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“I do not.” Monti rolled her eyes and stood up, walking to the window. Was there any truth to that? She’d spent hours with Athena and she’d thought they were alike, but not to that extreme. Monti cursed. Damn Fallon for being right. She sighed heavily and turned back around. “What the hell do I do about it?”

“It looks like you’re handling it well.”

“Handling what well?”

“Being cracked open.” Fallon stood, swaying her hips saucily as she followed Monti’s path toward the window. “Or maybe the better metaphor is your ice is being chipped away one sliver at a time.”

“What ice?”

“The ice you put around your heart.”

“I’m a trained therapist. All I do is help people and have compassion for their plights. I’m not made of ice.”

“Sure you aren’t.” Fallon grinned cockily. “You let us mere mortals play around in the shallows, but no one ever gets to the deep. Maybe my boss has the stamina to make it there.”

Monti scoffed. “You’re really full of yourself right now.”

“And you are in like.”

“I’m attracted to a beautiful woman, yes. I’ll admit that.”

“You kissed her.”

Putting her finger up in the air, Monti locked her eyes on Fallon’s. “To be fair, she kissed me. Twice.”

“Twice?”

Monti shrugged. She really didn’t want to fight that one because she’d wanted more kisses. She longed for more touches. That deepening of a relationship would be so nice right now. Maybe the world wouldn’t seem so lonely then.

“Oh, you’re thinking about it!” Fallon teased.

Monti really didn’t want to talk about it right now. She shoved her hands into her pockets and gave Fallon a serious look. “Your ten minutes are up.”

“Fine, fine. I hear you. But just listen to me on this, okay?”

Monti waited, and when Fallon didn’t continue, she pushed. “And…?”

“Athena has to be handled carefully. I don’t want you to screw this up.”

“Because you’ll lose your job?”

“No, she’s not that kind of witch.” Fallon put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what’s been happening this year, but something’s been off with her for months. And it wasn’t until these last few weeks that she’s seemed more herself. The only difference is you.”

“It’s not me who’s making the difference.” It was all the work that Athena was doing, the processing, the thinking, the sharing. Monti was willing to bet that she hadn’t done that in twenty-two years, which meant telling even one person in a safe environment was a weight off her shoulders. It wasn’t because of Monti. It was because Athena was finally willing to let go. But it wasn’t like Monti could tell Fallon that. She would never betray Athena’s secrets.

“Well, I think it is. Just be careful. I don’t want you to love her and leave her. Wait, that wasn’t quite the way I wanted it to come out.” Fallon pressed her lips together hard. “I don’t want her to be as devastated when you leave as I am.”

Monti’s heart broke a little. She hated that Fallon felt that way. If they weren’t so close, if Fallon wasn’t so attached to her, it wouldn’t be that bad every time. Monti held her breath for a minute before she blew it out. “I won’t love her and leave her, as you so eloquently put it.”

“Good.” Fallon smiled. “Then I guess I shouldn’t tell you that you’re late.”

Monti looked at her watch and cursed. “Damn you.”

Giggling, Fallon waved as Monti raced to grab her bag and leave the library. She was so throwing Fallon under the bus for this one.

twenty-two

“I hope you and Fallon have worked your argument out.” Athena had no idea where to start a conversation, but considering they had barely spoken since leaving the house and arriving at the airport, she had to start somewhere. Monti seemed distracted in a way Athena had never seen her before. She’d always been focused.