The Darkest Corner of the Heart (The Brightest Light #2)

by Lisina Coney

“I might be breaking a rule or two by seeking out a patient outside the clinic, so this conversation never happened.” I nod. “You were never here.” “Good girl.” Oh, hell.

Oh hell indeed bitch

That gets him to look at me. “Why’s that, Maddison?” I scrunch up my nose. “Don’t call me Maddison. It sounds too preppy.” “I’ll call you Maddison for as long as you keep being a brat.”

GOOD LAAAWDDD YESSIRRRRR

“Who is this?”

Bitch you know who this is

“Shit,” he curses under his breath, but I still hear it. It doesn’t give me much hope. “I’m on my way, all right? Don’t move.”

Yeah that’s right, go to your woman

He’s really coming for me.

As he should babe

There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that will keep me away from Maddie right now.

Or ever, but I’ll let you realize that later buddy

I shut my inner voice as quickly as it takes over.

Yeah it’s a stupid ho don’t listen to it

I’m one second away from shoving this guy aside and running to her.

DO ET

“James…”

why do i hate that she calls him that. maybe i just hate the name james

“Let’s take a look, all right?” I stay calm for her, talking in a soothing voice. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

🥹🥹🥹

“I’m going to carry you to my car. It’s just at the front. Can I?”

😏😏

Because, if I do, I’ll be gone. And I can’t afford to be.

YES YOU CAAANNNN UGHHHH

She feels safe with me.

Damn right she do, don’t mess it up jAMeS

and it would prevent my cock from straining my pants while I carry her.

😧🫢

I don’t like that she has the power to affect me so much.

I do 😏

Without using my fucking brain, I take it between my hands and place it over my lap. I don’t miss her slight intake of breath.

MWHAHAHA 👹

I need to get the hell out of here.

I will actually throw hands with you james

But just when I think I can’t possibly die harder on the inside, she gets up after me and throws her arms around my middle. And hugs me.

if i get the impression you won’t hug this girl back i will actually jump through this phone sir

My traitorous arms move around her smaller frame, engulfing her. It feels right to have her here, safe against my chest, and I hate it.

good boy.

It’s only now that I realize a haunting truth—Maddie Stevens, my twenty-one-year-old patient, has me wrapped around her little finger.

GOOD BOYYYYY

For a whole week, I try my best to ignore Maddie.

bad boy. 👿

my brain decided it’s had enough of pretending to conceal what I’ve known for a while—I’m attracted to her.

mhm we been knew grumpy

I smile at the memory of calling her a brat. Her brother might call her “princess,” and she might have grown up a little spoiled, but hell—I’d spoil her, too, if I could.

FUCKING DO IT THEN WHORE

It doesn’t escape me I didn’t call her Miss Stevens.

AND YOU NEVER SHOUKD AGAIN

And then, because I love torturing myself, I add, “If you ever have any questions or concerns, you know where to find me.”

😏😏😏😏😏

And it hits me—I’m going to miss her.

i mean you don’t haaaave to if you weren’t a punt little boy and put ur MAN PANTS ON

And with one last smile and a curt nod, she walks away. I clench my fists under the table to keep me from reaching out to her and count to ten in my head.

Alright buddy I hope you’re ready for some 👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊

My heart stops, and I can’t help but blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “Dinner with you?”

HEHEHE I HOPE SHE SAYS YES

But then she nods, and heat climbs up my skin. “Yes, with me. I’m sure I can take a break from washing all the dishes.”

ATTA GIIRRRLLL. I’m glad one of you had a brain.

When she gives me that beautiful smile again, I know I’m in trouble.

You’ll be in even more trouble if you fuck this up jamithy

If you ever, for whatever reason, need the help of someone with a ton of self-control, I’m not your girl.

period and we love you for that

His blue eyes—have I unconsciously matched my sweater to his eyes?— are glued on the TV, but as soon as I step out of Monica’s office, they land on me like a missile on a target.

bc he’s obsessed with you, next

“Hmm.” He puts his arm around the back of our booth, his fingertips almost touching my shoulder, and I take a deep breath. You’re overreacting. His arm must be tired, that’s all.

his arm wasn’t and i could not be any prouder of him.

His eyes don’t leave mine as he takes the menu away from my grip with the hand resting on the table. “Good. I like to take my time when I’m eating. Go slowly.”

GOODBYEEEE GOOD JOB JAMES I -

and while James tells her what we want,

a man who takes care of you 😩😩

Will you be taking more shifts?”

only if ur coming to see her

Feel free to tell me to fuck off.”

😩😩 nah but i know what you can fuck on

now I want to climb him like a tree. Great.

Very great. Do it.

His eyes find mine as he brushes the hair away from my scar. Zipping electricity passes between us before he draws back. “What happened after that?” he asks, stealing a fry from my plate. I glare at him and steal one of his, which makes him laugh.

god i love this for them

“I’ve got more questions.”

he’s so chatty 😩

He gives me a look I can’t read. “I’m starving tonight.” Oh, God.

oh god indeed 😧

we friends, James?” He takes the last bite of his sandwich and swallows it down with his soda. Now is his turn to steal not one but two of my fries. This means war. “I don’t know if I want to be friends with a thief.” “You must hate yourself, then.” Something passes over his gaze, but he’s quick to blink it away. “I don’t befriend my patients.” “Ex-patient.” “Same thing.” “But you drive them home after their shift ends?” He lets out a deep breath through his nose, his cheeks flushing. “You’re a menace.” I make a show of batting my eyelashes at him just to piss him off. “But am I also your friend?” He pretends to think about it. “Only because I get free mandalas.”

oh my god. this whole interaction.

“Brat.” “Grouch.”

just fuck already the tension is THICC

“I’m driving you home,” he says as he closes the door of the bar behind us, the cold night air freezing my nose the second I step outside. “It’s nonnegotiable.”

yes sir 😫

“When I was waiting to drive you home the other day, he was here too.”

it’s her dad i bet

“Dad?”

knew it.

James’s arms wrap around my middle as he pulls me against his chest. I’m numb, but I still feel his warmth. I still feel his agitated breaths against my back. “Who is this?”

yessir protect ur girl

“Hey. Let’s calm down, yeah? He’s not worth it,” James murmurs into my ear, holding me closer.

the only man you should be calling daddy

“Stay where you are,” he growls. “Don’t come near her.”

I am such a simp for this man

“I understand now. I’ve heard about this—daddy issues, is that it? How fucking surprising. What was it, again? When young girls like older men because their dad wasn’t around?”

someone deck this old ass abandoning ass stupid ass mf