Page 141 of The Plus One Pact

And even though I love so many parts of it, I can't escape the image of Romeo the, well, Romeo.

The girl-crazy kid who doesn't know about anything except how to seduce a pretty girl.

I have other skills. Other senses.

But I'm proving my brother right every time with this job. I'm proving this is what I do best.

I kiss, I flirt, I fuck.

And for once, I want to be valued for my brain. I want someone to want my thoughts. Care about my personality.

When I say that, she kisses me, and we have a different sort of sex. Soft and slow and romantic and real.

That's the only way to explain it.

No pretense from her or me.

Just two people who like each other enough to lie to their families about their jobs. Even though this isn’t a normal relationship, it is something real. I care about her. She cares about me.

And I want more than this.

More than a ruse.

Even if it means changing everything.

I fall asleep next to her. Wake up in a haze of bliss.

A haze that breaks as soon as I check my phone.

A text from Sasha.

This sounds familiar. Be careful. XO

With a link to an article in the Orange County Register.

Who is Doctor O’s Cassanova? Rumors Swirl Around Viral Episodes of Local Sex Therapist’s Podcast.

What is Sasha—

There’s no way—

The details are similar, but so what? There must be lots of divorced sex-therapists in Orange County. Sure, this woman is the right age, and she’s quoted as saying all the same things—

And there’s an audio sample.

I listen, just to prove it to myself.

But I know the second I hear her voice. Modified somehow, but unmistakenly Ivy. And she’s talking about me.

Have you ever thought about hiring a professional? Because I did.

Is that all this was to her? Content for her fucking podcast?

I rush to the door. Stop myself just in time. I can’t confront her. That will make this public to my family.

I need to play this smarter.

But I don’t have time to figure out how.