“Don’t sound so surprised. It wasn’t hard. I found a video that walked me through the whole thing.”
Impressed, I go to pick up the dishes from the sink and put them in the dishwasher, but it’s full of clean dishes. Dishes I never stacked in my rush out the door this morning.
I straighten and turn to Adam. “OK, what happened? When did you get so…”
“Domestic?”
“Useful. I was going to say useful.”
He looks a little sheepish. “Well I guess I’ve had some time on my hands lately, and I figured I should probably do some things around here to say thank you for letting me stay. Since we’re not even friends.”
Ouch. Did I say that? I suppose that was a little harsh. “Thanks,” I say lamely. “Let me just wash up after work.”
The lamb is good. Adam sits opposite me on the tiny fold-out table I have instead of a real dining table and watches me eat it, which is a little disconcerting. “Aren’t you even going to eat any?”
He shrugs. “I had mine already.”
I narrow my eyes because something about the way he says this—all embarrassed—makes me suspicious. “Why?”
“Because my dinner was the brains.”
Oh. I try and fail not to make a face. It prompts me about my train of thought from earlier, though. “Hey, I was thinking, maybe we could try to find that woman you went on a date with? The one you thought cursed you? To get some answers.”
Adam sighs. “I checked the app already, but she blocked me.”
“I feel bad for even suggesting this, but where did you meet her? Did you take her back to your place or hers?”
“Mine.”
“What about trying the other dating apps to see if she’s on there?”
Adam shakes his head. “Look, Jen. I appreciate you trying to help, but I’ve been thinking maybe I just have to accept that this is what I am now. I have to move on.” There’s a beep from his phone, and he picks it up. “Oh, that’s Judy now. Are you ready?”
I blink. Judy? Oh, the therapist! I’d forgotten all about that. “Um…I guess.”
“Great!” He reaches over and sets the phone against the wall so we can both see the screen. In a little video box, a lady with bright green cat’s-eye glasses and red lipstick looks down off camera.
Adam presses accept and she looks up with a smile. “Adam? Jen? Hello, I’m Judy. How are you tonight?”
“Hi, Judy.”
I have my mouth full of lamb, so I give her an awkward wave.
“Thanks for joining me. I’m sure you have a few questions of your own, so I won’t take up the whole session by talking, but I thought I’d start by asking you to tell me what made you seek out a therapist. Adam tells me it was your suggestion, Jen.”
Swallowing quickly, I shoot him a look across the table, which he ignores, and turn back to the phone. “Ah, yeah. I guess you could say that. Look, I don't want you to get the wrong impression about us.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Jen.” Judy smiles serenely. “I’m going to let you both tell me exactly what your relationship goals are. And whatever you decide, I’m here to support you; just know that.”
I almost choke on a sip of water. “We’re not in a relationship!”
“You’re not?” Judy leans a little closer.
“No. We used to be—”
“Ah.” She adjusts her glasses. “I see. Well I am very experienced at easing people out the other side as well. If that’s your choice…” She lifts her brows.
“It is!”
