Page 76 of The Last Session

What?

Moon gazed at me. “It’s quite rare. Which tells me that Thea and Jonah were brought here for this specific purpose. To co-heal their patterns together.”

Jonah and I glanced at each other, our faces mirroring confusion. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening here, something shifted, throwing me off-balance.

“So what does that mean for our session?” I asked. “Will it be different?”

“You don’t have to worry about it. I just ask that you let me lead, and keep an open mind.” Moon brushed her air-dried waves over her shoulder. “We’re going to start with you, Thea. Could you stand, please?”

My heart galloped in my chest. Sol took my empty seat.

“Let’s walk.” Moon slipped an arm around my waist. She led me in slow steps around the circle of cushions, like a horse. “Where have you gotten stuck with relationships?”

“Um…” I cleared my throat.Let’s start with the obvious.“Well, relationships have always been tricky for me.”

“In what way?” Her sharp rose scent filled my nostrils.

“It’s just hard to get them to last,” I said. “But I think that’s pretty normal in New York.”

“Who was your last lover?” We were walking a little faster now. There was no ominous drumbeat, just silence, but I heard it underneath her words anyway.

“This guy Ryan. We dated for a little over three months.”

“What happened?”

I glanced at the others watching me from the cushions. Their eyes followed us in the dim room. Now that this was actually happening, my breath came easier. Waiting had been somehow worse.

“We broke up,” I said.

“Why?”

I pictured his shocked face. Maybe I could offer something just right of center. “I think he was scared of intimacy. Of really knowing me.” That sounded good. Maybe I’d be able to survive this after all.

“But something happened. Right?” Moon tightened her grip. “Something to set him off.”

Damn.She really did have a sixth sense. She could smell it, like a shark detecting blood in the water.

Internally, I steeled myself. I was going to have to throw her some meat.

“I told him about a fantasy I had.” My voice faltered, and I cleared my throat. “He didn’t like it.”

“Good.” Moon loosened her grip. “What was the fantasy?”

I hesitated.

“Thea, whatever it is, it’s been fantasized about a million times before.”

I forced myself to say the words: “Well, it’s less a fantasy than a memory. Something that happened when I was thirteen. I actually don’t like thinking about it, but… I have to. In bed.”

She looked at Sol, a glint of triumph in her eyes. What had I said to cause that?

“Go on,” she said.

“It’s a little complicated.” I exhaled. “But basically it was my first sexual experience. First anything—I hadn’t even kissed anyone before. And it was with this guy who bullied me. Well, a lot of people, including me.”

“There was a man involved too.” Moon’s tawny eyes glowed. “Not just the bully. Right?”

“Well… kind of.” A flash of confusion: Had I told her? Told anyone here?

---