He went and changed as well, now wearing a pair of Grinch pajama pants and a bright pink shirt with Camp Haven on the front. He’s paired the outfit with a Goofy baseball hat. You know, the one with the ears and teeth hanging down from the bill.
Normally, his attire doesn’t distract me, but today I’m having a hard time paying attention. I mean, at least pick a theme, man, and stick with it.
“I felt pretty good about the answers,” I say. “I felt they were honest, even if some of the answers hurt to hear.”
He flicks the ball against the wall, startling Scottie next to me. “What about you, Scottie? How did you feel about them?”
“Same,” she says as she scoots closer to me on the couch, probably out of the hope that I’ll block any ball that might come her way. “Hard to hear but necessary.”
“And how did you feel about the win?”
“Personally,” I say, “it makes me realize that when push comes to shove and we’re faced with something tough, we still have the ability to work together and get the task done.”
“Do you think that’s important in a marriage?” he asks as he starts bouncing the ball off the edge of the hockey stick.
“The ability to work together?” I ask. “Uh, yeah, because a marriage is like working with a team, right?”
He pauses and looks up at me, a smile on his face. “Precisely, Wilder.” He tosses the stick to the side and takes a seat across from us. “You both were asked if you were happy in your marriage, and both of you said no.” He looks between us. “Did you hear that? You both said no.”
I nod my head, keeping my lips locked, because I don’t really know what to say to that. From the corner of my eye, I catch Scottie bowing her head, and I can’t help but wonder what’s playing through her mind right now. It can’t be easy, going through these courses after a failed marriage. Does she wonder if things might have worked out if she had attended this camp with her ex?
“Not to mention you made it through the entire course arguing. Did you hear anyone else argue the way you were?”
“No,” I answer for the both of us.
“Precisely, which brings me to my point. We need to work on communication. That’s the biggest challenge in your relationship. If you paused for a moment to listen and communicate with each other, I don’t think you’d be in the position that you are now.”
“Probably,” I say.
“Which is why we’re going to practice listening and communicating today. I’m going to need you to turn toward each other and hold each other’s hands.”
Unsure of where this is going but excited, I turn toward Scottie and then take her hands in mine.
“No, this is not the position I want.” Sanders stands. “Wilder, lean back against the couch, and Scottie, I want you straddling his lap.”
“Wh-what?” she asks, her head snapping up to Sanders. “You want me to straddle him?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that…inappropriate?”
“He’s your husband,” Sanders says, pointing to me, looking confused. “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. I think the closeness will help you.”
Noticing how uneasy she is about the whole thing, I try to soothe her. “It’s fine, Pips. Not like he’s going to make us dry hump or anything.” I glance over at Sanders. “Are you?”
Sanders shakes his head. “No, but being intimate with each other is important, and I think you need to start to grow comfortable with showing each other affection. That starts with your body language when together.”
“If it makes you more comfortable,” I say to Scottie, “you can sit on the couch, and I can straddle your lap.”
Her expression falls, and I lightly chuckle, because I would really be up for anything.
“We’re not doing that,” she grumbles.
“Or you can sit on my face.” I wiggle my brows, really trying to lighten the mood. “Haven’t tested that seat out in a while. You always used to find it comfortable.”
She side-eyes me, and it takes everything within me not to burst out in laughter.
“Your lap will do,” she mumbles as she moves over my lap and takes a seat.
