Reckless (A Carolina Coastal Novel Book 3)

by Kelsey Cheyenne

  “And what if they can’t?”

  She huffs. I know she hates when I answer her with a question and even more so, she hates when I make her dig deep down into her feelings.

  “I’m afraid if they separate I’ll lose my connection to my dad.” Her voice is low. She’s vulnerable and her hands fall clasped together into her lap. She doesn’t want to look at me, but I push her.

  “Flynn, from what you’ve told me, your father is a good man. He loves you and he told you he’s always going to be your dad. I know it’s hard for you to do, but you need to trust him. Have some faith.” Though she nods, it’s not confident. “Look at me,” I tell her. “No matter what happens, everything is going to be fine.”

  “You can’t promise that.”

  “In this scenario, I can. Because even if things go sour with your family, you have me. I’m here for you.”

  A sweet smile pulls at her lips. She still hasn’t told me she loves me back, but that’s okay. I’m not going to push or pressure her. I know emotions and relationships are difficult for her. Plus, with the possibility of her family splintering, things are more precarious than ever. Flynn’s health could take a hit here. I want to drive to her parents’ house and tell them everything, how they’re putting their daughter at risk by not putting her first. How all of this could affect Flynn and take her ten steps in the wrong direction. But obviously, that would be a massive overstep and a violation of HIPAA to say anything to them.

  “Tell me about your new living situation. How’s that going?”

  She offers me a cheeky smile, grateful for the change in topic. She licks her lips and by the glimmer in her eye, I can tell she’s about to say something dirty. But she doesn’t get a chance. We’re rudely interrupted by my ex barging through the door with my secretary in tow.

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Whitmore, I tried to stop her.” I want to be mad at my secretary for doing a shitty job, but I know it’s not her fault. My ex-wife is relentless and a general nightmare on a good day.

  “Miranda, you can’t barge in here, and especially not while I’m with a patient.”

  “A patient? Please. Your fuck buddy is hardly worth calling a patient.” With that, Amanda leaves with a grimace. Sonofabitch. I suspected she knew about Flynn and me, but she didn’t need to hear it like this.

  The three of us are in a standoff in my office. Flynn looks ready to kill Miranda while Miranda sneers at both of us. I step in front of my ex in a not-so-subtle way of shielding Flynn from her. She laughs without humor and my blood starts to boil.

  “You need to leave. This is not the time or place,” I tell my ex-wife.

  “Please, tell me when would you prefer? You’ve been dodging my calls, not returning my texts, and I haven’t even been able to catch you at home. I assumed you were spending all your time here or with the tramp.”

  “Flynn, maybe you should go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” Sometimes I wish she wasn’t so stubborn.

  “She should stay. She’s part of the reason we’re here anyway, right?” Miranda walks over to the gray couch in the center of the room and makes herself comfortable. “So, tell me. Do you have my money?”

  “No, I don’t. You think I’m just going to pay you because you threaten me?”

  “If you know what’s good for you.” She’s smug, one leg crossed over the other, her foot bouncing in the air. Her arms are sprawled across the back of the couch. She has not a care in the world.

  “Miranda—”

  “Allow me.” Flynn struts over and my ex makes an almost imperceptible change. She doesn’t want to appear intimidated, but she sits up slightly straighter. Flynn braces her hand on the back of the couch, right beside Miranda’s bicep and leans down to get right in her face. “I don’t give a shit if you film us having sex just to leak it the fucking tape, you psychotic bitch. You are not getting another dime out of this man.”

  Miranda sits up, not one to be trifled with. “We’ll see about that.” She pushes off the couch and storms out of the room. I wish I had a bell I could ring right now because this round is over.

  After the showdown with Miranda, Flynn and I came back to my place. I wanted to make sure she was actually okay with what happened. I know she has a strong exterior and likes to put up a front. I never wanted her to get caught in the ugliness between me and my ex-wife.

  I want to take her mind off things. We spend so much time focusing on her vulnerabilities. She’s always talking and I’m always listening. It’s my job, but the scales always seem to tip heavier to one side. It’s time I’m vulnerable for once and I don’t think Flynn will disagree.

  “I want you to come somewhere with me.” Flynn’s curled into my side on the couch, scrolling through her phone and glances up at me at my words.

  “Is it to the bedroom?” She and I haven’t consummated our newfound official relationship, but she still hasn’t responded to my declaration of love, either. Not that I’m punishing her, because the last thing I want to do is pressure her, but if she’s not ready for love, then she shouldn’t be ready for sex.

  “No, I want you to come to counseling with me.” I tell her and she sits up and turns to look at me.

  “Already? I didn’t think we had that many problems to make us go to couples’ therapy.”

  “Not couples therapy.” I squeeze her side and she flinches away, ticklish. “To my grief counseling. I usually only go once or twice a year around the anniversary and the holidays, but I want you to come with me.” It’s a huge step, but if I want her to be in my life, she needs to witness every aspect of who I am, including my struggles.

  “Then I’ll come with you. Besides, it’ll be nice to be in therapy and not have to focus on myself for once.” I roll my eyes but squeeze her into my side. I murmur my thanks into her hair and kiss the top of her head. “When is it?”

  “Tonight,” I tell her. She sits up and looks at me with wide eyes and a slack jaw.

  “You could’ve given me a little more notice,” she chastises, but there’s no real heat behind her words.

  “It’s not like you need to prepare or anything.” Tonight should definitely be interesting with Flynn by my side.

  Later that night, we arrive at counseling. There are a few people I don’t recognize, but Shelly greets me right away. She eyes Flynn but doesn’t say anything. She’s not judgmental at all; she can’t be in her position. She’s just curious. Last time I was here, I was talking about the demise of my marriage and today I show up with someone several years my junior.

  We grab two empty seats in the circle. Flynn won’t stop looking around and fidgeting in her seat. She’s uncomfortable here, but I’m grateful for the effort she’s making on my account. It’s a big step for her and a huge display of commitment. I’m proud of her. She’s come a long way since she’s really started trying to be better.

  A woman I recognize from my last time here walks through the doors sans the kid she brought last time. My jaw drops at my stupid mistake. She stops and talks to Shelly, and though she’s smiling I can see the nerves in her tight grin and trembling hands. Shelly puts a calming hand on her shoulder and nods, saying something to her with a reassuring smile.

  In that same instant, nails dig into my forearm. A hiss escapes from beside me and Flynn turns her entire body toward me, shielding her face with one hand.

  “We have a problem. I need to get out of here. Now.”

  “What? Why? What’s wrong?” I fake-glance around the room, pretending like I don’t know what she’s talking about.

  “That girl over there by the door,” she peeks between her fingers and her eyes go wide when she sees Shelly and the black-haired girl coming closer. “The one walking over here right now is my sister.”

  Shit. I put the pieces together the minute she walked in the room, but I was hoping it wouldn’t be a big deal. Clearly, I was wrong. “I realize this is where I knew her from. I’m so sorry I didn’t put it together sooner. I rarely come to these sess
ions. I wasn’t thinking.” I’m trying to placate her, but she’s visibly distraught. Soon she’s going to draw attention to us all by herself.

  “Little late for that, bud.” She grimaces. “I seriously need to get out of here. She can’t see me with you.”

  “Why? She doesn’t know who I am to you.” She opens her mouth, but Shelly starts the meeting. “Besides, I think it’s a little late for that,” I finish on a whisper.

  Flynn slinks down in her seat as far as she can go. There’s no use trying to be invisible; she’d stand out in the most eccentric of crowds. She’s a light; everyone is drawn to her.

  “Hello, everyone, and I’m sorry that you’re here. Tonight, our guest speaker has been through the wringer herself. She suffered a tragedy at a young age and is here to share with you her journey. Carson, the floor is yours.”

  Carson—Flynn’s sister—slowly turns in the circle as she begins talking. She stutters and does a double take the moment her gaze drifts over me and lands on Flynn. Though she catches herself and continues talking, her face is screaming with confusion. Her forehead wrinkles as she stares at her sister and her eyes snap between us when she catches my arm behind Flynn’s back.

  She goes through her story, from learning of her college boyfriend’s cancer to finding out she was pregnant and then him dying. She talks about going to grief counseling afterwards and how raising her daughter helped her.

  I learn a lot about Flynn’s family and how they banded together to help Carson raise her daughter. It’s nice to see someone who went through something similar to me come out happy on the other side. I mean, she has her daughter and a husband and a successful business.

  Since Emily died, I still feel like a huge part of me is missing. Maybe it’s different since she was my daughter. I’m not sure if that part of me will ever heal. I can’t replace her, not that I’d ever want to, and I’m not even sure I want more kids.

  I guess that’s something I should discuss with Flynn sometime, since things are progressing pretty seriously. Not that I can ever imagine Flynn wanting children, but I still think it’s something we should discuss.

  This meeting isn’t as open format as the others. Once Carson is done talking, people talk to her privately. A lot of people seem to be commending her on her strength, which I would do as well, if I wasn’t being held back by Flynn’s surprising strength. She’s half behind me, attempting to hide as if her sister will miraculously forget she saw her here. Flynn nudges me toward the exit, but we’re stopped before we can escape.

  “Flynn, what a surprise. I assume you didn’t come here just to hear me speak.”

  “As much as I love hearing your sob story, seeing you here was as much of a surprise for me as it was for you.” Her smile is tight and sarcastic.

  “Somehow I don’t think that’s true.” She glances up at me. “Are you going to introduce us?”

  “This is Liam.” Carson’s eyes go wide before her brows furrow. She glances between the two of us and I can only imagine what’s going on in her head.

  “Mom’s going to love hearing about this.”

  “You’re talking to Mom again? Way to stand by me.” Flynn’s tone turns gritty and she rolls her eyes.

  “She called me and wanted to explain. Of course I heard her out. She’s our mother.”

  “Well, you can’t tell her about this. It’s none of your business.”

  Carson grabs Flynn’s arm and tugs her away in an attempt to gain privacy. Still, I can hear every hushed word. “He’s twice your age. What are you thinking?”

  “He’s not that old.”

  “How did you even meet him? Wait…did you say Liam? The same Liam you’ve been seeing?”

  “No, a different Liam.” Her tone is harsh and sarcastic.

  Carson’s eyes snap back to me, horrified. “When I spoke to Mom, she wanted me to talk to you. She told me your therapist has been a great deal of help and she was hoping you were talking to him about it. Mom told me his name, Flynn. When she raved about Dr. Liam Whitmore, the name didn’t ring a bell that time. But now I remember.”

  Flynn’s eyes snap to mine in a grimace. We both know where this is going.

  “Flynn. Tell me you’re not dating your therapist.”

  Twenty-Five

  Flynn

  “Okay. I’m not dating my therapist.” My sister looks at me as if she believes me about as much as she believes her daughter never sneaks candy before dinner.

  “Flynn, are you serious right now?”

  “Can we not talk about this here?” I walk back over to where Liam is standing and my sister is right on my tail. “I’ll tell you everything just not here.”

  She’s not thrilled about going anywhere with Liam, but she doesn’t have a choice. He and I are a package deal now. She follows us to the only place I feel safe and comfortable with Liam: his apartment. Her eyes go wide and her mouth forms an ‘o’ as she discovers my things sprawled throughout the space.

  “I knew you weren’t living at home right now, but I thought you took Luke up on his offer to stay with him and Liv.”

  “Please, as if I want to witness those two in all their glory. They’re sickening.”

  “Can I get you guys anything? A water? A shot?” He laughs as if to lighten the mood. He’s already bending over backwards, being overly polite to make her comfortable.

  “No thanks. I’m driving.” Carson’s voice is full of disgust. She takes everything too literally. If she’s going to continue to sit here and blindly judge him, I’m not going to tell her anything.

  “Look, sis, he and I met before I knew he was my therapist and in a few more weeks he won’t be my doctor anymore anyway. It’s irrelevant, really.”

  Liam hands her a bottle of water and is ready to sit on the couch beside me, but thinks better of it after glancing at my sister. “I’ll give you two space to talk.” He kisses me on my forehead before retreating off to the bedroom and I’m glad he didn’t blow me off just for Carson’s fragile feelings.

  “It doesn’t matter how or when you met. It should’ve stopped the minute you realized he was your doctor. He should’ve been the one to enforce it.”

  “He did. He tried. It’s more complicated than that.”

  “He’s taking advantage of you.”

  “He’s not,” I bellow, angry that she’d even suggest it. “He gets me. He knows everything about me, the good and especially the bad and he still wants me. He’s the first person I’ve ever been able to open up to, to trust. And don’t try and say it’s just because I had to talk to him, because he’s my therapist, because we both know that hasn’t made a difference in the past. He’s the only person who knows me, all of me, and he hasn’t run scared.”

  She’s thoughtful for a minute, cocking her head as if to see things from a different angle. She takes a long swig of her water and her face is calm when he looks at me next. “You love him.” She says it without question.

  “Yeah, I do.” It’s the first time I’ve ever admitted it out loud. I haven’t even told Liam yet, but now I can’t wait to say it back to him.

  “Flynn, this is dangerous. You get that, right?”

  “I’m not an idiot. You don’t even know half of how complicated all of this is. But it won’t change anything. You should know more than anyone that you can’t choose who you love and you can’t fight it.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She sits up on the edge of her chair as if leaning in close to me will make the words sink into my head better. “But the difference is, Liam could lose his job and his license. Have either of you thought this through, the implications of it? What’s the plan here, Flynnie? What happens when he loses his job for you? It’s not like you have a job or a degree or anything but your trust fund to contribute and you won’t get that for a few years.”

  “I get it, Carson, okay? You don’t need to spell it out for me. Why can’t you just trust that we’ll figure it out and, I don’t know, be happy for me for once in your life?” I’m screami
ng at her at this point, years of emotion bubbling over the surface. Everything that’s happened lately is coming to the surface and fuck, it feels good to yell and let it all out.

  “Because it’s illegal, Flynn. I’m happy therapy is working for you and you seem to be doing good and you’re opening up to love, but you can’t do this. Not with him. There are other guys out there. Suitable ones your own age who could be good for you. You’re young. You don’t see it now, but—”

  “Really, I’m young? You’re the one who got knocked up when you were younger than I am now. You were ready to marry Maddox then, convinced you were soulmates. Are you going back on that? Are you forfeiting everything you once believed just to make a point?”

  “Don’t bring him into this.”

  “You’re such a fucking hypocrite.”

  “You want the truth? I don’t know! I don’t know if we’d still be together if Maddox were alive. Does that make you happy, hearing me admit it? He and I were young. I can’t say for sure whether he and I would’ve made it.”

  We’re both standing now, breathing heavy and staring at one another. I don’t know when Liam came out of the room, but he wraps an arm around my waist and my heart rate calms instantly.

  “I have a plan, but I’m not ready to discuss it. I don’t want you to think Flynn influenced any of my decisions directly, though everything I’ve done since meeting her has been for her. I love her and I’m going to take care of her. Arguably, I am the best person for her. I’m sorry if you can’t understand and accept that.” His tone is calm but pointed.

  If she doesn’t agree, she can get the hell out.

  We all sit back down on the couch. Even my sister, who I thought was going to storm out of here. She watches us with eyes like a hawk, unwavering and not saying anything for a long time. Liam sits beside me but keeps a comfortable distance between us, likely to not make my sister more uncomfortable. Even now, when he’s upset, he puts everyone else first.