Page 28 of Off-Limits as Puck

Professional attire, my ass.

I knock and watch her jump before composing herself. When she opens the door, her face is a mask of clinical detachment that makes me want to mess up her lipstick.

“Mr. Hendrix. Please come in.”

“Dr. Clark.” I brush past her, catching a whiff of that perfume. “Nice office. Very therapeutic.”

She gestures to a chair across from her desk. I take the one next to it instead, sprawling like I own the place. Her eye twitches. The same tell from Vegas when I pulled her onto the dance floor. Damn, what I would do to relive that night.

“Would you prefer the desk between us?” I ask innocently. “Or is this more of a ‘tell me about your mother’ situation?”

“This is a performance enhancement session, not psychoanalysis.” She settles behind her desk, creating the barrier between us. “Let’s start with your intake forms.”

“Didn’t get them.”

“I sent them this morning while you arrived here early, and I’m sure my assistant sent them over yesterday.”

“Must have gone to spam.” I pull out my phone, making a show of checking. “Oh wait, here they are. Right under your fascinating emails.”

Pink creeps up her neck. “Then we’ll do them verbally. Name?”

“Really? We’re starting with the basics?”

“Protocol is protocol.”

“Reed Hendrix. Though my friends call me Reed. Really close friends call me—”

“Age?”

“Twenty-eight. You?”

“I’m asking the questions.”

“Seems unbalanced. Isn’t therapy supposed to be about connection?”

She clicks her pen with unnecessary force. “Current concerns bringing you to therapy?”

“Mandatory attendance.”

“Mr. Hendrix—”

“Fine.” I lean forward, elbows on my knees. “Current concerns. Let’s see. I’ve got anger management issues, apparently. Trust issues with teammates who abandoned me during suspension. Authority issues with coaches who throw players under the bus. And recently? Focus issues.”

“Focus issues?”

“Yeah. Can’t seem to concentrate when certain people are around. Keep getting distracted by... memories.”

Her hand stills on the paper. “And when did these focus issues begin?”

“About three days ago. Right around when the new staff arrived.”

“I see.” She makes a note, probably writing ‘patient is an insufferable asshole.’ “And how are these issues affecting your performance?”

“Haven’t played yet since reinstatement. Ask me after tomorrow’s game.”

“Let’s discuss your anger management strategies.”

“Let’s discuss why you’re hiding behind that desk like I might jump you.”

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