Page 19 of The KING Review

Fia folds her hands on the table, her gaze pinning me in place. “Is there something going on between you and my sister?”

Cade nudges her in the arm, obviously still amused. “You gonna give him a shakedown, baby?”

Fia doesn’t react, just leans forward, looking at me expectantly.

I exhale a slow breath, weighing the pros and cons—because if Neve doesn’t go with me for the simulated sessions, I’m not sure what will happen to her grade for this class—then lie through my teeth when I say, “No. Nothing is going on with me and your sister.”

Chapter Seven

First Date

Neve

The assignment comes through on my university email account at midday on a Tuesday, and my smirk is completely impossible to hide.

Miss Hart,

I’ll be your supervisor for Intro to Therapeutic Intervention for Sex and Relationships Counseling simulated therapy sessions.

I’ve scheduled our first meeting in Lab C for 4 p.m. today. Please be prompt.

Best,

Doctor Grant King, PhD

Head of Psychology Department

University of Talan

I respond professionally via email.

Doctor King,

Thank you for letting me know. I’ll see you at 4 p.m.

Best,

Neve Hart

But I also send a message to Grant’s personal number.

Me:

can’t wait for our first date!

Professor Daddy:

It’s not a date.

Me:

you’re going to hurt my feelings

Professor Daddy:

Is that even possible?

I snort at my phone, but it’s not a laugh. I’m not upset, but I’m also not exactly in the mood to unpack all the gnarly issues my parents gave me about my emotional expression. Instead, I play it off as a joke.