Free Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Volume I) by Bethany Bazile Page A

involved already?”
    I shrugged. The last thing I wanted to do was admit there were some feelings developing between Xander and me.
    “I was all about you getting laid , but if your heart’s involved… be careful.”
    “ What? Are you sure you’re a therapist? I’m starting to have my doubts. Let me see your certification.”
    “What? I told you to get laid, loosen up. Not fall in love.”
    “Matt , that’s the equivalent of leaving a two-year-old with a set of knives and telling them to play with it but don’t get cut.”
    “So you are falling for him.”
    I rolled my eyes.
    “If any woman could have emotionless sex, I thought it would be you.”
    “Why?”
    “We were together for two years. The sex was great, but emotionally you weren’t there.”
    “So you thought I was incapable.”
    “Not incapable. I just thought it would take a lot more than a few nights of sex to get your heart pumping.”
    “Well , it’s not pumping yet. Let’s just say it’s flickering.”
    “Whatever . I didn’t come here to talk about your sex life.”
    “ Then why did you come?”
    “I saw Ellie last night.”
    “Okay… She’s a big girl, Matt.”
    “Yeah , but she was acting all weird, then asked me not to tell you.”
    “And here you are breaking her confidence in you.”
    “I’ve known her since she was like fourteen. If I see her with a group of drunken chicks, downtown at two in the morning, I’m going to talk to you about it.”
    “She was drunk?”
    “She seemed sober… but her friends… I don’t know. You know how crazy some college girls get.”
    “I wouldn ’t know.”
    “That ’s right. You only went to like one kegger when we were in college. And you didn’t even drink.”
    “I was focused.”
    “You were uptight. Still are.”
    “If you’re done analyzing me, I have a date.”
    “Oh … well, don’t let me keep you.” He rose and waited until I gathered my things before he walked me out of the office and to my car. Xander was waiting for me at his place, and I had to stop off at home to change first.

Family Connections
    Xander
    “Xander, I can’t.”
    I pulled Avery’s arm as we walked up the steps. When we’d woken this morning and I told her I wanted her to come to my mother’s place with me, she’d almost bolted. It was Sunday, and the only way to get her to spend an entire day with me was to bring her to dinner at my mother’s house. Five weeks and I was already introducing her to my mother. I was screwed.
    “ Trust me, she’ll love you.”
    She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I’ve never done anything like this.”
    “Meet someone ’s mother?” I raised an eyebrow at her because it really wasn’t that big of a deal.
    “Met someone I’m dating’s mother. I don’t know how to do the whole parent thing.”
    I pulled her into me, wrapping my arms around her. “We ’ll tell her you’re my friend. No pressure.”
    Avery began to relax, but she heard my mother open the door behind her, and she stiffened again. At least it was too late for her to escape. She pulled back and spun around.
    “Mom , this is Avery. This is my mother—”
    “Susan .” Avery finished. That was when I noticed the shock on both of their faces, my mother recovering a lot quicker.
    “Xander, you didn ’t tell me you knew Avery.” She stepped out, hugging Avery like a long-lost friend.
    “Neither did you.”
    When she released her, Avery just stared at her and stuttered. “How…? You never told me—you’re…?” She shook her head and seemed to give up on trying to make sense of it all.
    “I ’ve missed you, dear. How have you been?”
    “I ’m all right.” Avery still looked a bit shocked as my mother pulled her into the house.
    “Come in, come in. Dinner will be ready in an hour.” I watched my mother as she guided Avery into the living room and promised they’d catch up later. She was nervous, and the way she rushed off to the kitchen made me certain she was