Free Sean by Desiree Wilder

discover it in counseling. I want to be your therapist right now, but I want to be your boyfriend more, I can’t be both. It wouldn’t be fair to you or to us. It’s great the way we talk, just like couples do, and that’s what I want. If you ever want to discuss something specific, I’m here for you, but unless you ask for my help, I’ll be the ever-doting boyfriend with support and understanding, okay?”
    “That’s all I could hope for,” she said. “Now, weren’t you going to make breakfast?” We smiled at each other, knowing we’d lost track of time.
    “That’s my girl,” I said as I jumped up and got back to the stove.
    “Mmm,” she said. “I love that you just called me that.”
    I winked at her. “Well, that’s what you are.” Her smile said it all. She was happy.
    “What would you like to do tomorrow?” I asked .
    “Watch fireworks somewhere, but other than that, just being with you will be great.”
    “You like to watch fireworks, huh?”
    “Yes! One year Juanita and I climbed out my bedroom window and watched from the roof! Sh e put a little blanket down on the shingles and we had a picnic.” Brynn giggled. “She’d used cookie cutters to cut star shapes out of grilled cheese sandwiches and we had sugar cookies decorated very festively, which we’d made together earlier in the day. She was so much fun.”
    “Did your parents join you two?”
    Brynn laughed. “No, they usually traveled on holidays.” She kept smiling as she ate.
    “ Even on Christmas and Easter?” I couldn’t imagine being a kid alone on Christmas.
    “Yeah, usually.” She looked up and saw my expression. “Sean, I didn’t want to go with them anyway. I wanted to be home, with the staff . They were my support, they loved me and I loved them. I’ve accepted that, and I’m okay with it.” Well, I wasn’t! “Honestly, the holidays with them are some of the happiest memories I have. They made them very special for me and we had a lot of fun. Don’t you dare look at me like you feel sorry for me. I’m past that.”
    “I’m sorry,” I told her. She was so much stronger than I ever imagined she was. “Do you keep in touch with Juanita, or any of the staff?”
    “No. My parents disowned me and they have been forbidden to have contact with me.”
    “What? How can they possibly forbid that?” I was shocked.
    “They have a lot of money, that’s how.” She finished her omelet and took both of our plates to the sink. I got up to help. “Sit,” she said. “You cooked, I’ll clean.”
    “Oh, is that the rule?” I teased.
    “Yes. I don’t want you waiting on me when I’m here. I want to be your girlfriend, not your guest.” She was independent, for sure. She didn’t want anyone to take care of her. That was going to be tough for me. All I wanted was to take care of her and protect her.
    “I’m learning a lot about you this morning,” I told her. “You’ve pulled my heart strings, inspired me, surprised me, and now you’re annoying the shit out of me.”
    She laughed. “How am I annoying the shit out of you?”
    “I’m very uncomfortable with that rule. I just can’t do it.” I opened the dishwasher and started to load it.
    “Wow. You’re such a baby,” she said as she grabbed me and turned me to face her. She hopped her little ass up onto the countertop and pulled me to her lips. She kissed me passionately and sucked my tongue while she ran her fingers up and down my arms.
    “Mmm, I love when you do that,” I told her.
    “Do what?” she asked.
    “All of it.”
    “Even calling you a baby?”
    “Especially that.” She laughed, but seriously, it turned me on.
    She wrapped her legs around me and I kissed her neck. She tried to lean back, giving me full access, but her hand went into the sink instead of onto the countertop and she fell backwards, slamming her head into the corner of the cupboard.
    “Ouch!” s he said as she shot back up and grabbed her head.
    “Are you okay?” I