Page 47 of S is for…

Laney laughed, uncrossing her arms.“How did we end up here?With me getting a mini lecture on the science of decisions.”

“I had a question.”

“Right!So whatever question it is you want to ask, you don’t actually want to ask, because you think I’ll feel compelled to answer due to my childhood trauma.”

“No,” he said softly.“I was worried you’d answer, even if you’d rather not, because you don’t want to disappoint or upset me.”He raised one hand, palm up.“People-pleasing to your own detriment.”

“That’s…accurate.”Laney raised her teacup, realized it was empty, and awkwardly put it down, gripping her knees with her hands.

Peter grabbed the teapot and filled her cup.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She took a sip.“After all that lead up, I think I need to hear the question.”

“You already answered.”

“I did?”

“I was going to ask if you’d been emotionally neglected in a relationship.”

Laney blinked.“I didn’t answer that.”

“Didn’t you?”He raised a brow, but his expression was kind.“In the same sentence you mentioned both your childhood and people pleasing.”

Laney opened her mouth, replayed their conversation, then muttered, “Oh.”

“Knowing that emotional and relationship history can, and should, shape how we interact.”

There was nothing sexy about the word “interact” and yet the reminder that he wasn’t just some guy she’d met at a bar had her stomach knotting.

“It was a good guess.”The words rushed out, meant to be amused but sounding bitter.“Honestly even someone without your pedigree could probably figure it out.I’m a bit of a cliche.”

“How so?”

“The emotional neglectful relationship was with my father.”Laney forced a smile.“That’s right, I have daddy issues.Walking stereotype, right here.”She jabbed a thumb at her chest.

Peter grimaced.“You know, father complex—the actual term for what people call daddy issues—was originally proposed by Freud.And he said it only applied to male children.Jung applied it to all people.There’s some debate…” Peter shook his head.“Never mind the history.Daddy issues is a misogynistic term used to belittle women.”

Laney had always hated that term, in no small part because hearing it felt like an attack.Having an expert like Peter critique it was strangely pleasing.

“Laney, your submission isn’t the result of your relationship with your father.”

Laney snorted, shaking her head.

“That might be a factor, but you’re not a computer—input bad father, output sexual submission.”

That startled a horrified laugh out of her, and when she looked over, he was smiling.Actually, he looked almost…relieved.

“I mean, you’re the brain guy, so if you say so…”

“I do say so.Human sexuality is incredibly complex, and formed by many different things from yes, trauma, but also genetics, your peer group during puberty, and that’s just to name a few.”

“That all makes sense.”

Peter studied her.“I feel compelled to ask if you either have previously or are currently, seeing a therapist.”

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