The next morning I make it down to breakfast before Timothy even has time to make it up the stairs and get me. Ever since jerking off to that video of Frannie I’ve been horny as fuck. I can’t wait until all this treatment bullshit is over and I can get back to a normal life—one that includes fucking Frannie whenever I want.

Most of the other patients—or clients as all the staff call us—are already in their seats ready for breakfast. Frannie isn’t here yet, so I sit next to an empty chair to save it for her.

“Hey, hot stuff,” Josie purrs as she plops down in Frannie’s seat. “You’re looking good enough to eat this morning.”

Her come-ons make me want to roll my eyes so fucking bad. This girl is so not my type—not that I even had a type, looking back on all the random groupies I’ve fucked around with over the last year. And Gabby Rodriguez, I don’t even want to think about that screwed-up mess. Trip had been right about her. She was absolutely no good for me.

Josie’s still staring at me, waiting on me to flirt back with her like I’ve been doing lately. I’m really not in the mood to put up with this little game today, but I don’t want to piss off Frannie, so I play along.

I lean back and casually throw my around the back of Josie’s chair and give her my most devilish smirk. “Well, why don’t you come take a bite?”

She giggles and twirls her bottle-blond hair around her index finger as she slides her tongue along her top teeth. “Maybe I just might.”

I’m still pretending to be loving this wicked banter between Josie and I as I turn my head and notice Frannie staring at me with a pained expression.

Fuck.

I told her this wasn’t a good idea.

She’s pissed. How I’m ever going to drive it home to her that I am not some fucking douchebag, out to hurt her?

That’s it. This little fucking game is over. Either way, Frannie is going to be pissed at me, but I’d much rather it be for me doing the right thing and not flirting with people in front of her face.

The rest of the meal, Frannie doesn’t even look at me. Josie, on the other hand, won’t leave me the fuck alone.

For the third time in the last ten minutes, I shove Josie’s hand off my thigh. I furrow my eyebrows at her and tell her to stop each time, but this bitch is persistent as fuck.

I finish my meal in record time, because the second Frannie leaves this table, I’m going after her.

My gaze never moves from Frannie. Her plate has hardly been touched and yet she continues to sit there and pick at it. I need her to at least look at me.

Getting desperate for some sort of communication with her, I think of the only excuse I can to engage her in front of all these people. “Dr. Mead, is my appointment still right before lunch?”

She shakes her head but doesn’t look in my direction. “No, it’s after.”

I knew that. It’s been the same time every other day since I started here. I just needed to ask her something, anything that would make her speak to me.

Frannie pushes back from the table. “If you will excuse me, I have some work I need to get finished.”

I go after her, careful to not seem too passionate in my chase in front of the others, but she speeds up when she notices me hot on her heels, rushing through the office door before trying to shut it in my face.

I wedge my boot against the jamb, and she narrows her eyes at me. “Go away, Tyke.”

“No,” I tell her firmly and push on the door. “Let me in and tell me what the fuck is going on.”

She rolls her eyes but steps back reluctantly, allowing me to enter. The moment we’re alone, I question, “What the hell was that back there? You promised you wouldn’t get pissed. This was your idea, remember?”

She wraps her arms around her torso. “This isn’t going to work, Tyke.”

“Your idea? Yeah, I already told you it wouldn’t.”

“No, I meant you and me. We’re no good for each other.”

I look at her confused. “Why would you say that? I’ve already told you how I feel about you. If you think I’m just going to throw that away—”

“You say that now,” she cuts me off. “But soon you’ll be leaving. I’ll be just another woman you spent a couple months with, and that will be that. There’s no real tie between us—nothing forcing us to stay together when you’re on the road and I’m still here.”

I need to make her see how ridiculous she’s being. She wants to push me away because of the fear she has that I’m just going to hurt her and leave her.

Without permission, I take her into my arms. She stills like a statue, but that doesn’t stop me from grabbing the back of her neck and grazing my thumb along her delicate skin. “I know what you’re doing, but I’m telling you right now that it isn’t going to work. You’re stuck with me, Frannie, so you might as well stop trying to push me away.”

Tears pool in her blue eyes, and I can tell my words are affecting her. She relaxes in my arms and stares up at me. “I wish that were true.”

“Believe it, Frannie. Believe in me. Believe in us. We can make this work; you just have to stop pushing me away. Trust me. I’m not going to leave you. You don’t have to fear being left behind by me.”

A soft sob comes out of her as she lays her head against my chest and finally returns my embrace. Pain radiates off her and I can feel it sinking into my bones. Frannie has been hurting for so long over her twin’s death. I’m not sure if I’m the best qualified person for the job, but I’m going to do my damnedest to heal her broken heart.