Free Mister Distraction (Distraction #2) by Stephanie Jean

face. I pushed from the table and peered at the time.
    “I’ve got to go.” I brushed past my sister and tugged on a lock of her brown hair. She yelped and then giggled.
    “You don’t have to be at work for an hour and twenty minutes.”
Dang
. Her response was instantaneous; Jessie always knew my schedule. I was impressed. She turned back to me a moment after she took her eyes off the clock. I locked eyes with her, letting a sly grin slip.
    “You met someone didn’t you?” It was unbelievable how she could read my thoughts.
    “Well, there is someone I would
like
to meet, but she has yet to notice me.” Her face was suddenly filled with amusement. She nodded towards the door. “Better go, lover boy.”

    I made my way to pick up Bo first. He was waiting by the front door when I got there, and we left. Bettina was most likely still in bed. I drove to the coffeehouse and noticed the students were all gone. There were just six people in the whole place. I ordered my coffee and found a seat next to where Katarina liked to sit.
    I read the brochures I grabbed from my sister’s house while I drank my coffee and waited for Katarina. I knew I didn’t have a sex problem, but it would take a miracle to keep me from having any until the dancing princess was ready.
    When I put my mind to anything, I committed fully. This renewed mission of mine was no different. I had waited years for a chance to talk with her again. I had to be patient now, clean myself up. I went over the twelve steps of recovery. I asked the man behind the coffee counter for a pen and paper, and then I sat at my table to work on number eight of the twelve steps. I made a list of all the people I have wronged. I was in the middle of my very short list—I was having trouble thinking of names; all I could picture were faces—when I lifted my eyes. Katarina sat in her booth, removing the items from her table before setting up her computer. It was like the other days. She studied her laptop for about a half hour and left without noticing me. She waved at the man behind the coffee counter on her way out. I was beginning to recognize that she had two-dimensional vision. She saw what was directly in front of her and nothing else existed.
    I went to work and called my older sister to inform her I was willing to get help—on my terms. She was excited and told me she would have more information tonight. I was less enthusiastic. I called the animal clinic, my weekend job, and quit. I didn’t have any attachments there; I got the job right out of vet school and wanted more experience. Soquitting wasn’t a tough decision to make. I quickly noticed steps one through seven, eleven, and twelve of the twelve steps involved God. I wanted to leave my Sundays open. I was willing to accept any help I could get. I knew it was going to be hard, literally. I made the first call to number one on my list of people I’d wronged. It was Dave, my friend from high school. I had completely shunned him after he left for college, not returning his calls, avoiding him when he would stop by my apartment. He answered right away, and we planned to meet at the gym by my office for a little game of basketball.
    The days seemed to fly by. I had arranged an early morning kick-boxing class and a gym workout at night. Dave and I planned to meet twice a week for a basketball game. I was working on keeping myself very busy. Friday was my first sex-addict meeting, and I managed to go every night since. I was empowered by the stories the people would tell, and how they rose from it.
    Sunday was my first day back at church since Jacy’s funeral and that was nine years ago. It was uncomfortable, and I stood in the back—paced was more like it. I saw her family walk in, everyone but William. They took a seat near the front. I took off my tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons. I couldn’t seem to breathe. I began to sweat. I tried to listen to Pastor Dan, but I was distracted. Jessica came to