Perfectly Matched by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“So Nick kissed you?” Brianna put her elbows on her desk and tucked her chin into her cupped palms. The gleam of interest in her eyes couldn’t be disguised by the scholarly glasses she always wore for their sessions.

“Yes, he kissed me. On the cheek.” Shay closed her eyes, still able to feel his lips. In fact, little else had been on her mind ever since it happened. Her brain kept replaying the scene over and over and her skin still tingled at the memory. That’s why she’d made an appointment to talk to Brianna. Because she was so confused.

“And? What happened when Nick kissed you?”

“Nothing.” Shay blinked at the realization.

“You didn’t panic? You didn’t freeze?” Brianna smiled at her surprise. “You trusted Nick enough to let him get that close.”

“Or I was too stunned to react,” Shay mumbled. Nothing seemed straightforward since Nick’s kiss.

“You’ve never been that stunned before.” Brianna smiled as she tented her fingers. “You’ve always managed to react before anyone else could get too close, including Eric.”

“Nick surprised me, that’s all. Don’t you think?” Shay frowned.

“Is that what you want to believe?” Brianna asked.

“I don’t know. Everything seems so mixed up.” Shay rubbed her shoulder. “I can’t make sense of myself.”

“Because things are changing,” Brianna suggested.

“Changing?” Shay couldn’t make sense of what her friend meant. Or maybe she didn’t want to? “You know, maybe this fear thing—maybe it’s a personal flaw, something that can’t be fixed.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because I look around and everyone else is happy. So I start to think, ‘I can be happy, too. Today I’m not going to be afraid.’” Shay sighed as she slouched in her chair. “And then some stupid little thing happens and all I can think is—Dom’s back.”

“I wonder if that is what you think.” Brianna fixed Shay with a serious stare.

“Huh?”

“Hear me out. I wonder if somewhere deep inside, when you’re uncomfortable, your mind protests with fear because your subconscious is trying to protect you, to prevent a repeat of the out-of-control situation with the stalker.”

“You think?” Shay rubbed her arms, desperate to get rid of the chills she was feeling.

“Tell me when you’re most comfortable, Shay.”

“When I’m at home, working on a project.”

“Really? You’re not getting up every five seconds to see if someone’s out there?” She nodded at the look of surprise on Shay’s face. “I thought so. Try again. When are you the most comfortable?” she prodded.

A second passed before Shay found the answer.

“Working with the kids.”

“You’re not afraid then?” her friend asked.

“Of course not.” Shay blinked. “Why would I be? They’re smaller than me—usually.”

“I doubt that’s the only reason.” Brianna raised an eyebrow. “Can I tell you why I think you’re totally comfortable with yourself when you’re with the kids?”

“You’re the shrink.” Shay wondered if she was going to like hearing this.

“Technically, I’m a psychologist, but moving on.” Brianna leaned forward. “You’re completely relaxed when you’re with kids because your focus is off you. You’re thinking about how you can help them.

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