I certainly wasn’t going to book a place that Reed and I had spoken about visiting together one day. I couldn’t bear the thought of making memories in one of those countries Reed and I had enthused about with the wrong man. So, my point being, the fact that I had taken the plunge to book the trip had gotten Jasper off my back. Mission accomplished.
Reed was early again, but this time I didn’t throw myself onto the floor like a loser.
The knock was loud and confident. But the man who entered the room, not so much.
I sensed the nervous energy that surrounded him as he lingered by the doorway.
“Please, come in.”
Tension rippled through his body with each step, and I pushed to my feet, motioning towards my therapy chair.
“Good morning,” I began, thoroughly businesslike on the surface. Inside my guts were doing cartwheels.
I straightened the neck on my blouse, and his eyes were drawn there. “Morning, you look nice.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. Why wouldn’t I? I rarely got genuine ones from Jasper. His dark hair was still messy in thatI don’t give a shitway, but Reed wasn’t looking too shabby either, and so I echoed the comment. “Thanks. So do you?”
“I doubt that,” he began, glancing around the room before his gaze came back to rest on my face.
Reed’s body language was defeatist as he stopped beside the chair, his foot tapping like a snare drum. He shoved his hands into his pockets and gave me a hard look. “I’m not really in the right headspace for this today,” he began.
I narrowed my eyes to drive my point home. “That’s why you’re here, Reed.”
After a beat or two, he removed his hands from his jeans and scratched his jaw.
“Please,” I said, pointing to the chair with one hand. He glanced down at it like he could smell sour milk. “It won’t bite,” I added, trying to lighten the mood.
“No, but I might,” he replied, his expression turning more Reed-ish.
I watched, taking in every expression that crossed his face in those few seconds as he lowered his large body into the seat. Fidgeting to get comfortable, Reed then leaned back and placed one foot on his knee. He was projecting a sense of being relaxed, but I saw straight through that. Taking a deep breath, I lowered myself into my own chair.
“So, where should I start?” Reed asked, resting a hand on his raised knee.
I pursed my lips, pulling the file with Reed’s handwritten notes towards me. Reed started to tap his fingers on the armrests of the chair. I read his behavior; it was textbook during the first therapy session when the client didn’t know what to expect.
I placed my arms on the desk in front of me.
“Why don’t you start where you feel the most comfortable?” I suggested, opening my laptop. The glow highlighted my face.
I was in business dress, and Reed looked casual in jeans and a button-down tee. I could see he was out of his comfort zone, but this was me. We had shared so much together once; we could do it again. I wanted to help him so much, for him to see how far I’d come from the spoiled rich bitch I used to be.
Reed didn’t answer immediately; he was checking out the space around us. It was something I noticed he did often, almost as if he was always looking over his shoulder. I imagined it was a habit that came with being famous.
The room I was using wasn’t like the office I usually occupied for my sessions, but it was uncluttered and dotted with various plants. It was daylight outside, and a healthy portion of sunshine lit the room. Natural light was always better for therapy.
“One of the guys on the team said I should start with my childhood, but most of it wasn’t so bad,” he confessed with a twist of his lips.
“So, let’s start there then: when things changed.”
He squinted at me suspiciously.
“You already have my notes?”
“Yes, but I want you hear you tell me about it. I can’t measure emotion from a sheet of paper.”
“So, you’re going to get into my head?” Reed asked with a wary look.
“If you’ll let me. Yes. It’s my job to analyze, understand, and see how you manage your thought processes. I can then help you with your emotions and any reactive behavior. That’s why these sessions only work in person. Once you tell me everything that’s been on your mind, I can suggest what type of therapy you'll need to enhance your mental well-being. That should help with the aggression you’ve been experiencing.”
