The fog from the night before seemed like it had become a living entity. From the window in my cabin, I couldn’t even see the cliffs looking out over the ocean. Though it was nearly nine in the morning, it could pass for dusk outside.

No, not my cabin. I’d sold it six months ago; I needed to quit thinking of it as mine. I didn’t even want the place. And I couldn’t have done it justice. I’d never have been able to make it feel like this. A perfect combination of classy, cozy, and charming. Not me at all. But totally Andrew.

The place was peaceful and serene.

A tug on the hem of my jeans made me look down at one of the ugliest dogs I’d ever seen. “How does he manage to chew things with that demonic tongue hanging out like that?” Not to be outdone, his dachshund sibling stared longingly at my jeans but refrained from biting, which I appreciated. “And what happened to that one’s ear again?”

Joel set down his coffee and stood. “Not sure. Either an accident or abuse.” He came around the table and scooped up the tongue monster in one arm and the one-eared wonder in the other. He dipped his head to nuzzle both of them, slipping into baby talk. “We don’t know, do we, babies? No, we don’t. We don’t know, but we know you’re safe now.” He bopped one-ear on his forehead. “Don’t we, Brook?” Then did the same to the tongue pup. “And we don’t bring up Robin’s physical features, do we boy? No, we don’t. You’re sensitive. Yes, you are.”

I looked over at Andrew. “Seriously? I know your fiancé is fucking gorgeous, but he can’t be talented enough in bed to make up for hearing that display.” I motioned to the door. “It’s not too late. No vows have been exchanged. You can still make a run for it. I’ll even let you drive.”

Andrew steepled his fingers, pretending to consider. “That might work, but you won’t let Morris ride in your car.” At his name, the teenage-stage golden retriever bounded up from where he’d been sleeping by the fire, made it almost to the table, and tripped over his too-large paws. He caught himself but only enough to crash into Andrew’s legs. Andrew held the pup on either side of his face, issuing baby sounds that made Joel’s earlier display sound butch. “Who’s my little clutzy-wutzy? Hmm? You are. Yes, you are. And don’t you worry, I’m not leaving you behind. No, I’m not. I’m not leaving my little baby poo.”

I made gagging noises, which were mostly real. “Never mind. You’re too far gone. And just so you know, if you have children, I’m not coming over. Ever. The amount of projectile vomiting you two would induce could be life-threatening.”

Joel plopped down in a chair, still holding… whatever they were called. I knew they’d been named after a set of twins who played some kind of sport, but I hadn’t really been paying attention. I enjoyed sports even less than puppies and children.

“Are you sure you were really heir to the Harvest Coffee fortune? I’m pretty certain a blue blood like you wouldn’t hold dogs at the breakfast table.”

When Joel addressed me, he used his real voice, thank God. “We don’t ever mention Harvest Coffee in this house. We only serve the best that old Pete sells downtown.”

“Oh my God, they’ve converted you to a Lavenderite, haven’t they?” Despite myself, the two of them were cute. Well, actually they were smoking hot together, but seeing them like this, cute seemed more appropriate.

Joel just rolled his eyes.

Andrew swatted at me from across the table but missed. “Be nice. You bailed on our engagement party last night and were going to sneak out of town without saying anything.”

“I don’t know why you have that surprised tone in your voice. You have met me, right?”

He narrowed his eyes. “I know you’re only here now because I promised you breakfast.”

“True story.” I shrugged. “You do make the best Italian frittata in the entire world.” I took a sip of my coffee and leaned my elbows on the table, letting my teasing tone fall away. “I am really sorry about last night. I just needed to get away.”

Andrew grimaced. “Actually, it’s probably good you left. My dad and your mom came up with an engagement game and made everyone play.” Joel groaned and shook his head silently. “It was a “how well do you know the engaged couple” game. People had to guess our birth signs, where Joel proposed, what our wedding colors are going to be, stuff like that. But then it moved on to where was the first place we had sex, and who was the man of the relationship.”

I gave a groan of my own. “Oh shit. Of course they did. And your dad knows where you two had sex the first time? I know your boundaries are fairly nonexistent, but that’s just gross, bro.”

“Shut up.” Andrew tossed his napkin at me, this time making contact. “I didn’t tell him that, but my family was kinda with me the night I met Joel in the bed-and-breakfast. Doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist.”

I leveled my gaze at Joel. “Are you sure you wanna marry into this family? Andrew is stuck with his gay, gay, gay, straight dad, and I’m stuck with my wonk-a-do mother, but you still have time.”

“Quit trying to break us up, asshole.” He was laughing, but this time when Andrew leaned over the table to smack me, he had enough success that I was probably going to have a red mark on my shoulder.

Joel just grinned and nodded in my direction. “His dad really is so gay, though, right?”

“Yep. The gayest thing I’ve ever seen. And I just saw the two of you with puppies. That was a whole new level I didn’t even know existed.”

Joel ignored the barb. “Andrew made breakfast so I could get details, so it’s time to spill.” As if to prove the point, he balanced the puppies with one hand and used his other to scoop out another portion of the frittata and slid it onto my plate. “Lamont and Heather said you got freaked out by Walden. He’s really—”

“Wait, what?” I cut him off. “Andrew’s brother and sister weren’t even there yet.”

Andrew glanced at Joel, then gave me a pained expression. “They heard about it from Micah.”

“My brother wasn’t there either! At least not that one.”

Joel chuckled.

I glared at him.

He just smiled and placed the two reject puppies on the floor before looking back at me, still chuckling. “I really love your families. They’re fucking crazy, but holy shit. I’m never gonna be bored.”

“I hate you.” I took a bite of the frittata and spoke to Andrew without bothering to chew or swallow first. “You have until there’s no more food left, then I’m outta here.”

“Spoken like the best friend I know and love.” His tone grew more serious. “We don’t have to talk about Walden.”

“What? Then why the breakfast?” Joel didn’t give Andrew a chance to respond before turning to me. “Really, Gilbert, Walden is a great guy. I know him better than Andrew because he comes into the memorabilia shop, but we both love him. And so does Lacy.”

“Well, there’s one more strike against him. He likes sports.”

“Nope.” Joel shook his head. “He was hoping I sold comic books, which I didn’t, but because of him I do now. It seemed like a good addition to the shop, and it wasn’t something anyone else offered in the town.”

Fuck. Comics. If that wasn’t just fucking adorable. Throw in the stupid hat he had on the night before, those god-awful red glasses, that dorky tweed jacket, and underneath it all the body and talented ass of a sex god who collected comic books? The man couldn’t be further from my type. Well, except for the body and ass part. So why did all that other shit make me want him even more?

No, not want him. I didn’t want Walden. And, yes, I remembered his dorky name too. I didn’t want him. I just wanted to fuck him. And fuck him. Like a lot. Like many, many times.

When I looked back at Andrew, his mouth was hanging open.

“What are you doing? If you need to be fed, look to your baby-talking fiancé over there. You guys can practice for the wedding cake fiasco.”

“Oh my God.” Andrew cast a glance at Joel, then focused on me again, his blue eyes huge. “I can’t believe it.”

“What?” I asked, annoyed. Andrew was one of the few people who never pissed me off. Ever. But he was suddenly starting to.

“You like him.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Andrew sat back in his chair, his tone growing quiet. “Shit.”

“Shit?” Joel looked back and forth between us. “Why shit?”

I took a deep breath. It seemed there were stories Andrew hadn’t told his fiancé. I leveled my gaze at him. “I. Do. Not. Like. Walden Thompson.”

Andrew flinched, just a touch.

I guess I hadn’t controlled my tone as much as I’d tried. Guilt tugged at me. “Sorry.” I took another breath and slumped into my seat. “Andrew, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to bite your head off. But I don’t like him. We just had great sex. Some of the most fun sex of my life, sure, and you know that’s saying something, but still. It was just sex.” I could feel Joel’s gaze on me, and I turned toward him.

“I’m not sure you’d be so defensive if you didn’t like him.”

I pointed at Joel, managing to infuse humor, even though I meant what I said, kinda. “Okay, Andrew I love. You, I’ve already forgotten your name. You, I’ll kill.”

Completely unconcerned, Joel shrugged again. “Truth hurts.”

I turned back to Andrew. “I’m ignoring your human-sized dildo over there.”

Despite himself, Andrew burst out laughing and looked at Joel. “I’d say that fits your talents, babe.”

Joel puffed his chest. “I’d agree. We should tell Gilbert about the other night when I used the—”

“Nope!” I stood. “We get enough of that oversharing from Andrew’s dad. You are not allowed to catch whatever socially unacceptable disease that man has.”

They both laughed, and Joel motioned for me to sit down. “Fine, we won’t talk about how much you do or do not like Walden Thompson, or whatever. Even if you do.” He lifted a finger to cut off my retort. “Tell us about whatever big celebrity you’re designing jewelry for at the moment.”

I latched onto the subject change, relaxing back into the easy banter I’d always had with them. “Now come on, you know I can’t disclose that sort of thing.” I grinned wickedly at Andrew. “But you love her.”

His eyes twinkled, and he leaned forward. “I do? Is it Anne Hathaway?”

I snorted. “God, you and your Anne Hathaway obsession.”

“Tell me about it.” Joel broke in again. “I’d never seen The Princess Diaries. I wish I could still say that.”

I tsked. “Well, I hate to tell you, Joel, but you won’t like this one either. I know how you feel about country music.

Andrew gasped. “No!”

“Yep.”

“No way!” He gasped again. “Holy shit, Gilbert. Have you met her? Or Tim and the kids? Invite me up when there’s a fitting.”

“It’s a necklace, Andrew. There’s no fitting. And it’s all online.”

His expression fell, looking totally crushed. I couldn’t help but laugh a bit. Andrew was such a dork, and I loved him.

Shit. Maybe I did have a soft spot for the dorky nerd types. Andrew didn’t look like it, but he still was one. Though Walden hadn’t looked like it either, at least with his clothes off.

As I sat back on the couch, my jeans squeaked against the leather. “I gotta be honest, Doc. Andrew and Joel about talked my ear off this morning. And I’m aching to get the fuck out of this town and back to my lake. Can we do the speed-session thing and I pay the full price?”

Donovan rolled his eyes.

“That isn’t very professional, Dr. Carlisle.”

He tilted his head, studying me. I hated when he did that. “You’re in rare form this morning. You’ve got the humor walls up so high I can barely see you over the top.”

“Was that supposed to be funny? My invisible walls of emotional defense are so high you can barely see through them?” I shook my head in exaggerated disgust. “Speed session or not, I’m taking off a few dollars for forcing me to sit through such abuse.”

“Wow. You really are in deep, aren’t you?” Concern laced his tone. I preferred the eye roll. “I didn’t see you at the party last night. I’m assuming the engagement is triggering some issues, or is it more the cabin being gone?”

From the twinge at both of those, I’d been in therapy long enough to know he’d hit the nail on the head. However, due to all those years with him, I also knew he’d missed the biggest nail. “You mean you didn’t hear about me basically running out of the Kelly’s house?”

He shook his head.

“Huh. Lavender Shores is losing its touch.”

He ignored the jibe. “Tell me about it. Why the running?”

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “It’s this fucking town, man. I hate it. Everyone knows everything. Or at least think they do. I steal back into town and I’m sixteen all over again. Never mind that it’s been nearly twice that long since I actually was sixteen. But still, that’s all everyone sees, except for my family. And the Kellys, of course. Just fucking sixteen-year-old Gilbert Bryant. Home-wrecking slut. I hate this fucking place.” I did. I so, so did. And I hated Erica and her little bitch friend, Lauren. I nearly said that last part, but I knew the way his sister treated me ate at Donovan. I didn’t need to add to it.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I could literally feel my pulse throbbing in my neck and behind my eyes and the beginning of a headache rushing toward me. I needed to get a grip. It was one thing to despise my hometown. It was another to give in to such anger.

Donovan got up, crossed the small space, and sat beside me on the couch, then put a firm hand on the back of my shoulder. “Are you okay? I’ve not seen you like this since—”

“I’m not going to try to hurt myself. I’m not even close.” I paused, judging the truth of those words. I was angry, embarrassed, tired of it. But I wasn’t to that point. I twisted, looking Donovan in the eye. “I’m really not.”

He nodded. “Okay. Good.” It was clear he believed me. “Then what was the trigger?”

I sighed and went back to pinching between my eyes. “I met someone.” My words hung there, and I played them over in my head for a second. That was one of the reasons I loved Donovan so much. He didn’t jump onto every word I said. Didn’t try to assume what I meant. He gave me time to hash through it myself. “I guess the better terminology would be that I fucked someone. Which I know is nothing new, but I liked this guy. At least noticed him, ya know? The fucking was… well, it was fucking awesome. But he wasn’t just some hole to fill.” I hurried onward. “I’m not saying I like him or anything. I don’t have some pathetic crush.”

“I know.” He patted my shoulder, then moved his hand away but stayed beside me on the couch. “It sounds like you had some sort of connection. That you didn’t just see him as a way to get off like most times, but that maybe… you recognized his humanity and you approved of it.”

I snorted. “Well, I wouldn’t say it like that either.”

He gave a soft chuckle. “How would you say it?”

I considered for a moment. “That works, actually.”

Donovan waited, then spoke when it was clear I wasn’t sure what to say next. “That actually sounds like a good thing. Like the sort of thing we’ve been talking about lately. A real connection with a guy. Again, not saying it has to go to a relationship, you know that, but it’s good that you saw him as more than a blowup doll.”

“Geez, Doc. Crass much?” I glared at him.

“Those were your words a few sessions ago. About that guy you fucked on the pontoon.”

“Oh. Right.” That guy. I shrugged. “Well, compared to Walden, that’s pretty accurate.”

Donovan flinched, though it was such a small reaction that if I hadn’t been seeing him for so long I wouldn’t have noticed.

“You know Walden?” Of course he did. It was Lavender Shores. Everybody knew fucking everybody.

“Know of him. We’ve not met officially.” Donovan’s tone was gentle, like I might break. And he might be right. “I take it when you were… intimate, you weren’t aware of his profession?”

I shook my head. “Do you think I’d ever fuck a teacher? Ever? No matter what kind of body they had?”

He sighed, long and slow.

So much for a speed session.