Page 77 of Chasing After You

“Okay, I’ll call him.”

“Good. I’ll text you Lane’s number. I need to go, but please keep me updated. I love you.I can love my friends! It’s platonic!Gotta go, I’ll talk to you later.”

Soon after hanging up, my phone chimed with a text notification. I tapped on Lane’s number and waited as the call connected.

“Who is this?” A deep voice answered, its gruff tone conveying displeasure and annoyance.Greyson.

“Oh, um, sorry. I thought this was Lane’s number? I’m Josh from Wild Roast.”

“And why are you calling my husband,Josh from Wild Roast?”Did that mean it was Lane’s number or not?

“Oliver said I should call. Well, he actually said I should talk to you, but he gave me Lane’s number,” I explained, hoping to placate the intimidating man.

Greyson clicked his tongue. “I see.”

“Um, so…”

“Daddyyy! Who is it?” Lane’s voice rang out, gradually getting louder as he got closer to the phone.

“It’s Josh,” Greyson answered him.

“Do I know a Josh?”

“Yes, he’s the owner at that coffee place you like, baby. He says Oliver told him to call.”

“Ohhh, yeah, that guy! He’s friends with Ollie. Why would Ollie tell him to call me, though?”

“Uh, is this a good time?” I asked, partially to remind them that I was still on the line. “I just needed advice on something, and he said I should talk to Greyson about it. It’s about my brother…?”

“Oh, the stalker brother, right? The one who’s not really your brother, but kind of, but not legally, but you grew up together?” Lane rambled.

“Um… yes. We’re not blood-related. His parents adopted me, but the adoption ended up being dissolved.”

Greyson asked, “What is the advice you need?”

“Well, um… it’s kinda embarrassing to explain…”

“Oooh,” Lane cooed, sounding excited to hear about my crisis.

“I am a therapist, Joshua,” Greyson began.I didn’t like how my name sounded in his mouth.Something about the way he said it made it sound like a threat. “I’m used to dealing with embarrassing topics. If you would like, I can send Lane to his room if you’re not comfortable having him listen in.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, yes, please,” I sighed in relief.

“Wow, lame,”Lane sniffed, his voice gradually getting further away now.

“Okay, Joshua, can you tell me a bit about what’s troubling you?” Something in Greyson’s tone had shifted, almost like he was treating me as a therapy client.

“Dorian and I had sex,” I blurted out.

“And?” He sounded bored.

“It was consensual, well, it started that way. He’s a lot kinkier than I expected… Anyway, what I mean is that I fully consented and enjoyed what we did, but right when we finished, he roofied me, and I woke up cuffed and with a dildo fucking me. I think he might’ve… you know… when I was asleep. The thing that’s bothering me is that I can’t understand him. It seemed like my consent was important to him when we started; he told me several times to use my safe word if I needed to, but then he drugged me and violated my unconscious body. I feel so sick because… because it felt good—when I woke up like that… but I didn’t consent to it. I ended up telling him that I needed space to think, and he’s so anxious about it. He’s apologized, but I can tell he doesn’t think he’s in the wrong. I don’t know how I’m supposed to punish him. But if I don’t, he won’t learn not to do it again, right?. I’m just so twisted up…”

“Well, that’s certainly unlike anything I’ve ever had a client tell me before,” Greyson hummed. “What did you mean when you said you can tell he doesn’t think he did something wrong?”

“I don’t know how to explain it… I um… I don’t think he’s…normal,” I whispered, glancing at the closed door.

“Someone who stalks a person isn’t normal, so I think we already established that. Do you want advice from your therapist or advice from me?”