“I think I fell in love with him,” I said to Claire and Alison, who was sitting next to me on my couch. We were watching When Harry Met Sally.

I hardly paid any attention to the movie, my head in the clouds because all I could think about was Daniel. Several days had passed since that night on the beach, and I felt like we grew closer to each other since that time. He’d shared his deepest feelings with me, opening up to me, before he showed me real pleasure. The kind that made my toes curl even now, and I wished he was here.

I’d seen him a couple of times these last few days, and each moment spent with him strengthened our bond, which led me to think that we had a shot at a successful future together. This was beyond physical pleasure. We really talked and listened to each other, getting to know more about our interests, past, and life, and it was all I wanted from a serious relationship.

I wanted to believe he wouldn’t revert to his previous state and we would become something more to each other one day.

Claire munched on her popcorn, smiling at me like a lunatic. “That’s awesome! And quite romantic, if I may add.”

“Shut your mouth, Claire. Your popcorn is sticking out of your teeth, and it’s gross,” Alison said and rolled her eyes. “You think or you really fell in love with him?”

I grabbed another handful of popcorn from my bowl and popped three pieces into my mouth. “Okay, I really fell in love with him.”

I was brought back to the moment we shared yesterday when he held me against his warm body after another wild sex marathon. The way his incredibly soft eyes looked at me—like I was the most precious jewel—spurred the potent feelings of love, hope, and joy that were getting stronger as the days passed by.

Even though he hadn’t said it, I could sense his feelings for me in the way he looked at me and touched me. I was sure that he was going to admit that he felt just like me soon.

“I’m in love with him, and here is something that may sound weird, but now I believe that I’m his cure.”

Claire squealed happily, becoming all mushy. “That is not weird at all! I think it’s cool. You were his therapist, but in the end, you’re going to solve his issue with love. That is amazing.”

“I agree,” Alison said and took a sip of her Coke. “If there is anything that can help an individual with such serious issues, that is love. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.”

I stopped the movie, which we’d already forgotten, and sat on my knees, facing them. “So you think that I’m not making a mistake? I should try turning whatever we have into something serious?”

“Of course, it’s not a mistake,” Alison replied. “You told us how he makes you feel, and let me tell you, girl—you don’t find that kind of passion every day.”

Claire nodded. “Alison is right. And the way your eyes shine each time you talk about him... It’s so romantic. And if you already feel this way about him, then you should give your potential relationship a shot.”

Alison cast me a curious glance. “Are you in a relationship?”

I opened my mouth to answer them only to realize I had no idea. These days we hadn’t mentioned this topic at all, going with the flow. I had let myself get lost in the moment, appreciating all he had to offer me with no questions asked.

“Not really.” I groaned, running my hand over my face. “Actually, I don’t know what we are. I just know that I enjoy spending time with him a lot. He is definitely changing. He’s revealing himself more to me, and he always says how I help him feel many things.”

“Sexually or emotionally?” Alison asked.

“Both.”

“Now that is pretty interesting. So your relationship is much more than purely sexual, right? He’s sharing his personal stuff with you?”

“Absolutely. That is why I think there is hope for us. I mean, I can’t expect him to be a changed man all of a sudden, but he is improving much quicker than I’ve expected.”

Claire tucked her hair behind her ear, her face showing a slight discomfiture as if what she was about to say would bring me unease. “Is he sleeping with other women?”

I froze, reminded of the one thing I’d wanted to avoid thinking about. That pressing matter was always in the back of my mind, always bringing me some bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach. We didn’t talk about that, but I couldn’t wipe out that possibility.

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Hypothetically speaking, if he were sleeping with other women, how would you feel?” Alison asked.

Just thinking about that possibility brought pain to my chest that hurt more than I wanted to admit. We weren’t together, and we certainly weren’t exclusive, so calling him out because he was feeding his addiction didn’t make much sense. Then again, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay with him if he was seeing other women behind my back. I just couldn’t.

“Terrible. I don’t want him to sleep with other women, but then how foolish would be to expect anything else? Ugh.”

I threaded my fingers through my hair, getting confused and agitated all over again. I was supposed to be happy, but here I was—letting my doubts get the best of me.

“I know it would be too much of me to demand him to be loyal to me, but I can’t stay with him if he sleeps with others. I know that our ‘relationship’ might not seem like a big deal to him, but if he really feels something for me, then I want him to try his hardest and stop seeing other women.”

Claire and Alison just looked at me, both looking perplexed. This was such a mess. Why couldn’t I fall for someone who wasn’t a sex addict and my now ex-client?

“It sounds confusing, right?” I asked them with a crooked smile on my face.

“It sounds like you’re putting too much thought into it, sister,” Alison told me and patted me on my shoulder. “I think you shouldn’t get so stressed over something that may not be happening at all.” She clasped her hands together, her face lightening up. “You know what you can do?”

“What?”

“You can spice up your ‘relationship’. That way, there is less possibility that he’ll look for sex at some other place.”

I burst into chuckles, amused by her unexpected suggestion. That made sense. “And how do you think I can do that?”

“You can go to his company and surprise him. You can wear something sexy and seduce him.”

Claire looked at Alison like she’d invented the cure for cancer. “Now that is a great idea!”

“You mean, right now?” I asked Alison.

“No. Next year,” she answered, deadpan. “Of course I mean right now!”

My pulse quickened at the prospect of seducing Daniel after a long day at work. I was sure this would be a more-than-pleasant surprise for him.

“That is a nice idea, Alison,” Claire high five’d her. “They can have sex in his office. I can even imagine some corporate office with huge windows and amazing view that can make your panties even wetter.” She winked at me, to which I chuckled, my cheeks slightly covered with blush.

It was easy to imagine Daniel pounding me against the windows, his big cock inducing waves of pleasure in me that would be an interlude to a forceful orgasm...

I squirmed, already turned on. “I like that. I’m in.”

“Great. Then what are you waiting for? Dress in something more provocative and go get your man.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. I rushed to my room and found the sexiest lingerie I owned, not planning to wear anything else. After I applied my makeup and curled my hair with the curling iron, I put my summer coat on and topped it off with a sexy pair of black stiletto heels. I could just imagine his face when I opened my coat and wore nothing but the skimpiest lace underwear. I soaked my panties a little just thinking about it, so I interrupted my reverie and decided to get going.

The girls whistled at me when I passed next to them, but I just laughed in response and left them to watch the movie, intent on getting another much-awaited dose of Daniel as soon as possible.

It was 7 pm when I reached Daniel’s headquarters, following the address I’d found listed on his company’s website. Yes, I googled Daniel a few days ago, wanting to find some of his photos and more information about his company’s background.

I checked my look in my compact mirror one last time and locked my car before I headed toward the front doors. I’d assumed that by this time the building would be vacant, so I wasn’t surprised to see only the receptionist and one security guy in the lobby.

Just as I passed the glass doors, intent on asking the receptionist about Daniel’s office, the doors to one of the elevators opened, and two figures came out of the elevator. I froze when I recognized Daniel, who stopped next to the elevators and hugged a short, attractive blonde in an expensive looking dress and high heels. Jealousy roared inside of me, my eyes glued to Daniel’s arms that were wrapped around the woman’s waist.

She returned his hug, giggling to something he’d been telling her, and my breathing grew heavier and uneven. They seemed pretty lovey-dovey, which erased the possibility that she was his friend, especially since he was yet to let go of her.

No. She was his lover, and as much as I’d expected something like this, it still came as a great shock. It hurt me more than I’d thought it would, every inch of me wanting to separate that blonde from Daniel and tell her he was mine. Only, he wasn’t mine.

He was never mine, and I was a fool for letting these last several days cloud my reason. I would never be enough for him. He would always sleep around, unable to steer clear of it and remain loyal to me. His addiction was stronger than the connection we’d shared.

I was supposed to know better. I’d been stupid for believing in a fairytale and gambling with my heart, but now I had to be smarter than this and realistic. I had to put distance between us while I still could. After all, I couldn’t keep seeing him. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to his activities while pretending I wasn’t falling apart. Falling in love with him was my first biggest mistake. I wouldn’t let myself commit the second biggest mistake and stay with him.

I spun around, in a hurry to disappear from here before I saw them locking their lips together or something worse, and darted out of the lobby, hoping he hadn’t noticed me. Whatever I’d felt with him, it didn’t matter.

All that mattered was to reach my car before I had a breakdown. I had to try numbing the pain of my already broken heart. I had to move on, because whatever Daniel and I had—it was definitely history.