Read Deep Surrendering: Episode Seven for Free Online

can’t believe you’re real at all, so I keep expecting you to vanish or be a figment of my wild imagination.” If my imagination could dream him up. Probably not.
    “If anyone is a figment, it’s you,” he said with a yawn.
    We could argue about that until the cows came home, but it wasn’t going to get us anywhere.
    I downed the rest of my coffee.
    “I’ll be here when you get out of class, Marisol. I wouldn’t leave without saying anything.”
    “Okay,” I said, wishing I could just say “fuck it” and skip class. Why had I thought another year of grad school was a good idea?
    He was about to say something else, but my phone rang. It was my parents. Shit, I’d completely forgotten to go over and get the check. Fin showing up had thrown everything off.
    I braced myself before I answered. “Hi,” I said, hoping it was my dad. My hopes were dashed.
    “Marisol, there you are. I thought you were coming over to get the check, but it’s still here. Did you forget?” She’d acted like she couldn’t be bothered with it the other day and now she’d changed her tune.
    “Yeah, I’m so sorry. Something came up.” Fin gave me a look and I smiled back.
    “Well, I was hoping nothing happened. You should have called and said you couldn’t come.” I really needed to get to class and this was cutting into my time with Fin.
    “I’ll come by today, if I can. I have to get to class or I’m going to be late.”
    She sighed. “Honestly, Marisol. I don’t have time for this either. Your father and I live very busy lives.” I wasn’t going to respond to that. I didn’t want to get wrapped up in a fight.
    “Okay. I’ll be by today.” Then I hung up.
    “Sorry,” I said to Fin. If I didn’t leave right now, I was going to be late. “My mom. I have to go to my parents’ house and pick something up. I guess I’ll have to forgo lunch and get that done.” It would give me another chance to maybe see how my mom was doing. This was such a hard situation. It was difficult for me to be around her, but something was going on. I did love her, even if I didn’t like her very much. She was my mother.
    “I’ll have Carl take you,” Fin said, typing on his phone. “He’s right outside.” Bless Carl. I honestly loved that man.
    “Thank you. That’s a huge help. I should have asked if you’re okay. Are you okay?” I put my hand on his arm; I wanted to fall into him and never leave.
    “I’m . . . I don’t know. But I’ll let you know. You should go so you’re not late.” He was right, so I squeezed his arm one more time and left.
    I’d have to figure out where we stood later.
     

     
    Once again, I had a lot on my mind during class and didn’t absorb much information. This was getting to be a problem.
    Carl was waiting for me when I got out of my morning classes, but someone else was with him.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked as Fin beat Carl to the door and opened it for me.
    “I’m coming with you. And I brought lunch,” he said, pointing to the paper bags in the backseat. He seemed . . . more settled than last night. Less frantic. Like he had some sleep at last.
    “Thank you so much,” I said, sliding into the car. “You didn’t have to do that. And don’t even think for a second that I’m letting you into my parents’ house. Especially if they’re actually there.” That would open me up to all kinds of crazy that I definitely didn’t want to deal with.
    “Why not?” he asked, totally back to his bright and flirty self. How could he just shift? I definitely couldn’t change my personality like that.
    “Because I don’t need my mother asking questions about you and making assumptions, and generally making my life miserable, okay? I’m dealing with enough already.” I didn’t mean to snap at him, but my lack of sleep didn’t help with my filter. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be like that, but you don’t know my mother.” He nodded and handed me one of the bags.
    “I