Seeking Escape

12. Could I Handle That?

*** Joyce's POV ***

"I told him. I didn't get into details, but he knows the gist." I told Kay the next day.

"Whoa. How did he respond?" She asked in a tone of amazement.

"He was perfect. I broke down and he asked if he could comfort me." I recounted, playing over in my mind the play by play of our interaction. It was as if it was on a loop and each time, I felt myself feel a little more enamored by just how amazingly sensitive and careful he was with me.

"And you let him?!" Kay asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.

"I did."

"This is big, Joyce! THIS IS SO BIG!" She practically shouted. I glanced nervously at my not-quite-closed office door. Kay continued.  "Not only did you meet up with him, sit in a private booth, and open up, but you let him get handsy!"

"He didn't get handsy." I objected to her wording. "He held me."

"This is big!" Kay was up out of her seat dancing around. I rolled my eyes at her theatrics, but smiled because she was right. This was a big deal and I felt like it was just the tip of the iceberg.

"So what comes next for you two?" She asked curiously.

"I...I don't know. He's coming over Friday. We talked a bit about what's going to happen if his fans or the media try to figure me out." I didn't particularly like that part of the conversation, especially the idea of people digging up my past and putting my name in the news.

"Whoa. He's coming to your house?! Are you two like, dating?" She asked loudly.

Before I could answer there was a commotion outside of my door. Kay gave me a look and leaned back to open the door, revealing a flustered Neil, gathering up books he had dropped. He looked up, sheepishly. He had to have heard Kay. She was so damn loud.

"Uh, hi. I was just...um...dropping these off for you. I was just about to knock." He stammered.

"You're just in time to hear Joyce's news." Kay prompted. I gave her an evil death glare for yet again, exposing my private business.

"Oh, what's that?" Neil asked as though he had no fathomable idea.

"I met someone." I said as vaguely as possible.

"No no no! She didn't just meet someone! She met him out! She got cozy! And she has a second date with him at her place! Well, I guess technically third, if you count the video chat." Kay revealed all.

"Thanks Kay." I snapped. "I can share about my own personal life, thank you."

"Who is he?" Neil asked quietly.

I met his eyes and could see that he was hurt, which I hated. Even more, I hated to reveal just exactly who Quinn was. Not because I was embarrassed, but because of the sheer audacity of it. "He's uh..."

"Someone she connected with through therapy." Kay supplied, actually being helpful for once.

"Like a therapist? Isn't that against the rules?" Neil quizzed.

"No, no. He's not a therapist. More like a content expert." I described, hoping he would just drop it.

"Oh. Well, that's great. It sounds like you had a real break-through." Neil said, not looking at me.