Page 27 of Ice
I tried to stand up, and Lissa moved quickly, bearing my weight as best she could, until I was upright. I glanced at the door, wondering how the fuck I was going to hide what was wrong.
“Go to the bathroom. Close the door.” Lissa was already walking to my door, behind which, someone had miraculously waited, for once in my fucking life.
I backed toward the bathroom, and she shot me a glare.
“Now!”
I did as I was told, because I had no other option right now. As soon as the bathroom door was closed, I leaned back against it, and let out a sharp breath. Whatever the fuck happened now, I had no way of blagging it. What the hell should I do?
Lissa
Ipulledopenthedoor,and the Club President, Reacher, was standing there. He stared at me awkwardly for a moment.
“Uh… can I come in?”
I nodded and backed up, letting him step into Ice’s room. The guy was bigger than Ice. Taller. More imposing. There was something sweet about Ice, even though he did his best to hide it.
Reacher cast his eyes around the room.
“Oh… Ice not here?”
I smiled, and pointed to the bathroom.
“Nature called, Mr Reacher.”
“Just Reacher. Are you guys about done?”
I picked up our empty coffee mugs and took them to the kitchen, almost like it was my place, and it was just a natural thing to do.
“Yep, just finishing up. He’s made some small breakthroughs today. Don’t be surprised if he’s needing space for a bit.”
He folded his arms. “What kind of breakthroughs?”
I turned from the sink, mugs washed and draining. I dried my hands on the towel.
“The kind that are confidential, as per our therapist/patient relationship.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“That the only relationship happening here?”
I walked over to my handbag, pulling my phone from inside.
“What else do you expect, Reacher? Are you suggesting that I’m being inappropriate or unprofessional? Ice needed to talk, and that was what he did.”
He looked uncomfortable, glancing at the closed bathroom door.
“Is he okay? He’s… he seems vulnerable lately. I just don’t want to see him hurt.”
I liked that he cared enough to worry about that, but it also felt like another attempt to attack my professionalism, or, let’s be honest, the lack thereof.
“I can assure you, Reacher. I’m not doing anything untoward. I’m merely doing what’s necessary to help him with his journey.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“He lost his shit down in Church. You helping him with his temper?”
“Again, that’s not for me to discuss with you. Please don’t keep asking me to breach confidentiality in this way, Reacher. If he wants to talk to you about things, then I hope you’ll listen, and not judge. I’m wondering if you’re even capable of such a thing?”
