Read Online Love Found in California (The Washington Triplets) by Melissa Rolka - Free Book Online Page B

to me. I swallow down the hurt I feel remembering how distant and cold Dad had sounded. It was only the beginning of several conversations I overheard between them.
    My mom was right though, I did feel better after going to therapy and talking to someone. It didn’t happen during that first visit, but over time. I reach out my hand and place it gently into Ryan’s, instead of pulling me up he bends down and kisses the top of my hand. The reds and blues that had begun to infiltrate my space gradually fall to the side. A bit of orange and yellow slip inside and warmth covers me as I gaze at the sincerity in Ryan’s face. His smile speaks volumes about the person he is and how he feels about me. It catches me every time, letting me know that he’s here, at my side for better or worse.
    “You ready?” he asks.
    “Yes … I am,” I say as confidently as I can.
    We walk into the building hand in hand, and once we get into the office Ryan let’s my hand go and stands to the side. I walk up to the window to check myself in.
    “Hi, Mrs. Chambers. How are you?” The same receptionist that I’ve seen the other times greets me.
    “Good, thanks.”
    “Go ahead and take a seat. Dr. Harrington will be with you in just a few.” I turn and around sit next to Ryan. Unable to stop my knee from bouncing up and down I realize that this therapy session is different. It’s different because I have Ryan here and my goals are not like the other times. This time I need to find a way to tell Ryan everything that has happened. I need to tell him more than I’ve ever told my mom or therapist back home. That’s a lot to take in and I can’t be sure how I’ll feel afterward.
    A few short silent minutes pass and then Dr. Harrington’s voice fills the air; “Mikaela,” she calls to me with the back door held open. I nod my head to her and then look to Ryan.
    His hands move to my shoulders and rub them, and then he kisses my lips. “I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.” I nod my head to him and try to keep the tears I feel pooling in my eyes at bay. “Mik,” he clears his throat and then continues, “I’m proud of you.”
    I can’t respond so when his hands release my shoulders I get up and enter into Dr. Harrington’s office, ready to face the past.

TRUE TO HIS WORD, RYAN is there waiting for me after the session, and the next two during the week after work. He doesn’t pry or beg for information, but always asks if I want to talk or share anything with him. I can see he’s ready to hear something, but I’m not quite there yet. Even Dr. Harrington has urged me to wait until next week for our first session together as a couple. We both try to go about as if everything is the same, but it’s not. There is a bit of tension pulling at us.
    As we drive home our Friday session, I rub at my temples in the car, feeling an ache coming on. It’s draining spilling your guts about things that are not pleasant. One thing I feel better about is that I’ve talked to Dr. Harrington about my father’s upcoming wedding. She helped me to realize that I do want to go. I need to connect with my sisters again and rebuild a relationship with my dad. It’s important to me. Tonight I’ll respond to my sisters and even my dad to tell him I’ll be there. First though, I need to ask Ryan.
    “Ryan?” I can tell I’m interrupting him from some deep thought as he grips the steering wheel with both hands.
    “Yeah?” This is Ryan stressed or mad. I can’t be sure yet. When he’s a little too short in his replies, I know something is off for him too.
    I contemplate asking him about the wedding, but decide that I should wait until he’s a little more clear-headed. “Never mind.”
    Silence fills the car as we continue our drive and then Ryan says, “I’m going out with Randy tonight, okay?”
    Staring ahead I can’t help but feel a sting in my chest. He always invites me to go out with him, but this time there’s no invitation