Page 47 of Son of a Preacher Man

End of fucking story.

Brow raised, her lips pursed to the side, Babs looked at him oddly. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” She lit a cigarette, talking as she exhaled, “Is there something you want to share with me? I can read you like a book, you know.”

He snickered. “When have I ever wanted to share anything?”

“Never.” As if it was of no consequence, she shrugged. “But I have a way of getting it out of you, regardless. It’s your dime and your time, let’s not waste either, shall we?” Tipping her head to the side, Babs plastered a grin on her face. “So, spill it.”

Kodiak pulled at his beard. He wasn’t sure he was ready to have his relationship dissected. The litany of questions. Because that’s what shrinks do. “I’ve been…uh…seeing someone.”

“You have a girlfriend?”

Why did she look so surprised? Never mind. He knew exactly why. Unless that cheerleader he was banging back in high school counted, and she didn’t, Kodiak had never had one. Meaningless encounters, yes. Of those, he’d had plenty. And technically, he did have a wife once, course he couldn’t count her either.

“Well, she is a girl, and she is my friend,” he reasoned. “So, yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Is that what you think of her as?”

Did he? Kodiak wanted Kelly to count. They were both kidding themselves, playing it safe with the ‘we’re just friends’ bullshit. He wasn’t sure if she was afraid, or embarrassed, or ashamed, or what, but she was holding back something, of that he had no doubt. And no one understood those feelings better than he did. Time is what she needed, what both of them needed. He could be patient. Because to him, she counted.

“I do, yeah.”

Glancing up from her scribbling, Babs smiled. “What’s her name?”

“Kelly.” He couldn’t help but smile back. Just saying her name, his muscles seemed to lose some of their tension.

“How long have you been seeing each other?”

“A couple of months, but we’ve known each other a while. Her niece is married to Kyan’s cousin.”

“I see.” Her pen went back to the paper. She began writing. “And you’re communicating well?”

“Yes, Barbara.”

“Good.” She nodded without looking at him. “That’s good.”

“There’s so many things I wish I didn’t have to tell her. I don’t want her to know that part of me.” He held up his hand. “And before you even say it, I know that I have to.”

“Have you shared anything with Kelly at all?”

Blowing out a breath, Kodiak plowed his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, she knows about Jonathan…what came after. Not much else.”

Not yet.

It was still too soon, their time together too new. Why Kelly didn’t bolt for the door after he told her about the camp, Kodiak had no clue. But she didn’t. And that gave him some semblance of hope.

“I know it’s not easy for you to talk about, but…”

“And it won’t be easy for her to hear,” he countered, picking up his vape pen.

“Nothing worthwhile is, right?”

“Right.” Kodiak inhaled. “Look, I told you. I’m going to be completely honest with Kelly, but I’m not dumping all my trauma on her either.”

“I would never suggest that you do.” She lit up another cigarette.

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