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Hunter
“I’m telling you, this therapist had me answering some crazy-ass questions. Believe me when I say, she’s a nut case.”
“Only a nut case calls the therapist a nut case. Stop ranting, Hunter,” Shannon murmured. “Come sit down. You know I can’t take your grouchiness no more.”
Taking a few steps forward, he sat on the armchair by her bedside. He was there because Shannon–bedridden for some time now–had asked for feedback after his first few therapy sessions. Nothing he said assured her, he had his temperament and life in order.
“Tell me about this therapist of yours, Hunter. Remind again, what date is it?”
“Today’s Tuesday, 29th September.” He waited for her to nod before he continued. “Her name’s Tiara and I can’t stand her guts. That’s it in a nutshell.”
“Has she figured out why the nightmares won’t stop?”
“The therapist said, I’m not a psychic. I can only work with what you tell me, he quoted, mimicking Tiara’s uplifting voice.
“Aha! She’s sounds really lovely.”
Hunter blinked. “What?”
Grinning, Shannon waved one hand in the air.
“Was that all she said to you?”
He shrugged. “More or less, yeah.”
“Did you spend the entire two hours, or did you walk out of the session midway?”
He had been known to abort therapy sessions in the past. In his defense, they were all freaking idiots.
“I stayed for one hundred and twenty minutes, Shannon, just like you asked. Are you happy now?”
“I’ll be happy when you show me a great report.”
“I’m working on it. Do you feel good today?”
“It’s the same every day, or worse. Don’t worry about me. Tiara seems to have gotten through to you. I must say I’m impressed you survived two hours with a therapist you despise. It must’ve been hard on you.”
Hunter grinned, holding on to Shannon’s skinny pale hand. Although she had shed a lot of weight over time, she had not lost her sarcastic humour.
“Can’t I donate without the torture of answering a list of awkward questions from a total stranger? I’m not good with strangers, you know that.”
Shannon stared into his eyes for several minutes before responding.
“Hmm. Did you lose your temper with your therapist?”
“Once.”
Frail in body, not in her mind, Shannon lifted her thin brows, quizzing him with deep-set green eyes.
“Be honest.”
“Okay. Twice.”
Letting out a long sigh, the woman who knew him better than most, sloped her bald head.
“Come out with the truth, Hunter.”
“What does it matter? I found Tiara annoying. She got on my nerves and I lost my cool a few times.”
“Until you stop losing your cool over everything, you’ll stay in therapy with Tiara. That’s my wish.”
“Stop playing the sick card, Shannon. I’m fed up.”
“Fed up with who?”
“With the world. I’m fed up with Tiara.”
“Mm-hmm. You’ve only seen her once, right?”
“That’s more than enough if you ask me.”
Awe transformed her face and her cheeks turned ruddy.
“And she’s got you so flustered, you turn red every time you mention her name, Hunter, even in her absence.”
“You’re making things up now, Shannon. Have you had your meds today?”
“Stop deflecting, Hunter. If you like your therapist, say so. You won’t be the first client to have a crush on her. But you could be the last if you wanted.”
Terror overtook his features, he jumped to his feet.
“A crush? Are you hallucinating again, Shannon? I’m not sixteen and we’re not in high school, okay?”
“Um... Why are you red-faced? You’re blushing over a woman. I never thought I’d see this day.”
Heat crawled up his neck, he peeled off his jacket and stood by the window, pushing his fingers through his hair. There was no way he would allow himself indulge in such a crazy thought. He was not wired to be in a relationship. Shannon wanted his life ordered according to her fairy-tale dream, but that was not going to happen.
“I’m not, blushing. It’s hot in here.”
“Face the truth, Hunter.”
“The truth is simple.” He walked back to Shannon’s bedside and cuddled her hand again. “I’m not cut out for bullshit affair and you know it. Leave it alone, Shannon. How are you feeling? I’m worried.”
“When your heart is settled, I’ll be fine, Hunter.”
“Take it from me. I’ll never be settled, Shannon.”
“Then, work with Tiara, get through therapy with a clean report and do what I asked of you and I won’t bother you again.”
Nodding, he chuckled.
“Okay. I’ll get through it, for you.”
“T-t-hank y-you-u,” she muttered.
He pressed her palm against his face, whispering, “Stay strong for me, Shannon.”
Her eyelids closed as she drifted off to another meds-induced sleep. After he dropped a peck on her forehead, he stood there staring at the woman he had known for almost a lifetime.
Is there a God up there at all, he raged in his heart? If you are there like Shannon believes, then heal her. Don’t just sit there and do nothing!
Same Day
Tiara
“Listen to what I’m saying, Trevor. I’m telling you one of my new clients had me sweating between my thighs. I’ve never felt so tangled in my entire career.”
“I’ve been listening to you talk about this guy for the last fifteen minutes. Do you feel violated in any way?”
Tiara paused long enough to get Trevor raising an eyebrow.
“If you do, you know what to do to set him straight.”
“I need another drink, Trevor.”
Her close friend, professional colleague, confidant and self-appointed therapist for over a decade, Trevor Blackey poured her a whiskey shot. He could not understand why she had allowed Hunter Chase get away with putting his hands on her, however slight.
After five days of torment, on her way from work, she had decided to share her confusion and unease with the only person in the world who would understand and who was also legally bound to stay silent about whatever she shared with him.
“File a report, Tiara. If for nothing else, to protect your license. That guy can turn around and sue you.”
“Do you think I’ve not thought about that?” She crossed her feet on the coffee table, too tired to do anything else. “I stayed up half the night. Hunter’s a hot mess. Yeah, he’s crude in many ways, but he needs my help even if he doesn’t know it yet.”
“He sounds sinister and might get a kick from preying on women.”
Skewing her head to stare at her best friend, she scoffed. “I’m not some defenceless woman. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m not saying you can’t, Tiara. I’m saying don’t leave yourself open to litigation.”
“Therapy only works when you build trust. I need to earn his trust just like I do with every other client.”
“He doesn’t sound like any other client you’ve handled. Refer him to another therapist. That’s my advice. I know you’ll do what you want anyway.”
“I can straighten him, Trevor. And I will by God’s grace. There isn’t anyone too broken God can’t fix.”
“From what you’ve told me in the last twenty minutes, I doubt even your kind heart can undo the damage this Hunter guy carries around with pride.”
“I just need to dig deeper. God will fix him. I can’t just give up on him.”
“You can’t or you won’t? Not everyone can be fixed.”
“Even you don’t believe that, Trevor. That’s why we do what we do. We fix broken people with their help.”
“With their help. I worry about you, Tiara. If he breaks your neck in your office, what happens?”
“He was a little aggressive but he didn’t hurt me.”
“Not yet. He sounds like a psycho. Why isn’t he in a mental institution already?”
Trevor Blackey was one of the leading therapists in California. She met him ages ago and they hit it off. Since she was bound by confidentiality, Trevor was the only person she could share her client details with while also unburdening her heart at the same time.
“I’ll find out more if he keeps up with the visits.”
“The fact that his file is thin doesn’t bother you?”
“It does. I’m hoping to fill it in as we progress. I know what you’re thinking, Trevor.”
“Then, I don’t have to tell you, he’s probably ex-black ops, ex-special ops, or war-damaged ex-military guy who isn’t ready to accept he’s a victim of psychological trauma.”
“I know that. The signs are glaring. I’ve got ten years of practice under my belt, so give me some credit, Trevor.”
“You know you’ve got my deep respect, Tiara. It’s different if I perceive you’re in danger. Apart from the fact I’m your therapist, I’m your number one friend.”
“Have you come across a hot head like him before?”
“A few times. None so confrontational. By the time they step through my door, they’re about ready to do something to fix their problem, Tiara.”
“Hunter still has a long way to go.”
“There’s no shame in admitting some cases are borderline scary, Tiara. We’re not invincible.”
Seated on the sofa in Trevor’s office twenty minutes-drive from hers, the two friends glanced at each other before bursting out in a long laugh.
“Yeah, right. Will you ever admit you’re scared to do your job, Trevor, hmm?”
“No.”
“Coward!”
Of course, while she narrated her version of her encounter with Hunter, she left out the details about the buttons of her silk top splitting because Hunter’s hold had been brutal. After Hunter had ended their session by pointing at her cleavage, she had almost died of embarrassment. That day, she had skipped wearing a tank top underneath, so the swell of her boobs had been on show. Hunter had fed his eyes and then dismissed her boobs as nothing more than an ugly sight he could not stand. Yet, the cute medicated glasses he chose to wear to his first therapy session messed up her thoughts for two days. It almost got her thinking of him in a positive way but that would be a mistake. Hunter was definitely a man of contrasts.
“Are you scared of Hunter?” she heard Trevor ask, breaking into her muse.
“When I’m in my office, I’m not scared of anyone. It’s my safe haven. Enough about me. How’s your fiancée doing? Is she picking out wedding dresses?”
“Nicki can’t stop yapping on about everything. She’s driving me crazy, Tiara.”
At first, she and Nicki had not got on, but over the years, they had grown a healthy respect for each other. Eventually, she figured out Nicki had felt threatened by her close friendship with Trevor.
Giving him a pointed gaze, she sipped her drink.
“Aren’t you excited about your upcoming wedding?”
“It feels like it’s Nicki’s wedding.”
“Come on, Trevor, that’s because women are more excited about getting married.”
“We’ve not even fixed a date yet, so why the fuss?”
“Let me see. Maybe it’s because you’re thirty-eight and Nicki’s thirty-four. Hello? Her eggs are on a race against time. Wake up and smell the coffee!”
“We’ve got time. Look at you. Free to do whatever you want. Sometimes, I feel choked. I don’t think moving in together with Nicki was such a good idea.”
“Is that cold feet talking? Trevor, what’s going on? It sounds like there’s more. Are you two, okay?”
Trevor took a gulp of whiskey and squeezed his eyes shut as he swallowed. “I could use a break.”
Throwing her legs down from the coffee table, Tiara sat upright. “Talk to me, Trevor.”
“To be honest, I feel like I’m settling with Nicki. Am I out of my mind?”
“Stop! Why are you questioning your relationship all of a sudden? Did something happen?”
“That’s the point. Nothing is happening.”
He dumped the glass on the table and stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“The spark is fading. There’s no spontaneity.”
“Then do something about it, Trevor. You’ve got a good woman, beautiful, hardworking and she loves you. Nicki’s loyal. Talk to her.”
“She’s too busy working as a family lawyer to care.”
“Book a holiday. Surprise her with a cooked meal, do something wildly romantic. It’s too early to start feeling this way. Relationship is hard work. That goes both ways. Don’t expect only Nicki to think of a million ways to turn on the spark. If you want spontaneity, then do something about it.”
“Nicki can be such a bore sometimes,” he grumbled.
“Nah. If she was a bore, you two wouldn’t have lasted. It’s been over two years. Relationships have bumps. You’ve got to straighten them out.”
For the duration of a lengthy pause, Trevor said nothing. He simply gaped at her, as if he had never seen her before.
“What now, Trevor?”
“How did you get so wise?
Giving him a wry smile, she shrugged.
“Do you have a secret boyfriend, Tiara. Some guy who stays hidden in the shadows I’ve never met, hm?”
“I’m a woman, so I can give you relationship advice. It doesn’t mean I can hold down a man. It’s cool. Not all women need a man.”
“You’re lying to yourself but that’s okay. As long as you’re happy sleeping alone at night.”
“Look at us, two therapists who need therapy.”
“That’s why our relationship works. I’m glad you stopped by, Tiara.”
“Anytime. Work things out with Nicki. On your way home, buy her some flowers, a bottle of wine and lingerie. Spice things up from your end.”
He stroked his dark stubble.
“I’ve not thought about doing that for a while. Thank you. Put some distance between you and Hunter. Don’t let him touch you, or hurt you, or I’m going to punch him in the head.”
“Did I tell you, the guy’s got muscles everywhere? I’m not saying you don’t because you do spend time in the gym. But Hunter seems to live in a gym, full time.”
“It’s not about size.”
Two of them laughed as they sauntered to their respective cars in the parking lot.
Giggling, she shook her head. “Are we still talking about muscles?”
Trevor winked. “Of course.”
Before she turned to open her car door, Trevor pulled her into a hug.
“Say hi to your empty home for me, Tiara.”
“Sure, bragger.”
Pecking her forehead, he chuckled. “I love you, Tiara Williams. Be safe.”
“Careful. Nicole Whitehead will get jealous, Trevor. Be good and spontaneous with her tonight.”
She hugged him back before climbing inside her white and black Volvo SC40 R-design shortly after.
“I will,” he promised, waving her off.
