Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

middle finger.
“Grumpy meets glitter,” she says. “I like that.”
“It’s been that way forever.”
“Just like your piss-poor attitude.”
I slam a fist into the bed and glare at her. “I sent him packing. I can send
you, too.”
“Ooh.” She fakes a shiver. “I’m scared.”
I clench my jaw and shut my eyes again. Closing the door behind her, Lo
takes her time walking over to me.
“Actually,” she says, “you’re the one who’s scared.” My hands twist the
sheets as Lo drags Ren’s chair next to the bed and plops down on it. “The
question is, what exactly are you scared of?”
When I don’t answer her, she wraps her hand around mine and leans in.
“Relationships aren’t perfect, Frankie. They’re living, breathing things. They
have growing pains. They have highs and lows. They take trust and forgiveness.
They don’t require perfection or flawlessness. They just require two people who
want to love each other and keep learning the best way to do that.”
I open my eyes and slant her a sharp look. “Who needs the Hallmark
Channel when I have you and Ren?”
Lo searches my face. “Oh, honey.” She sighs and thumbs away my tears.
“That’s what you’re scared of, huh? Being loved by that big redhead teddy of a
lover who worships the ground you walk on?”
I wipe a stray tear angrily from my cheek. “I kicked him out, Lo. What did I
do?”
“You reacted badly to being loved well.”
“I love him,” I sob, covering my face. “And I just made him leave.”
“I know, Frankie. And that is what we have to work on. Because Ren doesn’t
need that shit in his life, and neither do you.” Lo gently squeezes my hand. “So,
what’s the therapist say? When you’ve talked to her about him?”
“Well…” I clear my throat. “I haven’t actually—”
“Oh, woman.” Lo releases my hand. “You haven’t talked to her about him.”
I shake my head.
“Because you knew what she was going to remind you about, and you’re too
scared to own the truth she would have dropped on you.”
I nod.
“Which is?” Lo presses.
“That I deserve love for being exactly who I am,” I admit miserably. “That
the person worthy of my love will love all of me.”
Exactly what my therapist has told me. Exactly what I told Ren that night on