Page 261 of Come Back to Me

“I’m sure.” I scoff. “You’re one of the country’s premier therapists.”

“Still don’t know how that happened.”

“You wrote a book, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t expect anyone to read it.” He tsks. “It’s actually annoying how popular it was.”

“My heart bleeds for you.”

“As it should. So.”

“Back to that, are we?”

“Yup. Gone flying yet?”

Silence falls between us.

“Shall I take that as a no?”

I don’t deign to answer. “Cole’s getting married tomorrow.”

“I’mlettingyou change the subject.”

I rub my knuckles over Brogan’s nose. “Tee’s composed the music for the event.”

“What a lovely gift.”

“Cole and Mia will appreciate it.” They’d better or I’ll beat the crap out of Cole, wedding day or not. “The house is full of people.”

“Ugh, people are the worst.”

“These are hockey bros too.”

“The actual worst. So… you sleeping?”

“I am, actually.” Tee’s better than melatonin for my circadian rhythms.

“Nightmares?”

“Better than usual.”

Orgasms keep the demons at bay.

“So, why do you sound like the Grinch who stole Thanksgiving? And I’m not talking about your brother who literally is stealing Thanksgiving. Couldn’t he have picked a better date than tomorrow?”

Morosely, I mumble, “The season’s started, so no.”

“Are you a closet hockey player?”

“Nah.”

“Then why would you care if it’s started?”

“I watch it.”

“Do you really want to talk about this when you’re paying me three-hundred bucks an hour? In fact, can I pay you three hundred not to talk about sports? You do know that’s how governments control the masses, right?”

“I’ll pay you four hundred not to go on a commie spiel about organized sports.”

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