“Hiding so they couldn’t devour my soul.”

“Ha. They nearly got mine, but my LMFT background saved me.”

“My dad is really into psychology. You got lucky.”

“I’ll take lucky any day.”

“Right. So…Christine?”

She didn’t examine her interest in his love life too hard. Not that it was any of her business. But she liked him sharing, liked knowing what turned him off and on.

Turned him on…

Try as she might, the thought of tangling in the sheets with him refused to leave her mind. Gah. Get it together, Justine.

“Christine is a lovely woman. She just wasn’t right for me. I told her from the beginning I only wanted a casual relationship. I never wanted to lead her on. I was going through a tough time at work and helping to cover another therapist’s patients, and the need to help everyone was getting to me. I was burning out and just wanted a friend, nothing deeper.”

“You told her what you wanted from the start.” Xavier would do that, honest to the core. “And she was okay with it, I take it.”

“Yes, at first. Then she and I grew closer. We never moved in together, but we spent a lot of time at each other’s homes. We functioned as a couple. I guess it got confusing.”

Justine could well imagine. She and Xavier weren’t even dating and she’d come to think of him as hers. Totally not cool, girl.

Xavier continued. “And then, well, Christine started to get clingy. We had to do everything together. Now look, I like people, but I also like my own space. I like to think I straddle the line of extrovert and introvert. But needing me-time used to hurt Christine’s feelings. After we’d talk about it, she’d be okay. Until the next time she got hurt feelings.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah.” Xavier sighed. “I did like her at the beginning. But at the end, I started to not like her so much. And in her defense, she said I counseled her all the time instead of just listening and being a good boyfriend.”

“Huh. You do tend to get a little preachy.”

He stopped and glanced down at her. “Really?”

“I’m kidding, Xavier. Geez. I can tell you’re a super-great therapist. You’re easy to talk to and you really listen. You’re the most positive person I know. Heck, you felt overwhelmed and took time off for your own mental health. That’s like, super healthy. I avoid stuff that makes me uncomfortable.” She frowned, wishing she had a sturdier backbone. Frank would never take advantage of her father or Angela. They’d eat him alive.

He scowled and protested, “I’m in no way a super-therapist. But I’m flattered you think so.”

“Hey, you survived my family and came out without a scratch. I’m impressed.”

He laughed. “Your family wasn’t so bad. Though it helped that you coached me before we went. I knew what to expect of your parents and sisters. And yes, before you ask, Angela is desperate to be your father’s clone, and Mallory just wants approval. Your mother loves everyone but dances to your father’s tune. And she’s happy to do that. You, on the other hand, are not.”