“The door you refuse to open,” Sam remarked with a judgy little flick of her gaze.

“I like that he keeps coming back,” I admitted softly. “I don’t want to, but I do.”

“Hell, I like that about him, too. And I like that ever since he’s been coming around, you’ve begun looking at the world again. I like the hope that he gives me that you might just be happy one day.”

I swallowed, feeling a slight burn in my throat, but the anxiety didn’t kick in full throttle. Visualizing my throat opening, I slowly felt the muscles relax. “When I’m with him, Will isn’t always the first thought in my mind,” I admitted quietly. “I’m not saying I don’t think about him when I’m with Jackson, because I do. But he kind of fades into the background. There’s just not a lot of room for anyone else in my head when Jackson’s around.” The confession felt sinful, and I looked up at Sam, waiting for her to dole out my penance.

“I think that’s a good thing, too,” she said with a small, sad smile. “There’s always going to be a part of you that loves Will. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have room in your heart for someone else, Morgan. Or that your heart won’t grow to fit someone else in time.”

“I feel guilty,” I whispered.

“I know. And you shouldn’t. Dr. Circe said that it’s okay to start a new relationship, remember? In fact, she encouraged it at the same appointment she asked you to fill out that sheet about your not-so-stellar memories about Will.” She nodded at the worksheet that still sat empty at the end of the counter. I had a feeling it might be my first truly failed homework assignment.

How was it fair to Will that I was supposed to trash him for homework while moving forward with Jackson?

“The homework is going to have to wait. And even if I wanted Jackson, how can I expect him to understand that my emotional speed limit rivals a sloth?”

“That’s exactly what you tell him. And you want him, even if you’re not ready to admit it. I know you.” Her eyes softened in sympathy.

I shook my head.

“Okay. Tell me something you don’t like about him,” she challenged before taking a sip of her tea.