Page 142 of Frozen Flames

So I nod, and we clink our beers together, going silent after that until Henrik speaks up.

“I thought she was a fling…Claire. I was sure with time apart, you’d see that too, but I think it’s obvious you miss her.”

“I do,” I say simply. “What about you, Hen? Anything serious with anyone?”

He dares to laugh. “Nope.”

I can’t for the life of me figure out which girl ruined this guy so bad that he’d abstain from ever having relationships. But since I don’t like people butting into my business, I choose to stay out of his, at least for today.

Today’s too good of a day.

And I want to spend it with my brother in good humor.

“I’m done with group therapy. It’s not for me.”

“That’s okay,” says Dr. Lee. “It’s not for everyone. You didn’t find solace from the others?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. Whether they’re depressed as well doesn’t fix my issues.”

“Perhaps it’s comforting to know you’re not alone though.”

“But wearealone. When tragedy strikes, people weep and comfort you, and then they move on with their lives.”

“Maybe,” he replies, though I’m not sure he agrees. I’m starting to learn his quirks and habits, like when he disagrees.“People do the best they can. I think you will come to find that the people around you love you very much.”

“You don’t sleep with your boss when you love someone else.”

“That’s not for me to confirm nor deny, Harvey.”

I snicker. “Go ahead, say it…I cheated too. I know it.”

“We all have our definition perhaps. It is good that you realize that you hurt her as well.”

“Yeah, I know,” I admit, pushing my ego aside. “I’m starting to get that.”

Dr. Lee knows what he’s doing. He swiftly moves around topics and asks questions to evoke certain revelations.

“It still hurts that we both cheated,” I tell him. “I can’t imagine going through this again with Claire.”

“Of course it does. You felt betrayed and unloved in some ways. But, Harvey, we can’t always know if we can trust the person that we love. Only time, through their wordsandactions, will determine if we can trust them.”

“What I have with Claire…it’s special. I can’t ruin that.”

“That’s why you’re here. To work on yourself.”

“It’s hard to feel like a man. Even now when I sit on the couch or a chair, my legs are different. Muscle atrophy’s a bitch, and it’s going to takeyearsbefore I can regain use of certain muscles,” I tell Dr. Lee during another session the following week.

And that’s just the physical aspect of it. The reality is, it’s as if parts of my brain have shut off as well, as if it forgot how to do many things.

“Surely you can’t believe that women don’t see a good-looking man when they look at you?”

I shrug. “I don’t feel it anymore. I used to joke and be cocky around women, and since the accident…nothing.”

“What about Claire?” he questions. “Even Gemma…you mentioned that she tried to initiate sexual contact. Do you believe these women lied when they said they wanted you? You don’t think they could’ve been attracted to you in a wheelchair?”

“It’s possible they could have…”

“It’s very possible.” He smirks.

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