly. “Which is where exactly, Cate? Why don’t you set Max up so we can get on with things?”
Everyone was used to Maddy organizing and we did as she instructed. A vague sense of unease at what was to come formed in the base of my stomach as we ordered Thai for dinner and arranged ourselves around the coffee table in the lounge room to wait for it.
“Right,” Maddy began. “I figured it makes the most sense to start at the beginning. This is going to be a bit of a stretch memory-wise, Christa, so just do your best. I can help with some details as I was around at the time. You girls,” she said, waving a hand at Scarlett and Cate, “might learn something
I could have killed her. I must have paled considerably, because Max was looking back and forth between us, an interested grin curling the corners of his mouth.
Cate pushed a glass of red into his hand. “We’ve sworn her off men for six months and we’re going to analyze each of her past relationships so we can get to the root of the problem.” She went bright pink. “Oh my God , no pun intended!”
Max laughed loudly, a hearty sound that made my stomach flip. He turned to stare at me intently. “And what do you think the root of the problem is?”
My paleness was replaced with an unpleasant burning sensation and I realized with increasing horror my face was now bright red.
“She’s addicted to men.” Scarlett’s dry tone interrupted our conversation from the doorway. She was smiling. I glared at her.
Max glanced at Scarlett, then back to me, his eyebrows raised in undisguised interest. “Addicted … as in a sex addiction?”
His question was far too hopeful and I finally managed to find my voice. “No, that’s Scarlett,” I told him, grabbing my wine and marching from the kitchen.
Out on the balcony the fresh evening breeze went a long way toward calming me down and returning my cheeks to a more natural color. I could hear them laughing inside about something, possibly me, and I took a sip of my wine to distract myself. God, we hadn’t even done my first session and it was already turning into a nightmare.
Cate came out to join me in the fresh air, her expression earnest. “I’m sorry, Christa, if I’d known it would be a problem, I would have suggested another night.”
I leaned over and gave her a quick squeeze. I found it impossible to stay mad at her because she only ever had good intentions—it was the main reason we’d been able to live together for so long without any major hiccups.
“You’re probably right,” I admitted, with a brief sigh. “It is only Max. I guess I’ve been caught unawares by the change in him, that’s all.”
“He is kind of gorgeous isn’t he?” she agreed, with a wicked grin.
“Thank God it’s not just me!” I threw up my hands in relief. “When I mentioned as much to Maddy, she practically bit my head off and reminded me of our agreement.”
“You’ve got to admit your willpower isn’t all that great when it comes to men.”
“Yes, you’ve brought that to my attention.”
“Plus, he’s her brother.”
“That too.”
“Still doesn’t change the fact that he’s hot.” She had a far off look in her eyes.
I laughed softly. “Maybe it isn’t me that Maddy should be worried about … ”
“What shouldn’t I be worried about?” Maddy’s voice was suspicious as she came to stand at the entrance to the balcony.
Cate swallowed quickly and gave her an innocent look. “Nothing, as it turns out. I was just convincing Christa that she needn’t be worried about a man in the house while we discuss her exes.”
“Who? Max?” Maddy waved a dismissive hand at us. “He doesn’t count.”
“Who doesn’t count?” Max had now joined us and I felt like we were having our conversation in one of those revolving doors.
“You don’t, because you’re only here to fix Cate’s computer,” Maddy told him briskly. “Which is where exactly, Cate? Why don’t you set Max up so we can get on with things?”
Everyone was used to Maddy organizing and we did as she instructed. A vague sense of unease at what was to come formed in the base of my stomach as we ordered Thai for dinner and arranged ourselves around the coffee table in the lounge room to wait for it.
“Right,” Maddy began. “I figured it makes the most sense to start at the beginning. This is going to be a bit of a stretch memory-wise, Christa, so just do your best. I can help with some details as I was around at the time. You girls,” she said, waving a hand at Scarlett and Cate, “might learn something
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