The therapist secret

Chapter 22

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Layla hadn't been back to Bella's apartment since that night. They both agreed that space was important. It wasn't that things had changed between them—if anything, they had grown deeper, more complicated—but they were trying to navigate the boundaries, to respect the decision they had made. Bella had officially stepped down as her therapist, and Layla had her first appointment with a new counselor next week.

Still, there were moments when Layla felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for everything to come crashing down. They had crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed, and no matter how much they wanted to keep moving forward, the risks felt bigger every day.

It had been two weeks since they agreed to try, and since then, they had kept things simple. Texts. A few coffee meetups that felt painfully like dates but weren't quite. No more kisses, no late-night confessions. Just cautious, hesitant steps.

But tonight felt different.

Layla had spent the day at the store, her mind somewhere else entirely. When her shift ended, she found herself staring at her phone, the urge to text Bella almost overwhelming. She knew they were trying to keep things slow, but every time Layla thought about Bella's smile, her heart ached to be near her. There was something intoxicating about the way Bella had opened up to her—first in that bar, then again at her apartment. Layla had seen parts of Bella no one else had, and she wasn't ready to let that go.

Without really thinking, she typed out a message.

*Can I see you tonight?*

She hit send before she could second-guess herself. The seconds ticked by, each one heavier than the last, until finally her phone buzzed.

*Are you sure?*

Was she? The truth was, Layla didn't know. But the need to be near Bella—to talk, to feel, to just exist in the same space as her—was stronger than the doubts. Stronger than the fear.

*Yes.*

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An hour later, Layla found herself standing outside Bella's apartment once again. The night air was cool, and the city around her buzzed with life, but all she could focus on was the warmth radiating from behind Bella's door.

When Bella answered, she looked as conflicted as Layla felt. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and she wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, but Layla thought she had never looked more beautiful.

"Hey," Bella said softly, stepping aside to let her in.

"Hey," Layla replied, her voice equally soft.

They stood in the living room for a moment, both unsure of how to proceed. The tension between them was palpable, but there was something else too—something unspoken, hanging in the air like a weight they couldn't shake.

"I'm sorry," Layla said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I know we said we'd take it slow, but I just... I needed to see you."

Bella looked at her, her eyes soft but guarded. "It's okay. I've been thinking about you too."

Layla's heart skipped a beat. "You have?"

Bella nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. "It's hard not to. I keep trying to focus on other things—on my work, on keeping distance—but then I think about you, and... I just can't."

Layla stepped closer, her breath catching in her throat. "I don't want to keep pretending. I don't want to keep my distance."

Bella's eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for a moment, Layla saw all of it—the fear, the desire, the weight of what they were risking. And yet, in the middle of all that, there was something else: hope.

"I'm scared, Layla," Bella whispered. "I'm scared of what this means. Of what could happen if we... if we break all the rules."

"I know," Layla said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm scared too. But I don't care about the rules. I care about you."

Bella's eyes glistened, and for a moment, Layla thought she might cry. But instead, Bella took a deep breath, stepping even closer until their faces were only inches apart.

"We can't rush this," Bella said softly, her gaze locked on Layla's. "But we don't have to keep fighting it either."

Layla's heart swelled with relief. She reached out, hesitating for just a second before gently cupping Bella's cheek. The touch was electric, and Bella closed her eyes, leaning into it like she had been waiting for this moment for so long.

"I don't want to fight it," Layla whispered.

Bella opened her eyes, and in them, Layla saw the same longing she felt. Bella reached up, placing her hand over Layla's, holding it there as if grounding herself.

"We're going to have to be careful," Bella said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't want to push you away anymore."

Layla felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest, and before she could stop herself, she closed the distance between them. Their lips met softly, tentatively, as if testing the waters, but it wasn't long before the kiss deepened. Bella's hands slid around Layla's waist, pulling her closer, and Layla melted into her, all the fear and doubt falling away.

This was what she wanted. This was what they both wanted.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Bella's eyes were still closed, her breathing heavy, and Layla could feel her heart pounding against her chest.

"We're breaking all the rules," Bella murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Layla smiled too, her hand still resting on Bella's cheek. "Then let's make our own."

For the first time, it felt like they could. Like they weren't trapped by the expectations or the fear of what people might say. They were two women who cared about each other, who wanted something real, and they were finally allowing themselves to have it.

Bella opened her eyes, her expression softer than Layla had ever seen it. "One step at a time?"

Layla nodded, her heart full. "One step at a time."

They stood there for a long moment, holding each other close, the weight of everything they had been through finally beginning to lift. The future still felt uncertain, but for now, they had each other. And for now, that was enough. add