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Athena stared down at Monti’s hands, her eyes closing slowly before she popped them open again. “Just do it.”

“Ms. Pruitt, I’m not sure you fully understand, but I want you to accept this, not simply acquiesce that it’s your only choice. You do have a choice.” Monti watched Athena carefully, the way she contemplated and processed what Monti had said.

“I’m willing to try.”

“But a part of you isn’t.”

“There’s always a part of me that refuses to be touched. I just have to shut her up.” Athena looked Monti dead in the eye and raised her eyebrow. “Doesn’t everyone?”

Monti chuckled a little with a slight smile. “Everyone has different parts for different reasons, Ms. Pruitt.”

Holding out her hand, Monti waited to see what Athena would do next. This wouldn’t be the end of the discussion by any means, but it seemed to be a good start. Athena was more open to what Monti had to offer at least. Monti slowed her breathing and pulled a calmness toward the center of her chest. Once she found it, she grasped onto it and held it there.

Athena hesitated, which Monti expected, but after a few seconds, she reached forward with her left hand and slid it into Monti’s. She said nothing as she waited to gain just a few more ounces of trust.

“I’m going to start with your palm and work my way through each of your fingers. When we’re done with this hand, we can start on the other one. Satisfactory?”

“Yes,” Athena answered, her tone much softer this time than before.

The difference startled Monti. She looked into Athena’s eyes, the slackness in her jaw, the ashen color just under her skin that her makeup wasn’t quite covering up. Monti took another breath and started slowly. “When I started school for massage therapy, it’s because I was fascinated by the body and how every part of ourselves is interconnected.”

“I don’t need the lecture, Ms. Schroeder.”

“Would you prefer silence?” Monti asked as she slid her thumb along the center of Athena’s palm and up to her fingers.

“Talk about anything other than what you’re doing.” Athena’s voice was breathier than it had been before.

“How many of these books have you read?” Monti watched Athena carefully.

Athena sighed heavily. “Not all of them.”

“But a lot of them?”

“Yes,” Athena agreed. Her body seemed to be getting heavier by the moment.

“Which ones do you prefer?”

What would pull Athena’s attention when she wanted to relax? Monti was pretty sure it wouldn’t be the law books, though maybe if they started reading those Athena would fall asleep.

“Depends on my mood.”

“And what you’re going through at the time, I assume.” Monti moved to Athena’s fingers, skillfully avoiding Athena’s giant wedding ring. She started with her thumb and smoothed the muscles and tension in them. She wished she had grabbed some of the oil in her pocket, but she hadn’t wanted to disrupt Athena even more, and if the touching thing had to do with certain sensations, then oil could make it worse. “I’m also a mood reader.”

“Is that what we’re called?” Athena turned to lock her eyes on Monti’s, and she honestly looked sleepy, as if the tendrils of slumber were pulling at her.

“Yes, ma’am. But my library is electronic. I’d love to have a library like this. It’s gorgeous.”

“Years of collecting.”

“I don’t know where I’d put it. I don’t stay in one place for very long, and I’d hate to move the books so frequently.” Monti finished with Athena’s pinky. “Was that all right?”

“Was what...” Athena trailed off, staring down at her hand in Monti’s. “Oh…yes.”

Had she forgotten Monti was touching her?

“May I have your other hand?”

Wordlessly, Athena lifted her right hand and placed it in Monti’s. The angle was awkward, but Monti didn’t want to scare Athena away. They melted into a soft silence, and it was comfortable. Monti worked while Athena just breathed. She spent a bit of extra time on Athena’s right hand, knowing that the move to her scalp would be a huge ask.