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Yes, yes. Very much so. “Maybe?”

Chapter Forty-Six

It’s beena few days since I last heard from Cougar22. When my laptop alert sounds that someone is calling in, I’m grateful and surprised to see her name.

I click to answer the call. “Good night. It’s been a few days. Hope everything is well.”

“Hi. Yeah, sorry about that. Everything is great.”

My eyes drift closed. I missed hearing her voice. “What have you been up to?”

There’s a moment of hesitation on her side. “I … listened to what you said and followed your advice.”

I riffle through my notes to confirm what I already know. My last advice for her was to take a chance with a guy she was attracted to. Something that went against everything I wanted to say to her, but my professional ethics demanded I do.

“Did you take a chance with the guy you met?” My fingers tap on the desk, and I count.

“What’s that tapping sound? I hear it all the time when I’m talking to you.”

I stop tapping. “It’s a grounding technique. It helps me focus. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it.” Not entirely true. I also use it when I’m anxious.

“And it helps?” The sound of faint tapping accompanies her question.

“It does. It’s a habit now.”

“Interesting. I might have to try that sometime.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” I fist my hand to stop the tapping.

“I was getting to it.” She blows a breath. “Yes, I met that guy, we talked, and we got together, and … and I think I like him.”

Got together … I know what that means, and Jesus Christ, I might need therapy myself. Didn’t I gettogetherwith someone myself yesterday? Why does knowing this bother me? “Will you be seeing him again?”

“Yes. I think I will. It was good … nice. Different.”

“Different how?”

“Just different. I don’t know. Maybe because I think for the first time I was with someone for me, because I wanted to, and not as a rebellion or to erase the crap from my past.”

“This is good, this is very good. And it’s great you have this awareness.”

“It was good, but I’m not talking about the sex.”

“Oh?” I feel embarrassed on the behalf of men everywhere.

She laughs. “No, I don’t mean the sex was bad. It was amazing. I meant that it never felt like I was using him or that I was being used. It was an even exchange. Two people who mutually agreed they wanted to be together for no other reason than they were attracted to each other.”

“I’m happy for you.” And I am. Even as I recognize a tinge of jealousy toward this guy. I care about her. About this young woman who calls herself Cougar22. There’s a connection between us. I have come to think of her as a friend.

“Thanks. But that’s not why I called.”

“No?”

“No. I think things are going in the right direction now. I can see my life taking a different turn. I’m happy. I found my father and a new family with him.”

She sighs. I wait. I can guess what she will say next, and I don’t want to be right.

“I called to thank you for everything. You have done for me—more than you can ever imagine.”