He stood with me in front of the new office, one hand on my shoulder, another wrapped securely around my waist. I smiled thinly at his action, because I knew he didn’t trust me not to run. He knew me too well.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyj23JXuAN
I turned into his shoulder and sighed. “I can’t do this. Can I just tell my mom I went and got the first session over with?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfTcKTzSdU
Christian turned his head, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, “If you don’t go, I’ll tell you mom that you didn’t.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp4y3ph6ZK
Lifting my head, I looked at him. “That’s not fair.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CirFlbDQL
“Then why are you here?” he asked, frowning at me. His voice had taken on an almost authoritative tone, which surprised me. “If you didn’t even want to come in the first place, why did you tell your mother you would go?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡr60kiLdSDq
“Because I knew she wanted this for me, even if she says they won’t find anything wrong. I know there’s something. The dreams―”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpQRXThf0g
“Dreams?” Christian asked, raising his eyebrow. “You told me it was just one.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8TizzEKcu
I froze, realizing that I just slipped up. I shook my head. “There’s been more than one, for awhile now, and I don’t know why. I don’t understand them; all I know is that I―”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDBxYUjbMW
Before I could say anything else, the entrance door opened behind us and a woman stepped out. She had medium brown hair that was tied back away from her face, revealing a pair of bright eyes.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzmsrjmIym
“Kendall Scott?” she asked softly.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyvSR4swPE
I nodded.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1liCTgwcsj
“I’m Doctor Alder, would you like to come in, or we could conduct our session right here in the sunlight?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94SvxkOT2n
I frowned, thinking she was angry, but when she smiled, I relaxed.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1VMUNRmjG
“Is this your boyfriend?” She smirked at Christian.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k2jXVAt72
Without a word, he leaned over and brushed his lips against mine. “I’ll be waiting when you’re done,” he said.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg7GMF0Az2
I laughed at him and followed the woman inside. The waiting area wasn’t too big, just four chairs along the wall, and her office was just next to one of the chairs. She let me go in first, and I took a seat on the couch, looking around.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP4TBYHsl0
Plaques and pictures hung on mahogany-colored walls. The room looked like the ones I’d seen on TV, but nothing about it made me feel that comfortable.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mlcGi7hMf
“Is this your first time seeing someone?" Dr. Alder asked, sitting beside me. She was holding a manila folder, probably my file from―copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzwsfi7fTG
“No,” I said, shaking my head.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRwnL8msBH
“Yes, I see that,” she said as she read the file. “Why did you stop your sessions with Dr. Monroe?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK4PWL743U
“He didn’t think I needed to see him anymore.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡkntRPI9XY3
“So you were cured?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhU9EFh08T
“No.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡICDNrAyyFB
She frowned and continued to read. “It just says he thought you’d do better with someone else. We don’t have to talk about your issues today; we can just talk about anything. Is that okay?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ZWRPF0ME
“What’s your first name?” I blurted out.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVYAAESAM
“Dallas,” she said.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjop6PZEoF
“That’s pretty,” I said while I handed her something. “John, I mean, Dr. Monroe gave this to me. He told me to call him if I needed to.”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRFgOw5txS
She stared at the small paper and frowned. “I guess you don’t need it now, right?”copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bi3zSDdLe
I swallowed, suddenly feeling like I did. Quickly, I snatched the paper back and grabbed my phone, punching the number in. I waited, with Dr. Alder beside me, who said nothing.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wxpVDfViD
On the second ring someone answered, and I was about to say that I was sorry if I freaked him out that day, that I didn’t mean to. But I didn’t get the chance, because when the person spoke, I nearly dropped the phone.copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzvgPjNVNk
“John Monroe is not available to take this call. I’m Detective Hudson. I’m afraid that whoever this is I have some unfortunate news for you.”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIgn8c0n7i
copyright protection59ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVV6YvZBIK
