I think I freaked out my own psychiatrist.

We had been talking for about forty-five minutes when I brought up yesterday morning's events.

"A noise? What kind of noise?" he asked, looking up, his pen paused over his notebook.

"Um, like the hardwood creaking in my bedroom...the only time that ever happens is when someone steps on it. I had just gotten in the shower, and I was alone in the house." I stopped, still stricken by the look of concern on his face.

"Go on."

"I was in the shower, like I said, and I heard that creaking sound. I stuck my head out and yelled for my friend Andrew, thinking it may have been him—see, he had just left my house and—"

Liam cut me off. "Andrew? You haven't mentioned him before."

"Oh, he's just my best friend from...well, forever." I couldn't help but smile even as my cheeks turned pink.

"And you're sure it wasn't him?" Liam asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, why would he lie? He told me he didn't come back."

Liam nodded and continued writing. "And when did you say this happened? Before work, right?"

I furrowed my brow, confused. "Umm, yeah. I guess it would've been around 8:00. Why? What does that matter?"

"That's early for a visit, isn't it?" Liam asked, his voice casual.

The blush on my cheeks deepened. Did I have to tell Liam about my relationship with Andrew? I knew I couldn't get away with staying silent for much longer, so I decided it was best to be straight with my shrink.

"Well, I...um, see, Andrew and I are...how do I put this..." Liam just watched me and cocked his head to one side. Jeez...he was going to make me say it. "Andrew and I have a sort of...arrangement. We are there for each other when one of us needs...er...Sex." I sighed and sat back in my chair.

For a moment, Liam just stared at me. I was about to ask if he was okay when he cleared his throat.

"Charlotte, this concerns me."

I curled my lip. This was not the reaction I had expected. What had I expected? I don't know...but not a lecture.

"What do you mean, concerns you?" I asked, perplexed.

"Charlotte, that kind of relationship, while it feels good in the moment, is unhealthy. Intimacy with no plans to commit is setting yourself up for heartbreak. I don't mean to sound harsh or judgmental; I know what it's like to be lonely."

It was all I could do to keep a straight face. Yeah, right. There was no way this man had ever known lonely. But I held it together as I planned a response and let out a sigh.

"I guess you're right. It's not like I haven't thought about that before," I conceded. It was true; I had thought to myself many times over the years that one of us would end up getting hurt. It wasn't fair to Andrew. Or to me.

"I would suggest limiting your interaction with Andrew for the time being. Until you're back on solid ground and can have a little more control over your emotions," Liam said, putting the cap on his pen and standing. I mirrored him and bent over to get my bag. When I straightened, Liam was standing in front of me. I jumped a little, startled by his proximity.

He laid a hand on my shoulder, and I felt the connection run through my veins.

When he spoke, his words were a melodic murmur that settled over my entire being. "Bottom line, Charlotte? You are a beautiful and intelligent young woman. You deserve a man who is going to take care of you...in every way." With his last words, he ran his palm down my arm and held my hand in his. My heart was beating so loudly, I was sure he could hear it. He leaned closer to me, and I could smell the spearmint on his breath. "You deserve the world, Charlotte Jameson," he said, and with that, left me standing in a puddle in the middle of his office.

What just happened?

As soon as I got in the car, I called Julia, and the phone only rang once before she picked up.

"Hey, Char! How was your appointment with Dr. Stud? As boring and straight-laced as always?" Julia teased. I could hear her 90s rap music blaring in the background.

"Nope."

The music immediately disappeared. "What did you say? Charlotte. Did something happen?"

"Maybe..." I replied, stretching this to make her suffer.

"Charlotte Rae Jameson. You. Me. Starbucks. Now."

I laughed and changed direction to our favorite place to meet, Starbucks at the mall in the ritzy part of town. We loved meeting there and watching all the Real Housewives of Nashville blow their money, and we also loved to window shop at Tiffany's.

When I opened the door to Starbucks, Julia was already inside.

"You heifer, tell me what happened this instant!" she squealed, and I shushed her.

"Let me get my—" I started, but Julia cut me off.

"I already ordered our White Chocolate Mochas," She dragged me to the corner table we liked to frequent. "Now. Spill it."

So I told her. I could see her melting as I spoke. When I finished, she was gaping at me.

"And he just left you standing there?"

I sighed. "That was my exact reaction. It's weird, right?" I asked, spinning my straw around in my cup.

"Weird?! How about romantic as fuck?" The soccer mom at the table next to us glared at her. Julia thrust her hand in the woman's direction. "What?! Go pick up your kids," she scoffed, and turned back to face me. I shook my head in a silent apology at the woman.

"Okay, maybe so, but Julia...I just spent the night with Andrew. And now Liam is coming on to me? And he's my doctor, for crying out loud! What a hot mess!" I said, running my hand through my hair in exasperation.

"Hot is right," Julia laughed. "The only person who may be hotter than Liam is Andrew."

"Ugh, Julia, stop! That isn't helping!"

"I gotta ask...and I know I ask this too often, but why don't you and Andrew just give it a go? Putting this whole Liam thing aside, what's stopping you? You must have feelings for each other, to keep coming back time after time?" Julia wiped under her cup with a napkin but didn't take her eyes off me.

"Jules, I've told you before; Andrew and I are better as friends."

"But how do you know? You've never even tried to be anything more than friends with benefits," she countered.

"Well, you're right. But every time one of us has wanted more, the other has had some reason it wouldn't work out...timing, other people, whatever. It's just never been the right time. And I've taken that as a sign from God or something. Plus, I would never want to ruin the friendship Andrew and I share. What we have is simple. It's just sex. And then in between those times, we're best friends. If I try to change that now, it may blow up in my face," As soon as I stopped talking, I realized how silly all that sounded. But it must have been convincing enough because Julia dropped it.

"Okay, okay. But what are you going to do about Liam?"

"No freaking clue," I groaned. I stood up, tossed my cup in the trash, and held out my hand. "Take me shopping, Stone."

Julia grinned and took my hand. "Let's go."

Shopping with Julia did little to solve the Liam issue, but I ended up with a new purse and two new dresses.

And for a change of pace, I can't stop thinking about what Liam said about my relationship with Andrew. Whatever his motivations are for bringing it to my attention, he's not wrong. But how was I going to bring this up to Andrew? He has as much fun as I do when we're together, and I don't want to hurt his feelings. But shouldn't I be honest with him?

I was diving into a pint of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked, ready for a night of stewing in my thoughts, when my phone rang, nearly buzzing off the counter. Snatching it before it hit the floor, I looked at the screen. Even though I didn't know the number, I answered it anyway. 

"Hello?"

"Hello," a smooth male voice answered. "Is this Charlotte Jameson?"

As soon as he said my name, I knew who it was.

"Liam?"

"Hello, Charlotte."

"H–Hi," I stuttered. I sank down onto my bed. "How are—" I couldn't even form a coherent thought. Smooth, Jameson.

"I know you're wondering why I'm calling." I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well...yes."

"To be honest, Charlotte, I couldn't stop thinking about you. Ever since your last appointment, I just can't get you out of my head," Liam admitted, his air of sophistication sort of fading away, and he sounded more real than he had in the month I'd known him.

"R–really?" I stammered. I couldn't believe this was happening. Liam couldn't stop thinking of me? I spoke before I thought: "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you either," I blurted. I clapped my hand over my mouth, even though I knew he couldn't see me, and sank into a kitchen chair.

"This is one-hundred percent unprofessional; I know. In no world is it okay that I am calling you like this, but I just couldn't help myself." Liam sighed, and I could tell he felt conflicted.

"I understand, but I'm glad you called. I was thinking I imagined that moment between us the other day."

"No. You didn't imagine it. And that was also unprofessional, but I lost control." He took a deep breath that rattled down my spine. "Charlotte, can I see you? Before Wednesday, I mean."

"Yes." It was almost embarrassing how fast I agreed, but there was no point in pretending I wasn't intrigued.

"Come to my house. I'll be home all evening. My address is 5324 Page Road."

Page Road? Jesus, that's one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Nashville...those are multi-million dollar homes. "All right. I'll see you soon then," I replied, keeping my voice as calm as possible.

"Until then." My phone beeped as the call disconnected.

What in hell am I getting myself into?

I decided I wasn't willing to miss the chance to find out.