I gave a weak smile, wrapping my arms around my midsection.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes, gentlemen,” she said, following me into the room.
I was too antsy to sit, so I walked to the window as she shut the door. Clouds made the air seem hazy as the sun tried to peek through.
“How was your holiday?”
“Just another day,” I shrugged. “Those two showed up.”
“I take it you weren’t expecting it?”
I shook my head. If it was just Ace, I probably would have handled it differently. Maybe. I don’t really know now.
“When was the last time you talked to either of them?”
“I talked to Ace a week or so ago, I think,” I said, turning around and leaning against the wall. “He calls me to make sure I’m still alive. But we only keep the talk light.”
“What about Caesar?”
“Uh…” I had to think. “Last week, too. But it was a quick call. Guess it was more of a business call than a family call, if that makes sense.”
“Gotcha,” she said, jotting down notes on the pad on her lap. “How do you feel with them being here today?”
I raised an eyebrow in answer.
“Let me be truthful with you for a moment,” she said, leaning forward. “Ace called me the day before last and told me he was coming by. Now, if you’d have had a session on schedule, I would have been able to give you a heads up. I told Ace you needed a warning to prepare to face both of them. I didn’t want you to take a step backwards when you have been doing so well this week.”
“No one told me.”
“Did you panic when you noticed them?”
“Almost,” I said, walking to the couch and flopping down a bit heavier than usual. “But Sawyer kept me grounded. Zevon would have too. But if it weren’t for them, I would have panicked, I think.” Actually, I know I would have.
“But you didn’t,” she said. “Did they do anything to make you feel panicked?”
“Neither one touched me or talked to me,” I said, dropping my eyes to the floor and twisting my fingers together. “They tried, but…”
“You went to the festival? What did you think of it?” she asked, changing the subject for a moment.
“It was okay. Too many people. Zevon bought me some stuff he thought I needed.”
“It’s a step in the right direction. Not everyone is able to handle big crowds. You seem worn out from it.”
“I took a nap when I got back home,” I said. “But it was a hard morning. A friend stopped by for a couple of hours.”
“What friend?” She seemed surprised.
“Dominic.” I hesitated. “Those two don’t know he stopped by. But I didn’t realize how much I missed him. He’s the one out of everyone I connected with first. He never told me something just to ease my mind. He tells me the truth.”
“Do you talk to him a lot?”
“No,” I said, my shoulders dropping. “I realized this morning I was pushing everyone away. But I’m glad he stopped by. I needed it. And I promised to try to open up with everyone more.”
“Out of the two out there, who are you closest to?”
“Ace,” I said, not having to think about it.
“Okay, so what I’m thinking,” she continued, “is that I’ll start with Ace coming in here first. You said he knew who you were before things went south, right?” At my nod she went on. “And you can handle being a room with him. After you two talk, with me in the room to give you the support you need at any time, I’ll have Caesar come in.”
