“I happened,” Andrea proudly states.
“In an elevator?” Shelly wonders. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, we ended up pressed together on our way up during my very first day. And then Lex opened a nude from some blonde woman, right in front of me. Needless to say, I never imagined that hunk would turn out to be my boss.”
Kevin’s laughter fills the room. “What a first impression…”
“I’m used to botching first impressions, so that wasn’t anything new.” They chuckle at my solemn tone.
“Oh, my second impression of you was so much worse,” Andrea counters. “It took you about thirty-seven impressions for me to start appreciating you.”
It’s my turn to chuckle. She isn’t wrong.
“And you, Lex? What was your first impression of her?” Shelly asks.
After a moment to think about it, I say, “I usually dissociate when I’m in the elevator, because it’s hell on earth. But I remember the flowery scent. I liked that. When I looked down, I found her pretty. But I must have been in an odd mood because now when I look at her, she’snothing short of stunning.” I gaze at Andrea, who’s looking at me with stars in her eyes—a galaxy of them. “She made a joke at some point, which piqued my interest further,” I recall. “But if I’m being very honest, I didn’t realize just how incredible she turned out to be until I watched her work. In less than a minute, I knew she was one of the greatest minds I’d ever encountered.”
“Yeah, my brother didn’t help me with that test,” she teases.
“No, it was all you. Always you.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and many things pass in our silent exchange. My thumb grazes her thigh, and I squeeze it just a little.
“Okay, that’s it,” Kevin intervenes. “You two are about to give me a toothache with all that corny sweetness. Can I get anyone a coffee?”
I’m the only one who accepts, as the women refuse, arguing they’re full after the gargantuan dinner Kevin cooked. The moment we’re left alone with Shelly, I notice a switch in her. She’s going into her therapist mindset.
Twice this week, I came here and talked to her, unpacking whatever damage my months in Sheridan did to my complex mind. Those talks already helped me feel better, but I know I’ll need more of them to heal. Being back with Andrea is my greatest step for now, and the rest will follow.
“How are you two doing?” Shelly asks, leaning forward on the table. Right, so we’re doing couples counseling.
“We’re good. We’rereallygood,” Andrea says, laying a hand over mine on her thigh. “We’ve been talking a lot in the past few days, and it’s helped us tremendously.”
“Talking is important, yes. Especially after what you’ve been through. Both of you.”
“Yes, we’ve been very honest and open,” I confirm. “We’ve got a healthy line of communication going on, and we’ll make sure to keep it that way.”
“I take it there are no more secrets between you, now that Lex’s past has come to light?”
Andrea shakes her head with confidence. “I already knew about Lex being Nammota. I’ve learned a few more things since, but I don’t think there are any secrets left. Well, maybe he doesn’t know everything about me, but at least he knows the important parts.”
“Same on my end.”
Shelly observes us, reading us like the professional she is, and turns to Andrea. “I know Lex took a while to open up to you after his release. How did that make you feel, Andy?”
“I needed time to—” I start before she cuts me off.
“I already know your side, Lex. I want to hear hers.”
Andrea’s hand on mine tightens. “I won’t lie, it was hard. He was right there, yet still out of reach. But I knew he wouldn’t approve of what I had to do to get him out, so I wasn’t entirely surprised that he was pissed at me. But God, he was a tough nut to crack.”
“It felt long to you, but trust my experience, getting through him within a week, like you did, was incredibly fast. I know it firsthand from working with him. It would have taken months for anybody else, even us.”
Andrea practically beams at that.
“Remind me, where does the line between friendship and doctor-patient confidentiality start and end?” I wonder, twirling the wine in my glass.
Shelly leans back with a grin. “Feel free to file a complaint with the Department of Health if you feel I crossed it.”
