More Than an Echo (Echo Branson Series) (42 page)

“Yes. No. Shut up.”

She tossed her head back and laughed. “You can’t, can you? Since I’ve known you, you’ve been trying to convince yourself you’re afraid of being with me. Has it ever occurred to you that you’re really afraid of being with
anybody
?”

I opened my mouth to fire one at her, but nothing came out. I was too tired for this conversation and she knew it. Could it be that she was right and one of the reasons I was so emotionally drained was because I was fighting off any intimate feelings I was having toward Finn? Was I just afraid of intimacy on any level?

Her arm reclaiming my shoulders, Tip pulled me to her. “I don’t want anything from you. I just want to be here to give you my support and my friendship. So, please relax, okay? You can pretend to be
seeing
this Finn all you want if it makes you feel better.”

I turned to her, our faces inches apart, ignoring the fact that she had read me.  “How can I relax when what you say is probably true? I’m an intimacy-phobe.”

Her mouth curled into a half grin and her eyes danced. “Well, the good thing about fears is that they can be conquered.” Her eyes suddenly got serious. “You really like this woman?”

I looked for any sign of jealousy and saw none. “I do.”

“And she’s good enough for you?”

I nodded.

“Then work with Melika to find a way past that wall you’ve built around your heart. And if you need someone to bounce things off of or if you just need some kneecaps broken, I’m only a thought away.”

Laying my head on her shoulder, I felt the last of my energy flow from my body and into the Bayou. Yes, I was an empath, and yes, Mills had taught me to be an agent of change, but no one had prepared me for how to feel or what to do once a dream comes true.

As the orange and pink of dusk crept over the blue and purples of day, and the night sounds began replacing the day sounds, my tired spirit started replenishing itself. Yes, I had made my dreams come true. Yes, I was, in fact, an agent of change; and yes, oh yes, I
did
fear intimacy.

Maybe it was time to dream that a part of my heart could actually have someone in it. Maybe it was time to have someone to share my life with.

As my body melted into hers and my eyelids turned to cement, a new dream ever so cautiously tiptoed into my heart and took residence there.

How long it would remain just a dream was anybody’s guess.

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