The Only Shark In The Sea (The Date Shark Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

almost laughed. She couldn’t think of the last time she had listened to two people talk and tease and laugh with each other. Even before…that wasn’t the kind of home she grew up in. She never really had any friends either. Her dad had made sure of that. Even if someone had been inclined to sit with her at lunch or invite her to a movie, they were all too scared of her dad to attempt it. That had only made her wish for something different even more, and that desire had only been growing lately.
    “Do you?” Natalie asked quietly. “Hate dogs?”
    Natalie didn’t realize she had interrupted something Stephanie was saying until the quiet made her look up. Stephanie’s open mouth closed and pulled into a patient smile. Vance, on the other hand, looked as though he wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard her.
    “I don’t hate them,” he grumbled. “I just can’t stand having them lick me. It’s disgusting.”
    Stephanie narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. “I knew there was something.” She pretended to be mad at him, but Natalie could see how much they loved each other. Watching them broke her heart. Vance’s fingers curled around hers, and Stephanie leaned against him, but if someone tried to do that to Natalie…it wouldn’t have ended well. Even just watching them touch was difficult. It stirred an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach.
    “Natalie?” Vance’s firm tone interrupted her squeamish thoughts. “Are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
    Her mouth twitched. Could she really answer him honestly? It would mean explaining…maybe. Not answering would mean staying where she was instead of moving forward. “I have a hard time seeing people touch each other.” Shame for her weakness made her cringe, but she forced herself to keep talking. “I’m sorry. I’m usually…I can handle other people touching, most of the time. It’s just…I don’t know, too close, I guess.”
    Vance let go of Stephanie’s hand and leaned away from her before focusing on Natalie. “I didn’t realize that would have an effect on you. I apologize.”
    His apology only made her more miserable. She waited for Vance to tell her she was overreacting, or for his expression to reveal how pathetic he thought she was. Instead, she only saw compassion in his eyes.
    “Natalie, I really am sorry. I didn’t realize physical contact between Steph and I would have such a profound effect on you. It won’t happen again.” His voice was patient and reassuring, but that made it so much worse.
    “No, I…” She wanted to tell him it was okay, that she had to figure out how to see other people touching and not associate it with her own experiences…or lack of experience. It was a normal part of life, touching each other. For normal people, anyway. She desperately wanted to say he could touch his girlfriend whenever he wanted, but she couldn’t. Just the thought of seeing it again made her stomach roll. “I’m sorry,” she said tearfully.
    Vance sighed. “Natalie, you don’t have to be sorry. We’re here for you, not the other way around. If you need us to keep our distance from each other, that’s what we’ll do. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
    “There is,” Natalie argued. “It’s normal, right? People touch all the time.”
    “You don’t,” Vance countered. “You’re not ready for that, and we’ll respect your limits.”
    Tears slid down her already puffy face. “Why?”
    “Because that’s what people do for each other,” Vance said. “You’ve come to me for help. How can I expect you to trust me if I can’t provide you with a safe environment?”
    “But…holding hands…”
    Vance shook his head. “That may be normal for Steph and me, but it’s not for you, and that’s okay.” Sitting back, Vance relaxed, but his eyes stayed focused on Natalie. “As we get to know each other, I need you to tell me what you’re comfortable with, and what you’re not. Trust me