To Love a Wolf; Sequel to Coyotes and Wolves, A Milo Manheim Original Story

Some Kind of Compromise

"Milo...?" Estella piped up, once they'd gotten home, and she was seated on her bed.

"Everything okay?" He asked, taking off his black leather jacket in the doorway, concerned by her timid tone.

"This might sound...I don't know but, why haven't you kissed me yet?" She asked, reluctantly.

"Have you been worrying about this since we left the party?" He asked, quirking his eyebrow.

"Kinda." She admitted.

"Baby, you can't keep that stuff from me." He chided her, in a gentle tone. "You know what happens when we shove stuff down." 

"I didn't like seeing you at the party with Darla. You seemed more interested in kissing her, than me." She expressed, biting her lip.

Milo lowered his brow and pressed his lips into a thin line. "I wasn't really going to do anything with her." He muttered, placing his hands on his hips.

"Oh c'mon, Milo. Her hands were all over you and you were pouring on the charm." She argued. "Your face was so close to hers you could probably taste her breath."

He shut his eyes and released a long sigh.

"Think about it, Estella..." Milo challenged, pointedly. 
"If I wanted to make out with her to hurt you and get revenge, I could've done it anywhere. And I could've picked anyone. You think--just maybe, there was a reason that I was flirting with her of all people, in the middle of a crowded room, full of people that know you?"

Estella chuckled darkly through her nose, as realization took over.

"I was never gonna touch her. I just wanted someone to see me with her, so you'd find out and be jealous." Milo admitted. "I was upset, and I just wanted to get a rise out of you, I guess."

Estella huffed out a sigh,

"So, you immediately went to manipulation?" She muttered, in a tone of disappointment.

"I know. I know. Not my finest moment. I got stressed out by seeing that fucking picture, and I just...regressed, I guess."
He admitted, guiltily.

"I understand you couldn't exactly communicate with me, but this is the problem. We trigger and enable each other. And all it took this time was a picture. I ran away from treatment, and you sabotaged yourself."

"So...what are you saying, baby?" Milo asked reluctantly, sitting down next to her on her bed.

"We can't go back to the way it was. Maybe, I should go back to the hospital." She expressed, sadly.

"Princess, I want to keep working on this and I want you to get better, but I can't have absolutely no contact with you. How are we supposed to solve these problems if we can't even talk?" He continued to press.

"You're right." She murmured, with a subtle nod.

"Isn't there some kind of compromise? Like some kind of treatment, that isn't so extreme?" Milo mused aloud.

"They told me about a program they have, it's called intensive outpatient. So like, I'd have daily treatment a few hours throughout the day, but come home in the evenings. That could be something I could try." She expressed.

"That doesn't sound so bad." Milo offered, supportively.

"I'm just scared, Milo." She expressed.

"Of what, baby?" He asked, supportively.

"I don't know if I trust myself yet. I don't want to mess with your progress anymore than I already have. And I don't know if I can keep the panic attacks away, you know...out in the world."