the inside of his cheek, clearly trying not to laugh again.
“Lucy is more than one of your flavors-of-the-week.”
Tyson shook his head. “Ramona doesn’t want us dating anyone on our own roster.”
“I’m not dating her.”
“But you’re kissing her.”
“I kissed her
once
. And it would be a lot simpler for both of us if it doesn’t happen again.”
Tyson spun around. “So your plan is to kiss the woman one time, Walk away, and then forbid anyone one else to date her?”
“I knew you’d catch on.”
“Dayum, bro. That’s just not right.” Tyson grabbed the big plastic popcorn bowl out of Theo’s hands. “It’s plain selfish, in fact.”
Theo sank down onto a kitchen chair. “Yeah? Well, I think there’s something going on with Lucy that she won’t talk about-maybe some unresolved issues about men. I feel like I should… I don’t know… look out for her.”
Tyson frowned. “You mean she’s got sex hangups?” He smiled. “I have experience working through those things. I even got references.”
Theo laughed softly. “Exactly what I was afraid of.”
“You know, it’s not your job to fix everything about her, Theo-just help her get in shape.” The microwave dinged and Tyson got up from the table. “You don’t have to go around carrying everyone’s burden like it’s your own.”
“I know.”
“Well, sometimes you don’t act like you know. You’ve got to learn to
del-e-gate
.” An explosion of cheers came from the living room. “I’ll be right back.”
Theo listened as the popcorn was met with great enthusiasm in the other room. As Tyson chatted with the kids about basketball, Theo realized his friend had a valid point. Theo’s only responsibility toward Lucy was getting her to lose the weight-what she did or didn’t do with her issues after the fact was her own affair.
Of course he and Lucy should keep it strictly business. He shuddered at the thought that come December, she’d be completely in love with him, right as he went back to medical school. She’d expect to keep seeing him every day, which would be a scheduling nightmare. Maybe she’d even want a commitment, which would be impossible-not when he was about to immerse himself in the pursuit of his dream. Medical school and residency was hell on even the strongest established relationships. He’d only end up disappointing her. He’d only end up not being enough for her.
Theo rested his chin in his palm and slumped. The immediate problem was that kiss. Oh God, he’d never felt anything so good in his life. She was so hot and sexual, and if the camera van hadn’t pulled up in the parking lot there was no telling what would have happened! Since when did a single kiss make him lose it completely like that? What was his problem?
He needed to think. He needed to stop remembering how it felt and start developing a plan for damage control. If he simply pretended the kiss had never happened, it would come off as rejection, which would mess with Lucy’s head, chip away at her confidence, and possibly set her back. Which made it his problem, too.
He should never have kissed her…
“Now what was I saying?” Tyson returned to the kitchen chair.
Theo stared at his friend for a moment. Then smiled. “I believe you were saying that you’d take Lucy out every once in a while, give her a lot of attention, make her feel special and make sure she has a great time but not do anything to make her uncomfortable.”
Tyson’s eye twitched. “I don’t remember saying any of that shit.” “Ah, but you were going to.”
“I was?”
“Yeah.” Theo laughed. “I will come after you if you don’t hit on her within the next week.”
Tyson shook his head. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you have just
del-e-gated
my ass.”
Office of Doris Lehman, MSW, PhD
“Have there been more kisses?”
“No.” Lucy couldn’t sit still that morning. She paced in front of the love seat, her hands
“Lucy is more than one of your flavors-of-the-week.”
Tyson shook his head. “Ramona doesn’t want us dating anyone on our own roster.”
“I’m not dating her.”
“But you’re kissing her.”
“I kissed her
once
. And it would be a lot simpler for both of us if it doesn’t happen again.”
Tyson spun around. “So your plan is to kiss the woman one time, Walk away, and then forbid anyone one else to date her?”
“I knew you’d catch on.”
“Dayum, bro. That’s just not right.” Tyson grabbed the big plastic popcorn bowl out of Theo’s hands. “It’s plain selfish, in fact.”
Theo sank down onto a kitchen chair. “Yeah? Well, I think there’s something going on with Lucy that she won’t talk about-maybe some unresolved issues about men. I feel like I should… I don’t know… look out for her.”
Tyson frowned. “You mean she’s got sex hangups?” He smiled. “I have experience working through those things. I even got references.”
Theo laughed softly. “Exactly what I was afraid of.”
“You know, it’s not your job to fix everything about her, Theo-just help her get in shape.” The microwave dinged and Tyson got up from the table. “You don’t have to go around carrying everyone’s burden like it’s your own.”
“I know.”
“Well, sometimes you don’t act like you know. You’ve got to learn to
del-e-gate
.” An explosion of cheers came from the living room. “I’ll be right back.”
Theo listened as the popcorn was met with great enthusiasm in the other room. As Tyson chatted with the kids about basketball, Theo realized his friend had a valid point. Theo’s only responsibility toward Lucy was getting her to lose the weight-what she did or didn’t do with her issues after the fact was her own affair.
Of course he and Lucy should keep it strictly business. He shuddered at the thought that come December, she’d be completely in love with him, right as he went back to medical school. She’d expect to keep seeing him every day, which would be a scheduling nightmare. Maybe she’d even want a commitment, which would be impossible-not when he was about to immerse himself in the pursuit of his dream. Medical school and residency was hell on even the strongest established relationships. He’d only end up disappointing her. He’d only end up not being enough for her.
Theo rested his chin in his palm and slumped. The immediate problem was that kiss. Oh God, he’d never felt anything so good in his life. She was so hot and sexual, and if the camera van hadn’t pulled up in the parking lot there was no telling what would have happened! Since when did a single kiss make him lose it completely like that? What was his problem?
He needed to think. He needed to stop remembering how it felt and start developing a plan for damage control. If he simply pretended the kiss had never happened, it would come off as rejection, which would mess with Lucy’s head, chip away at her confidence, and possibly set her back. Which made it his problem, too.
He should never have kissed her…
“Now what was I saying?” Tyson returned to the kitchen chair.
Theo stared at his friend for a moment. Then smiled. “I believe you were saying that you’d take Lucy out every once in a while, give her a lot of attention, make her feel special and make sure she has a great time but not do anything to make her uncomfortable.”
Tyson’s eye twitched. “I don’t remember saying any of that shit.” “Ah, but you were going to.”
“I was?”
“Yeah.” Theo laughed. “I will come after you if you don’t hit on her within the next week.”
Tyson shook his head. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you have just
del-e-gated
my ass.”
Office of Doris Lehman, MSW, PhD
“Have there been more kisses?”
“No.” Lucy couldn’t sit still that morning. She paced in front of the love seat, her hands
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