He huffs out a breath and obeys.
A hard, rhythmic pressure builds behind my temples, loud enough to drown out thought.
Thankfully, Skylar speaks calmly, "No one has ever said you're not lovable or that a man wouldn't want you, sweetie. You're gorgeous inside and out, extremely talented, and any man would be lucky to have you."
"But not Dr. Mercer," she retaliates.
What is she doing?
I do my best to keep my presence therapist-like, prodding, "Why don't you explain what you mean to your parents, Blue?"
She shoots me hurt, innocent eyes, then turns back toward them. "A man of Dr. Mercer's status and intelligence would never love me, would he?"
Adrian scowls at me.
Skylar gapes, before recovering. "No one said anything of the sort."
Blue's emotion-filled laugh tugs at my heart. She tears. "Tell me who could love me. Christian couldn't. Brax damn well didn't. Dr. Mercer sure as Hell can't!"
"Christian?" Skylar asks.
"Don't act like you don't remember! He kissed me on the cheek, and Dad did something to him! Then Brax never stood a chance since Dad threatened him too! And now he's going to do what? Kill Dr. Mercer!" she shrieks.
"Blue!" Skylar gasps.
"That boy kissed you in a back alley!" Adrian snarls, pointing at Blue.
"So what?"
"You don't belong in an alley! You're my daughter!"
"He never talked to me again!"
"Good! He didn't deserve you!" Adrian declares.
"You threatened Brax, too!"
"He's ten years older than you!"
Blue huffs, "So what? Age doesn't matter!"
Adrian's face turns maroon. "You were sixteen!"
"And you think a man like Dr. Mercer would never love a woman like me, right? Because I'm crazy?" Blue accuses.
Adrian's scowl snaps toward me.
Blue shrieks, "Don't look at him like that!"
I anchor my hands on my knees and force my body into stillness. Every ethical line I've ever sworn to stacks tight in my head. I keep my expression clinical while a slow heat crawls up my neck, aware that in this room, it doesn't matter who I am. It only matters that I'm the therapist.
Adrian's fists curl tighter. He hisses through clenched teeth, "No one is good enough for you. Not that cowardly boy, not Brax, and not your therapist! No one!"
I exhale through my nose and let a moment of silence pass.
"You still didn't answer my question," Blue quietly speaks.
Adrian arches his eyebrow.
