Shameless (The Therapist #2), стр. 17
“He’s a relationship therapist first, sex therapist second, and why are you fantasizing about my therapist?”
“Because I can. Fantasizing isn’t cheating. I know I’m married, but you, on the other hand, can do whatever you want now that you're finally free of the world’s most annoying and talentless music producer. Or is it manager? Who fuckin’ cares. Anyway, you should be going crazy now.”
I release a loud sigh. “Yeah, I know. You’re probably right, but I'm hesitant. Anytime I was single in the past, my mother was always in my ear about how I needed to meet someone. She made me feel like being single and having fun made me a whore, and when I met Brandon she was so thrilled. Now that I’m single again, I don’t know how I want to do it. I know Judy will be in my ear nonstop, reminding me over and over again that I can't be out there doing whatever with whoever, but I just feel different this time.”
“Good,” Missy chirps. “You should feel different, Tessa. You’re a grown woman. You can literally do whatever you want.”
“I know that’s true, but it’s more complicated than that,” I try to explain, but even when I say it, I’m not sure I understand or believe it.
“It doesn’t have to be, sweetie,” Missy says. “At the end of the day, it's your life, not Judy’s or Jack’s.”
Missy is right, just like Dr. Colson. It is my life and I can do what I want, and no matter how much thought I put into it, I can't shake this feeling that there’s something on me that I need to get off—some extra weight I need to put down so I can be free. I just don’t know what it is or how to get rid of it.
“Umm, excuse me.”
Our conversation is interrupted by a deep voice coming from behind me. Before I even turn around, I see the expression on Missy’s face. She looks shocked, so when I start to turn around, I don’t know what to expect. Is it Brandon coming to try to get me back?
When I lock eyes with the man standing next to the empty seat beside me, I quickly realize it is not Brandon. Brandon couldn’t look like this on his best day.
“Hi,” the man says, with a seductive smile accented by a five o’clock shadow. “Is this seat taken?”
Chapter Twelve
~ Tessa ~
“Umm,” I mutter, as I stare at a beautiful man with dark brown, and wavy hair. He’s at least six-one, with a thin frame and blue eyes. His lips are thin and he has a strong jaw paired with broad shoulders. For some reason, he’s wearing a suit in Applebee’s, but he makes it look so good I don’t even focus on why anyone would be here in a suit. Hands down, he’s the most handsome man in the restaurant, and it’s not even close.
“This seat right here,” he says with a smile that nearly knocks me from my seat. “Is it taken?”
“Uhh, no, it’s not,” I manage to force out. “It’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” he says, and while my eyes are still bulging, I turn around to look at Missy, who mouths the words, “Oh my god.”
“So, what’s your drink?” the man says, pulling my attention back to him. “Is that a vodka cranberry?”
“Mm-hmm,” I answer between pinched lips.
“Can I get you another one?”
“Uhh…” I look over at Missy, who takes this opportunity to speak for me.
“Yes, you can. She’d love another drink,” Missy blurts, smiling like the Cheshire Cat.
“Great,” the unnamed man says, before waving to the bartender. “Hi. Let me get a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks, and a vodka cranberry, please.” The bartender steps away to make the drinks and returns to set them in front of my new companion. “Thank you. Here you go,” he says, sliding my new drink over to me, even though I haven’t finished my first one yet.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’re welcome. I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation, so I just wanted to make amends with a new drink. Enjoy,” he says, then he sits straight and focuses his attention on his drink and whatever is going through his mind.
I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t respond at all. Instead, I turn to face Missy and find that she looks furious.
“What are you doing?” she whispers.
“What?”
“Talk to him,” Missy whisper-screams, and I frown, hoping she’ll recognize my face as a signal to keep her embarrassing voice down. “Brandon couldn’t look that good if he traded faces with Jesus. You see my goofy face all the time, so quit bullshitting and talk to him.”
“Ugh. I’m not good at that kind of stuff, Missy.”
“Oh my god, just fucking do it, Tessa. Just be yourself and you can’t go wrong,” Missy fires back, just before lifting herself out of her chair and walking away. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Oh, I hate you,” I say as she strides away with her nose high in the air, ignoring me. “Hate! I hate you!” I say again, accidentally grabbing some attention from the closest table, which I ignore.
Admittedly, I’ve been hit on plenty in my life. Even when I was with Brandon, guys would always try to come talk to me, and Brandon would get all insecure and we’d end up fighting about it as if it was somehow my fault.
I don’t hit on guys, though. So, this thing Missy wants me to do is new to me, and even though the guy next to me is extremely attractive, I struggle to find the words. I have to think about it, and decide to take Missy’s advice and be myself.
I clear my throat. “Well, I can't let you buy me a drink without at least learning your name.”
Oh god. Was that stupid? Did that sound