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Seth’s eyes darken and his lips ht, irowl at hi to Boston You are staying here in Portland withit seriously"

"Olly--"

"Seth, tell hio"

I don’t look at him, but I can feel his heated stare on my face He exhales and turns to my father "I’m sorry, Rick"

"You’re not serious?" He scoffs "All because soh?" He throws his hands up in the air before storrier

"I need to have a shower and get ready for work so I can pay rent next week Letafter my father

Dad’s pissed and in his office I know because the blind is down Whenever the blind is blocking the , he doesn’t want to see anyone which is fine by le in my hair and I hiss every tiht the shoould help me, but I’m still pissed So let hi deal for hiht not make as much money as him, but that doesn’t mean my job isn’t important I squeeze soap onto a washcloth and hastily rub under ranate soothesto be pissed at me for a while, but I know Mom will have my back, for once

There’s a knock on my door and I shake y" My door rattles and then unlocks Seth steps in with his frustrated expression "Please, coo the other way?"

I shrug

"I’ve pissed you off"

"Am I that obvious?"

He drops his shorts and kicks them to the side "Don’t be like that"

I hand him my cloth and he squeezes soap onto it Hebubbles all over his skin as he washes it I stand under the hot strea the water run all of the soap from my body

"I didn’t think I’d have to force you to coirlfriend" He isn’t even looking at e as it circles his stomach

"I didn’t think I’d have to quit my job and become some sad, dependent feaze snaps to my face "Is that how you really feel?"

I shaketo wonder"

"It’s not about dependence It’s about support You easeout of the floater so he can step under to rinse off the bubbles

"I can’t be there every time It’s unrealistic"

I tryeverywhere else

"I’ll be travelling a lot, Olivia and I want you withto be as kind as I can, but I’ry "Yeah, well, we don’t ale want"

I pullup all of the droplets "It’s not too late to back out you know" I tell hi anywhere" He shuts off the shower and I hand him my towel

"You’re persistent"

"Spoiled" He s what I want"

Seth insisted on walking ,besides bark orders attime and I know exactly why

"Excuse me," an elderly woman demands She tucks a short white curl around her ear The patients have been extra bitchy today "I’ve been sitting in this waiting rooo" She doesn’t say anything offensive or bitchy, but it’s all in her annoying, high-pitched tone I fight the urge to scowl and I s so patient" Yeah right "You’re up next Dr Peterson won’t be h, she turns away from oes by the name of Gary Voss, keeps his head down and nervously strolls from the office The elderly woman jumps to her feet as Mason calls her into the therapy roos Gary Voss’s analysis sheet over to me

"File this" He slides it onto oes into the file

When he’s done with the woman and she leaves, I realize there’s no one else booked in until mid this afternoon In lance at the screen Seth I hit ignore I can’t talk right now Besides, we didn’t really talk after the shower at the gy of Mason, he steps out of his office, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his black slacks

"Hoas Concord?" He asks friendly enough His blond brows are furrowed slightly, but I know he’s trying to clear things up between us

"Good" I reply "Selena and I spent a lot of tiain, "

"I’m at work It will have to wait"

Mason’s lips curve into a playful snored a text or phone call at work?"

"Well, I owe you now You’ve put up with a lot of ht" I chuckle "It’s tiive a little back and act like a proper employee"

He leans on one

"Please, don’t start doing what I hired you to do on h "I’ainst nore it just this once"

I sratefully at hiain I tilt htly, so Mason doesn’t see

"Hello?"

"Olivia, Jesus Christ!" His deep, furious voice startles me Even Mason heard it His eyebrows raise a little and his jaw tightens "Why haven’t you been answering your God damned phone?"