Page 80 of Unfix Me

“I need his name.”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “No.”

“Now, Sen. I’m not asking.”

“Why do you need it?”

“Because he’s about to have a very bad day at the hands of an egotistical, hungover maniac, a law student, and an extremely pissed off boyfriend.”

*****

“Let’s kick some ass,” West shouted when we walked into the building.

Brooks shushed him and looked around. “We’re not kicking ass.”

“But we’re the goon squad.”

“We’re the cavalry, protecting somebody we care about. Getting charged with a crime isn’t the way to do it.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. “If he tries some shady shit, though… Oh my god. What if he has one of those electroshock machines?”

“He’s not gonna have one,” I said with a sigh. “I looked the guy up. He’s barely keeping his business afloat and he’s in the middle of a nasty divorce. Derek is only a threat to Sen, so that’s what we’re here to take care of.”

West threw an arm around my shoulder. “Aw. Coming out swinging for your man.”

“Damn right I am.”

“Woooo. I’m excited.”

We reached his door, which had a dingy plaque with his name on it. I covered my hand with my sleeve and pushed it open. The waiting room was tiny- laughably so. West immediately started pushing the button to alert him we were here. Repeatedly.

“For heaven’s sake,” Derek shouted just before the door opened. When his eyes landed on us, they widened. “I don’t believe we have an appointment.”

I stepped forward, keeping my hands in my pockets so that I didn’t accidentally break his nose. Slip of the hand and all that.

“Mr. Hamilton,” I greeted with a smile. “You do a disservice to that name, if I’m being honest. Such a good play that you’ve tarnished just by existing.”

“You look familiar. Have we met?”

“Briefly. Last night.”

He blinked and rolled his lips. “Right. Are you here seeking services? I’d be happy to-”

“No,” I interrupted. West mimed a gag and Brooks snickered. “I’m here to talk. Don’t worry. I’m not a violent person.”

“You’ve come with an entourage, so I’m not inclined to believe that one of you isn’t.”

West leaned against the doorframe and waggled his fingers in a wave. “That’s me. Daddy never loved me. Got a cure for that?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. When we all just stood there staring at him, Derek gulped and opened the door wider. He escaped behind his desk and plopped into his chair as if it was his safe space.

There was a creak when I sat in the chair across from him. It was wildly uncomfortable and had to be made for a child. I stood and leaned my hands on the desk instead, keeping my fingers curled inward so that my knuckles rested atop it.

“You’re an LMHC,” I stated, nodding toward the degree on his bookshelf. It was next to a banana with a duck coming out of it that I thought Sen would like.

“Yes, I am. As I said, if you’re looking for services-”

“No means no, man,” West said, feigning offense.

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