Though there’s no negotiating with a terrorist, and I can’t fix my own issues no matter how much I’ve tried, ironically, now I spend my days helping people navigate through this same type of dynamic. I’ve helped thousands of families and saved just as many marriages.
Thinking about families made my mind drift back to Breeze. I started thinking about the exercises I wanted them to do over the next week. When I walked into her office and saw her standing there, I wanted to ask her for her phone number. But I didn’t think it was the right time to approach her at work, so I didn’t. Just told myself that the next time I saw her, I would. It was just my luck that she’s someone’s wife. Breeze was sexy as fuck, but I didn’t have any attachment to her otherwise. So, I was going to do my job without bias, the same way I would for any other client with this same type of issue.
I pulled into my garage and stepped out of my truck. The sound of the engine faded as I turned and pressed the button sothe door could close, and then I went inside my townhouse and into the office. I had so many notes to read and document, so I wasted no time starting. It took me hours, but I finally got into the notes I had written for Breeze and her husband and read them over.
Taking out another sheet of paper, I jotted down some exercises I thought would be beneficial for them for each of the things they mentioned. Then I narrowed it down to the top five before putting them in an email.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, thank you for choosing me as your marriage therapist. After reviewing the notes, I have some exercises that I think would be beneficial for you over the next seven days until we meet again.
Friday: Affirmations-Write a love letter to your partner, explaining to them all the ways they fulfill you, and then read them aloud to each other.
Saturday: Red Light/Green Light- Write down a list of fantasies you have in order of importance, from “curious” to “must try.” Discuss them with each other.
Sunday: Boundaries- Write down lists of things that you can think of that are strictly off limits when it comes to your spouse exploring outside of you. Discuss them and add or subtract them from that list as you need to.
Monday: Test- Write down what your perfect night with someone else would look like and read that to your spouse out loud. Discuss any uneasiness that might arise.
Tuesday: Reconnection- Decompressing and after-care planning. Create a plan for reconnecting after solo encounters. (example: a vacation, a walk, etc.)
Wednesday and Thursday: Revisit any topics and questions from the previous exercises.
This is a couple’s exercise; for the most part, these are discussions you will have amongst yourselves. Take notes onthings you would like to discuss further in your next session, but ultimately, this is a bonding moment for the two of you.
Best Wishes.
Dr. Q. Long, LMFT
After hitting “send” on the message, I turned off the computer and went to take a shower, ready to do all of this over again in the morning. This was my life as a single man. My day was strictly office and home, and I wasn’t really in a rush to change it.
The steam from the shower quickly filled the bathroom as I undressed and put my clothing into the hamper in the nearby closet. I stepped inside the shower and let the water run over my head and down my back. Tomorrow was Friday, and it was the last day of a long ass week, and I could feel the tension in my body as I stood underneath the showerhead.
With my eyes closed, I began to relax as the hot water beads rained on me, slowly making me feel at ease. Breeze crept back into my mind before I shook it off. I had thought about her a couple of times since I last saw her. I wasn’t on no creep shit, I never wanted to go back to her job and wait for her in the parking lot or nothing, but she was hard to miss. Now that I knew she was another man’s wife, I would respect that.
I stood from the bench and grabbed my soap from the rack inside. I lathered the rag and began scrubbing my body, as if Breeze were a stain on me that I could cleanse. I would have to.
When my shower was over, I threw the towel around my waist and walked back into my room. Just as I did, I could see the screen of my business phone light up. I went over to the nightstand and picked up the phone to see that it was an email from Breeze.
Dr. Long,
Wow, these sound perfect. Thank you.
I clicked out of the email and set the phone back on the nightstand before flopping across the bed on my back. Suddenly, it looks like my Thursdays just got more interesting.
Chapter three
Breeze
Ireplied to Dr. Long's email and let out a deep sigh. My fingers hovered over the keyboard in a way that had nothing to do with therapy. The reaction I had when I saw that he had sent me an email had very little to do with anxiety about what he might say. Today was the most awkward thing that I had ever experienced. Imagine having to tell all your intimate sexual desires to a man who had eye fucked you and one that you found equally attractive. How was I supposed to discuss fantasies with a man who looked like one? When Tim told me he had found an award-winning, highly recommended therapist, I didn’t second-guess it when he said he would schedule a session for us. I had no idea that Dr. Quentin Long would be the fine ass man that came into the dealership with his sister last week.
By our brief encounter, I never would have guessed that the giant of a man was a therapist. But I guess it made sense. He had a calm, cool, and collected demeanor that made his profession a good fit for him. He was suave. If I had to explain it, he lookedlike the type of man who watched you scream at the top of your lungs with his arms folded until you were done. Then, when you were done, he told you to watch who the fuck you were talking to without raising his voice and walked away.
I didn’t expect to see who I saw when we walked into the office. But now we were in too deep, and I couldn’t back out of it.
“What’s on your mind, baby?” Tim asked as he came into our master bedroom suite and positioned himself between my legs, where I was sitting on the edge of the bed. The smell of the teakwood soap he used filled my nostrils, making me inhale deeply. When his hands went to my chin, and he guided my eyes to him, my panties dampened at such a simple gesture.
“Nothing, the therapist sent the exercises for us to complete. I think these are some really good strategies. I think they’ll be very helpful.” I admitted. It might be a reason why he was so highly decorated.
“So, why are you looking like that, then?” he asked, voice low but searching. “You know this doesn’t change anything between us, right? I only want you, Breeze,” he assured me as he tilted my head toward him and gave me a couple of quick kisses that made me smile.
