She tilted her head slightly. “Do you not live together?”
“We don’t,” I said.
“She’s taking care of her mom right now,” he said, using my revelation against me as a way to solidify our couplehood.
I took my hand back, irritated. His arm went to the back of the couch behind me.
“Maybe that’s why you’re both feeling a bit unsupported right now, because you don’t see each other every day.”
That, or we’re strangers, I wanted to say.That could have something to do with it. Why haven’t you figured this out yet?
“Did you feel like the eye contact assignment brought you closer together?” she asked.
“Much,” Elijah said. He started pulling on the ends of my hair, and a shiver went through me. “I’ve never felt closer to her.”
“And you, Sutton?”
“He’s not hard to stare at,” I said, because that was the truth.
Dr. Franklin gave a little chuckle like she completely agreed. “Okay, homework for this week,” she said. “I want some show of support. Sutton, one boxing session. Eli, some help with Mom this week.”
“Oh, no, that’s unnecessary,” I said, tension spreading across my shoulders.
“Which part?” she asked.
All of it, I wanted to scream. But most importantly, “The Mom part. She’s very particular about who helps her.” She didn’t even wantmyhelp.
“Do you and Sutton’s mom not get along?” This question was directed at Elijah, and I turned to him with raised eyebrows to see how he was going to creatively truth his way out of this one.
“I’m unaware of any problems,” he said.
I nodded slowly. That was good. So good that Dr. Franklin turned to me. “Are there any problems between Eli and your mom?”
“Nope,” I said, because that was true. “None.”
She clapped her hands together once like that was the end of the discussion. “Okay then. I can’t wait to hear the report next week.”
There wasn’t going to be a next week here. I’d told Tara I’d give her one more session and that was it. I’d hoped Dr. Franklin would figure it out this time. She was supposed to have figured this out. She was supposed to realize we didn’t belong in an engaged couples’ program. But unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.
The thought of Elijah and Michael winning this bet irritated me. I didn’t want to let them win. But there was no way Elijah would become more involved in my life because of this. There was no way he was going to help me with my mom.
Dr. Franklin stood and walked us out.
“Yeah, I know,” I said in the parking lot, heading toward my car, because I could feel the held-in gloat radiating off Elijah. “She didn’t figure it out.”
“I even told the truth today.”
“Maybe with your mouth, but not with your body,” I said.
A half smile came onto his face. “Excuse me?”
“Holding my hand, leaning against me, pulling the ends of my hair. Your mouth was truthful but your body was lying.”
“You’re saying I shouldn’t touch you?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I reached my car, then turned to him. “Oh, and I’m done. Tell Michael he won.”
“Wait, what? You’re giving up? Just like that?”
