I looked up at him and nodded slowly.
“I do,” I murmured.
He brightened again.“You know what?This calls for a celebration.Dinner tonight.Bring your mom.”
My brows pulled together.“That’s not necessary, Matt.”
“I say it is.”He flashed that charming grin.“It’ll get your mind off things.I’m the therapist, so I get to make the rules.Please?”
I sighed, pouting a little.What harm could it do?A dinner couldn’t hurt.And maybe he was right—it might actually help.
“Okay.Let’s go.”
“Great!I’ll pick you and your mother up at seven.”
It was already half-past seven.I sat in Matt’s car while he drove through the city lights toward the restaurant.Mom hadn’t come—she wasn’t feeling well.She told me to go without her, said it’d do me good.I wasn’t sure how I felt about having dinner alone with my therapist, but she’d insisted.Said maybe there should be something between Matt and me.She always said that.I always ignored it.
Matt was my therapist.
That was it.
Right?
“It’s a shame Valentina couldn’t come,” he said, eyes on the road.“Would’ve been nice to have her.”
I turned my head and studied him.His sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, pastel pink shirt neat and fitted.His hair was slicked back, clean.He smelled...expensive.I’d never seen him like this—not without the white coat.Out of nowhere, Mom’s words started echoing in my head.
“She’s not well,” I said.Then, before I could stop myself: “Matt, have I told you that you look...good?”
“Good?”He shot me a quick side glance, half-grinning.“Just good?”
“Yeah.You look different...nice.Handsome.”
He laughed, easing to a stop at the light.Hands left the wheel, eyes found mine.“No, Ariana, you haven’t told me.”
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.I’d known Matt for years, but somehow tonight, he felt different.Or maybe I was different.Maybe I was finally seeing what Mom always teased me about.
“Well,” I said quietly, “you look really nice.You should dress like that more often.”
“I do.”
“Oh yeah?Funny, I only ever see you in that damn uniform.”
He smirked, eyes back on the road as the light turned green.“Then maybe you should see me more often.My doctor’s coat isn’t the only thing in my wardrobe.”
I turned toward the windshield, heart thudding a little too fast.“Maybe I should.”
“Maybe you should,” he echoed, voice low, almost teasing..
***
“MATT, CAN I ASK YOUsomething?”
“Sure, Ariana.Shoot.”
“Am I really worth it...?”
His brows pulled together.He set his wine glass down and stepped closer.
