Stay with Me by Awesomekristii (jenna bush book club .TXT) 📖

“I… I like him.” Her lips pulled in a smile.

“So, you two aren’t in a relationship yet?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s little complicated. I live in his house, after he found me in a park homeless, and gave me a place of shelter.” She hummed, tapping her pen on her pad.

“Okay, so you like him. Did you tell him that?” I shook my head, nervousness creeping up my skin.

“No, I… I don’t know if I like him or love him or neither… I have never really experienced the emotion with anyone.” I licked my fried lips, continuing. “I feel like… I’m just mixing the gratitude with my feelings maybe… or… I’m just not enough for him.”

“Did you tell you that?”

“No, definitely not. He will never say, but he is too good, and when I look at myself I feel the deprivation in me.” She rolled her hands putting them under her chin.

“And why do you feel that?”

“Because… because I’m a rape victim, didn’t have a job, education, house or family. I have nothing.” My voice felt heavy with the words, my inside feeling like few second away from cracking.

“I want you to do something for me.” I looked up at her, confused and startled. “Yes?”

She handed me a paper, a line drawn in the center vertically, one side written wish, and another side restrictions. I examined the paper not knowing what to do.

“That’s your homework. You will jot down all your wishes, everything even as minor as maybe liking chocolate ice cream to liking the man outside.” My heart thumped hard at the mention, hands sweaty as I grabbed the paper.

“Write down whatever you wish for. Don’t hold back, okay?” I nodded, pushing the paper inside the purse I brought.

“We will cut our session this much for today, we gonna take baby steps so don’t worry about anything.” She smiled at me.

“Yes. Thank you.” She nodded standing up, while I followed her.

“We will be having two sessions weekly if that’s okay with you. Preferably Monday and Wednesday.”

“It’s fine with me.” Collecting my medic file back, I walked out of the door. Surprisingly feeling a little lighter, the former nervousness wearing out, realizing it wasn’t that tough. It felt… good to speak out about my own thoughts.

I felt a hand grabbing my shoulders, when I looked up to meet with the charcoal eyes. “How did it go?” There was worry etched in his face, clearly visible.

“Good. It went better than I expected.” He smiled showing off his dimple.

“That’s great! I’m happy with it. So, when is the next session?”

“She said about weekly two sessions.” He nodded at that, as we made our way outside.

“Let's grab something to eat.”

••••••

“What would you like to eat?” We walked into the small diner which apparently the place we often go for food, and I really love the food they serve.

I shrugged. “Anything is fine.” He turned towards the server and asked for chicken nuggets, French fries and Pasta salad.

As we waited for the food, I saw Damien getting a call. His eyebrows furrowed looking at the screen. “Hello.”

“Yes, okay… How?” He nodded listening to the other side, and I noticed the look of anger crossing his face, his hold tightening around the phone. “I will be there. No, don’t. Let me be there first.” He ended the call, and I had the urge to ask him what was bothering him.

These past few days, it had only been about me. I didn’t even ask whether he was doing fine or not. I found him mostly at him, so it wasn’t a secret that he had to face lots of emergency and difficulties in his office.

Guilt knawed inside me, but the server arrived and I stopped pondering on my thoughts.

“Did you feel the session good? Was it being helpful or should I look for someone better.” He asked in between eating our food.

I rubbed my fingers in the tissue, done with the food which was really good. “No,” I gave him a small smile. “She is good and this is apparently the first day.” He nodded, sighing a little.

“Just tell me okay, if you face in complications in there.”

“Sure.” We stood up as he went to pay for the food. I stood beside him, rummaging through my purse for my phone. It was vibrating a minute ago. Before I could grab it out I felt an elbow hitting my bandaged head.

A hiss left my lips, as my hands shot up to press against my head. Damien was quick to turn and grab my shoulders. “What happened, Lilah?” I could clearly hear the worry and panic in his voice. I shook my head, trying to assure him.

“It’s fi-“

“Fuck!” He cursed pressing his finger against a part of the head which was struggling in pain. He blew air in there before grabbing some tissue and pressing against it stopping the blood. “Who did that?” He growled out looking at the waiter who was looking as guilty.

Before I know he was grabbing his collar, “Where the fuck were your eyes at? She was already injured.”

“I'm sorry sir.” I could see he was visibly shaken by his anger. I walked back to Damien, clasping his wrist resting on his collar.

“Leave him, Damien. He is sorry.”

“But h-“ I cut off him, taking him with me.

“It’s okay.” He sighed, helping me outside the shop. “Let me get the car real quick. Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“No, I can clean it up at home.” He brought the car when we get inside.

“Fuck! That bastard wasn’t –“

“Damien, that’s just an accident.” He didn’t argue anymore, but he was hell speeding up too much I just hoped he didn’t get a speed ticket.

By the time we reached, he took me to his bedroom. “Sit here.” He walked inside the bathroom and grabbed the first aid box.