Corrupt by Abbi Cook

Author:Abbi Cook [Cook, Abbi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Vine Media LLC

Chapter Sixteen

Natalie

* * *

My mouth has not a single ounce of saliva as I wait for the receptionist to call me for my session with Dr. Trevino. What if he doesn't feel he can be my therapist anymore after what Adam said to him? What if the fact that I've been lying to him about who I am all this time breaks some professional code he follows and now he doesn't want to treat me because of that?

A feeling of dread settles into my brain. I have an excuse for why I lied, but maybe he won't care. That I lied will be enough to deny me his help. I wish I knew what Adam said to him. At least then I'd know what to anticipate instead of expecting the worst.

"Lauren Tarrigan."

The receptionist calls out my name, well, my fake name that’s part of my life of lies, interrupting my thinking about how bad it's going to be. I hurry to join her at the door leading to the doctor's office, avoiding her gaze because I'm convinced she knows everything about my deception. He isn't waiting for me, so she instructs me to sit down and he'll be in shortly.

More time to unravel over what's to come.

When he finally does walk in, I watch to see any sign of him acting differently than before, but I can't tell. Maybe the fact that he doesn't speak to me immediately is a sign. Maybe it's not. My mind races round and round as I wait for him to say anything to me.

"How are you today?" he asks, sounding very much like he always sounds. At least I think he does.

I press my lips together to stop the words in my head from spilling out prematurely. After a few seconds of him staring at me and waiting for an answer, I say, "I'm okay. Thank you for seeing me today."

He doesn't respond immediately, which makes me begin to spiral out of control again, but then I see him grab his notepad and pen. Maybe he's still preparing for our session. God, this is an emotional rollercoaster on the very day I can't handle the ride.

"So what would you like to talk about today?" he asks innocently enough.

I scan his face for any hint about what Adam may have said to him. Why hasn't he started our session with that? It surely can't be normal for a patient's husband to call their doctor and demand he not treat her anymore. Or maybe Adam said something worse and the therapist doesn't feel right discussing it.

All of this bounces around in my brain before I blurt out, "I know my husband called you, Dr. Trevino. I'm sorry about that. And I'm sorry about not telling you the truth about who I am. I didn't want to deceive you, but I was worried about my husband finding out I was seeing you. Now that he knows, I hope you can forgive me for that and for whatever he said to you.

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