Shameless (The Therapist #2), стр. 49
“All right. Have a good night,” Liam says, before turning on his heel and walking out.
As he exits the restaurant, Missy comes strolling in, her red hair swinging behind her as she sits down next to me.
“Did you miss me?” she asks. “How long you been here?”
“Long enough to have a drink and some conversation,” I answer, but I don't feel as chipper as I did a second ago.
“You okay,” Missy asks. “You seem down.”
“I’m fine. Let’s get you a drink,” I say. “Excuse me, bartender. Can we get her a…”
“Ms. Milton,” I hear a voice call from behind me. I turn around to find Liam standing there, and my heart rate doubles.
“Listen, I have to be honest here,” Liam begins. “I was sick the last time I left here without getting your number. I really enjoyed talking to you, and I think we can both get along and relate to each other in a way I’m not sure I've felt before. I couldn’t just leave here a second time without asking if you're seeing anyone.”
Missy and I both freeze, shocked by this turn of events. I could leap for joy right now.
“Umm, no. I’m not seeing anyone,” I say, doing my best to keep my smile from overtaking my face.
“I don't know how something like that happens,” Liam says, shaking his head. “You’re entirely too beautiful to be single. I was wondering if maybe I could have your number. Maybe we can go on a date and talk without me having to drink and run off so fast.”
“Absolutely. I’d love that,” I answer, and I can't put my number in his phone fast enough.
When it’s all said and done, Liam smiles at me and Missy. “Awesome. Thank you. I’ll give you a call soon.”
“Can’t wait,” I answer, just before Liam turns and walks out.
As soon as he’s gone, Missy turns to me with her mouth agape and her eyes wide. “Tell me everything!”
Chapter Thirty-One
~ Tessa ~
“Tessa, did you drop off the deposit last night?” my mother asks. She steps into my office wearing a white button-up and blue jeans, covered by a baby blue apron, but her clothes aren't what I focus on. It’s the easy going smile she’s wearing that I see first.
“Yeah, I did,” I reply. I smile back, and instinctively wait for her to ridicule something about my appearance. My hair is down, and I didn't go all out on my makeup this morning. I was too tired for all of that, so maybe that’s where she’ll hit me. She keeps her eyes trained on me for a moment, and I expect her complaint to come spiraling at me like a missile any second now.
“Okay, I figured you did. Just wanted to make sure,” she says, pinching her lips together, but keeping her smile intact. “Everything going okay with you, sweetie?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I reply, and I think to leave it there, but another thought crosses my mind before my mother can walk out. “Actually, Mom, I’ve been thinking. You know, I’m always up to date on everything finance related around here. I’ve been doing this for so long that the system I have in place pretty much runs itself. I feel like I’m sort of bored sometimes, and I was considering taking on another account. One from another business.”
My mother stares at me with no expression on her face, blinking a few times while she calculates what I just said.
“Would that affect you coming here?” she asks.
“Yeah, maybe a bit,” I answer. “I was actually thinking about getting my own building. Some place I could manage a handful of accounts and have multiple streams of income. I’d have to grow it over time, and even hire a staff at some point, but I think I want to go into business for myself. Milton Animal Clinic would be my ribbon-cutting client. I’d never leave you guys behind, I just think I need to expand. What do you think?”
Judy lets out a breath, just before her face softens and she tilts her head to the side.
“I think that’d be great, Tessa,” she says. “I really do. Your father and I would miss having you around here, but you’re right. You've been here since you were just a teenager. You're a grown woman now, and you're absolutely smart enough to start your own business. I think it shows incredible growth. Your father and I will support you however you need us to. Just let us know how we can help.”
“Wow,” I say with raised eyebrows. “Thank you. I appreciate that very much.”
“You're welcome,” my mother says before turning on her heel. Before she walks away, she looks over her shoulder. “I’m very proud of you, Tessa.”
In my chest, I feel a strong urge to cry. It stings like needles prickling underneath my rib cage. I don't even know where it came from, but it takes everything in me to swallow it back down just to be able to respond.
“Thanks, Mom,” I reply. My mother flashes a soft but genuine smile just as she walks out.
Once she's gone, I pause a moment to think about how she’s done such a dramatic turnaround. Is telling people how they make you feel really that powerful of a tool? It seems to have forced my mother into a complete reversal of how she used to be, and I’m so glad I took Dr. Colson’s advice and spoke my truth to her. Well, it wasn't just Dr. Colson. I think my first conversation with Liam had a little something to do with it, too.
“Well, it seems that letting a guy fuck you from behind on the counter in the lobby is exactly the medicine your mom needed,” Missy says as she waltzes into my office. Her red hair is tied into a tight ponytail, and her Delaware T-shirt matches the color of her apron, so they almost blend in together.
“Keep your voice down,” I