Page 13 of Mine

"Are you happy with Luke?"

He was brutally direct, butwhy? Did he just want to make me uncomfortable? I opened my mouth to answer, as he studied me.

"What has that got to do with anything?!" I stammered.

"It’s a perfectly valid question. It’s your relationship. Are. You. Happy?" He repeated, his voice softer now, as his eyes searched my face intently.

I nodded confidently.

"Yes. Well, I was..."

Was? Where did that come from?

I closed my eyes, hoping he hadn’t noticed that last part.

"Are you going to elaborate? Thisisconfidential,” he cocked an eyebrow at me.

No such luck. Argh.

Despite barely knowing him, Iwantedto talk to him, against my brain screaming signals in every different direction not to.

Something told me I could trust him.

"It’s personal though, Cal. I don’t even know you," I said, fiddling with my nails.

"You wouldn’t know a therapist. This is what this is for, isn’t it? Why don’t you ask me a question, then we can go back to that,” he offered. I was relieved he had given me a get out of jail free card and I considered my question.

"Have you ever been arrested?"

I wasn’t thinking straight. Why would a therapist ask that?

It’s not truth or fucking dare Gretchen!!

"Yup. My turn."

My heart leapt into my mouth.

He’d been arrested?

He didn’t offer any elaboration, and I didn’t dare ask.

Hair fell in front of his eyes and he moved it away before he placed both hands on his knees.

The fact he had been arrested intrigued me, but I had to wait my turn; that was the deal.

"Elaborate,” he said, before he leaned back, a triumphant glint in his eyes.

Oh, fuck.

He wasn’t letting this go.

I played with my fingernails, considering what to say. Part of me wanted to be honest with him, but that would reveal way too much. Besides, I wasn’t even sure how I felt.

This was hiscousin.

How could I trust him to be confidential?

"He is very sweet. We have been together for a little over a year. He treats me well..." my voice trailed off as he continued to stare at me with that intense gaze. He gave nothing else away as he waited.