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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fOH4py6Sh
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSWDAUoXfQ
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaLbmqsb5H
Lifting my head, I looked at him. “That’s not fair.”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bkYYbu31H
“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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13fR8VdWgh
“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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCENUegS3e
“Dreams?” Christian asked, raising his eyebrow. “You told me it was just one.”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKxXH0Edyc
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pnLB2COnA
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxXtc6m0FO
“Kendall Scott?” she asked softly.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnTZlr5mH6
I nodded.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Abem03J5y
“I’m Doctor Alder, would you like to come in, or we could conduct our session right here in the sunlight?”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNnNb1bued
I frowned, thinking she was angry, but when she smiled, I relaxed.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l5yz05XKb
“Is this your boyfriend?” She smirked at Christian.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyJFn2gOww
Without a word, he leaned over and brushed his lips against mine. “I’ll be waiting when you’re done,” he said.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡORrFehxVZC
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e3rGDosJH
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3uNTNXFF6
“Is this your first time seeing someone?" Dr. Alder asked, sitting beside me. She was holding a manila folder, probably my file from―copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0wjHHVKGu
“No,” I said, shaking my head.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Hc40lTe1
“Yes, I see that,” she said as she read the file. “Why did you stop your sessions with Dr. Monroe?”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzs2ToL9xr
“He didn’t think I needed to see him anymore.”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡib8AxLUzZB
“So you were cured?”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa2mMSOAgH
“No.”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZzQ3d4aDs
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28Xnj71UVb
“What’s your first name?” I blurted out.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcz4UXsxsG
“Dallas,” she said.copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaaPTRcO2P
“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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjWi54XQtD
She stared at the small paper and frowned. “I guess you don’t need it now, right?”copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoQQ2jO9nF
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPsRwHJ2V7
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 protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DLQNnLGGs
“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.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yK19ZiEKd
copyright protection106ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv98dLR9Rk
