I scan through my texts.

None from Corinne. I’m oddly disappointed, even though she never texts me during the day. The ER keeps her too busy. But still. I thought she might text after this morning’s sex.

One from Michel.

How are you doing?

And several from a number I don’t recognize.

Hi there. It’s Zoe from Vilma’s.

Damn it.

I swallow, and I read her other texts.

You left your credit card at the café this morning.

Do you want to meet me so you can have it back ASAP?

I feel a jolt. First, fuck. I left my card someplace? I can’t even remember the last time I did that. How irresponsible. I practically don’t have a credit limit, so a thief could have a field day with it.

Second, how weird that she’s texting me. So weird.

I can just pick it up from Vilma in the morning, I answer. Thanks for letting me know.

I see the three bubbles on my text screen signifying that she is answering. So I wait without putting my phone down. The idea of who is on the other end of the phone gives me a jolt, a thrill, even though my initial thoughts about the girl weren’t flattering. She might have clear daddy issues, but she has an ass you could bounce a quarter off of. It strokes my ego that she’s texting me.

I actually have the card with me. I didn’t want anything to happen to it. I’m in town running errands. I could meet you for lunch?

Another jolt.

She wants to meet for lunch? Is this for real?

What a kind offer, I answer and my heart literally pounds. But I would never impose on you like that. If you’re working tomorrow, I’ll pick it up then.

There are three bubbles. She’s typing.

But nothing comes through.

I wait.

The three bubbles are still there, then they disappear.

Still nothing.

I can’t help but picture her in her overly-tight waitress uniform. The bright blue complemented her skin tone, and her tits were busting out of the top. The skirt was short, and it’s quite possible that she made it that way on purpose.

For a minute, being a red-blooded man, I picture that ass bent over a chair, her uniform skirt hitched up to her hips. Her lacy panties would be shoved to the side…and I think she’d be shaved.

I indulge for just a second, then I push the images out of my head. It’s a fantasy. That’s all.

I’m normal.

I love my wife.

I miss my wife.

Corinne is my world.

I jam my phone into my pocket as my door opens with my next patient.

“Mr. Ford,” I greet the elderly man in front of me, the one with OCD who is at this very moment wiping his feet on the carpet as he walks to wipe away all germs from his shoes. He does it a thousand times a day. “I’m so glad to see you. How have you been?”

He takes a seat in the chair across from me, careful to keep his right foot crossed over the left, and for the next hour, I’m immersed in the world of an obsessive man. This week, his new habit is stepping on a particular stair-step on his porch precisely four times every time he goes home.

We discuss coping mechanisms, and the chemical reasons that OCD could be at play in his brain, and when we’re nearly done, I find him staring at the portrait of Corinne and me sitting on my desk.

“You’re a lucky man,” he tells me, and his cloudy eyes are pensive. “I lost my Helen a decade ago. I haven’t been the same since.”

No, he hasn’t. His OCD emerged that year, when he was lost in grief.

“I am lucky,” I agree. “My wife is a brilliant woman.”

“She’s a looker, too,” Mr. Ford observes, and I try to see the picture through the fresh eyes of a stranger.

Corinne’s eyes are bright and blue, her hair long and blond. She’s thin, she’s trim, she’s tall. Her legs are long, her smile bright.

She is a looker. Sometimes I forget that.

Probably because I haven’t seen her in days and days.

I hide my stress. My patients don’t get to hear my very real and very human problems.

We finish our session and Mr. Ford leaves, and I wrap up my notes. When I’m finished, I’m surprised to realize that it’s lunchtime.

Ginny pokes her head in. “Hey, boss. I’m going out for lunch. Should I bring you something back?”

I could meet you for lunch?

Unbidden, the texted words flash through my mind, and guiltily, I push them away. Fuck, man. Not cool.

“I’m good,” I tell Ginny, and I think my words have a double meaning. I’m good. I don’t have straying thoughts about a woman who isn’t my wife. Not real straying thoughts.

Ginny leaves, and I grab my jacket, and as I do, my phone buzzes, and I think my wife might’ve texted me back.

I’m startled when I see that I’m wrong.

It’s not Corinne.

It’s a picture.

Of Zoe.

I was right. She’s shaved.

My heart thuds as I stare at the nude picture.

Her tits are big and full and her thumb is brushing her nipple, her other hand caressing her shaved vagina. Her eyes are big and turned to the camera in a sultry gaze, and she’s completely and absolutely naked.

Are you freaking kidding me?

I swallow hard, and it’s not like I haven’t been hit on before. I have. But this is different. It’s so blatant, so outrageous, and frankly, in some hidden and shameful spot, it turns me on.

Fuck, man.

I’m sorry, I’m married, I reply, typing with shocked wooden fingers.

Because I’m good. The stiffness in my crotch doesn’t count.

Three bubbles.

That’s fine, she answers. Do you want a girlfriend?

Sweet Jesus.

She can’t be serious. Is her generation so blatant and direct?

No, I answer. Sorry.

Three bubbles.

Hmm. We’ll see.

Courtney Evan Tate’s SUCH DARK THINGS – Tour Schedule:

April 16th

Aurora B’s Book Blog – Interview

Devilishly dirty book blog – Review & Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Excerpt

April 17th

Book Freak – Review

Bookish Proclivity – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

April 18th

★ Chiara’s Book Blog ★ – Excerpt

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

Suey Library – Review

The Bashful BookWhore – Excerpt & Interview

April 19th

A Literary Perusal – Excerpt

Brandy Paige Roberts Blogger page – Excerpt

Feel the Book – Excerpt

TBR Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

April 20th

Audio Killed the Bookmark – Review

Books According to Abby – Excerpt

Roxy’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 21st

After Dark Book Lovers – Review

Brittany’s Book Blog – Review

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

April 22nd

Angela’s Opinion – Excerpt

Evermore Books – Excerpt

Lattes & Paperbacks – Review & Excerpt

April 23rd

Becky on Books – Excerpt & Interview

Linz Readz – Review & Excerpt

Little Read Riding Hood – Review & Excerpt

V’s Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 24th

M&J’s book blog – Review & Excerpt

Quesarasera Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Talkbooks – Review & Excerpt

April 25th

All Things Dark & Dirty – Excerpt

Books, Booze, & Brunch – Review

Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 26th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Literary Misfit – Review & Excerpt

Mom’s Secret Book Blog – Review

No BS Book Reviews – Review

The Book Hookup – Review & Excerpt

The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 27th

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa – Excerpt

Just Me & My Kindle – Excerpt

Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt

Next Book Review – Review & Excerpt

Sassy Moms  Say Read Romance – Review & Excerpt

Shh Moms Reading – Excerpt

Smokin’ Hot Reads Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

April 28th

@all_encompassing_books – Review & Excerpt

A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile – Review & Excerpt

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

Books A-Brewin’ – Excerpt

Bout-a-Book blog – Review & Excerpt

I am a Book Hoarder – Review

Rainy Day Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

Shakespeare’s Wench Book Blog – Review

Tfaulcbookreviews – Review

About Courtney Evan Tate:

Courtney Evan Tate is the nom de plume for New York Times bestselling author, Courtney Cole.  Courtney Evan Tate is her darker side… the side that explores shadowy places.

Courtney lives in Florida with her husband and kids.  She has a passion for raising drug addiction awareness, the Marine Corp (her middle son is a Marine) and being introspective on the human condition.

To learn more about her, you can visit www.courtneycolewrites.com.

Il mio nome è Calla Price. Ho diciott’anni e sono la metà di un intero.

♦ Fabbri (11 maggio 2017) ♦

Calla ha solo 18 anni e non può vivere senza la sua metà: il fratello gemello Finn, affetto da una grave forma di schizofrenia.

Lo scopo della sua vita è aiutarlo, ma questa esistenza già difficile viene resa quasi insopportabile dopo la morte della madre, di cui si sente responsabile. I sensi di colpa la divorano e lo shock per il lutto le causa una parziale perdita della memoria.

A starle vicino in questo momento difficile sarà soprattutto Dare, il bel ragazzo misterioso che nasconde un oscuro passato…

Ma per Calla c’è solo un modo per guarire: scavare nei meandri della sua stessa mente. E ricordare, da sola.

01- Nocte – Solo tu puoi salvarmi

02- Verum

2.5- Initium 

03- Lux

3.5- Dare Me