Page 94 of The Love of Priest 2

After their greeting, Havani appointed Britain a seat and Priest followed suit.

He could sense how tense she was, and he was hoping if he didn't draw too much attention to himself, Havani would let him sit through the session, despite her forewarning that it wouldn't be best if he did.

A light chuckle aired out of Havani as she noticed Priest had taken a seat alongside Britain.

"If I'm not mistaken," she said, pointing to Priest. "You've already had your session for this week."

A sheepish smile etched Priest's face as he eyed Havani. "I know, but?—"

"Britain doesn't need any protection here. This is a safe place," she interrupted Priest before he got the chance to spill out his excuses.

A light sigh aired out of Priest before he glanced over at Britain.

She gave him a light nod, indicating that Havani was right, and she was okay with sitting through the session alone.

He ultimately was beginning to regret agreeing to sit out of the session in the first place.

He knew how fragile Britain could become when diving back into her trauma.

He just didn't want Havani to break her as badly as she had broken him, only to build him back up into a stronger unit.

Britain needed care, and he wanted Havani to understand that.

"Heard'ju," he nodded his head and said as he slipped his hand from Britain's. "I'll be outside.”

Havani stood up, ushering Priest out of the room. She stepped out as well, shutting the door behind her so she could have a word with him. "Codependency," she stated to Priest in a light voice, almost as a reminder to him.

He ran his hand down his face. He should have known that even though this session today was for Britain, Havani still would manage to hold him accountable somehow. "My fault," he apologized. "I'm working on it."

"Don't apologize if you're working on it," Havani corrected him.

"She's going to be fine. Even if she tells you she doesn't want to come back by the end of the session, don't coddle her and her feelings.

That'll just be you giving her a crutch to not properly heal.

I want you to sit in the waiting room far away from this door and let her at least get through this session without a safety net. "

Priest pursed his lips before nodding his head, agreeing with her. "I'll be in the waiting room," he stated before making his way over to the sitting area Havani appointed him toward.

He was by far one of Havani's easiest clients. He took advice well and always made the effort to make small changes within himself. She was hoping Britain would be the same way, and even if she wasn’t, Havani wouldn't give up.

As soon as she saw Priest take a seat, she returned to her office, where Britain was patiently waiting for her. "My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

"It's fine," Britain assured her.

Havani claimed a seat across from Britain, her smile remaining on her face.

She was hoping to ease Britain's nervousness and show her there was no reason for her to be standoffish.

As she flipped the cover of her iPad case to access the screen, Britain tensed up.

She assumed that Havani's would be taking detailed notes on her iPad during their session.

Knowing she was being closely examined caused Britain to quickly straighten her posture and try her best not to look nervous, despite feeling her spine rattling within her.

"So, Britain, how have you been adjusting to Italy?" Havani asked.

Britain shrugged lightly. "It’s been a smooth transition," she stated, immediately overthinking her response after she let it out.

Knowing that Havani was about to document notes on her had her feeling like she was in an interrogation room, and she had no option but to be perfect.

She wasn't at a point where she could be completely open and honest with Havani, so as of right now, she had decided her responses would be sugarcoated and made pretty until she got comfortable enough to do otherwise.

"You miss home at all? I know for me, when I made the move here, I was in shambles," Havani admitted as she laughed lightly.

Britain chuckled. She could relate to the feeling, but because of her circumstances, she didn't have much time to actually stress over the move.

For her, it felt like one minute she was in New York, then the next, she was in Italy.

"Yeah, it's a little nerve-racking when you think of it as one big change, but I'm just taking it day by day. "

"Okay, and besides taking it day by day, how are you in general?" Havani kept her light smile etched on her face as she tilted her head slightly while questioning Britain.

Britain could feel the tension rise in her shoulders as she tried her best to keep her posture straight.

Her nerves caused her to subconsciously rub her palms against the denim material of her jeans.

"Good. Everything has been great, really," she nodded her head and said, offering Havani a quick response.

It was evident that Britain was trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"I believe you," Havani replied, instantly causing Britain to furrow her brows.

She was confident that she put on her best convincing tone, but she didn't expect Havani to fall for it so quickly and easily.

The more she thought about it, the more she came to terms with the reality that Havani's response wasn't what one would typically expect to receive when you told someone you were doing good.

The inquisitive part of Britain wanted to question Havani, but she didn't want to turn her session into an interview.

She knew she could derail the entire session with the number of questions she could ask, but for the sake of her personal healing, she decided against it.

Britain watched uneasily as Havani tapped away on her iPad.

Silence had now circled the room as she waited for Havani to actually start the session.

She had seen many dramatized versions of first sessions with therapists, and it always led to an enlightening moment for the client.

She was eager to have that moment. She felt as though it would be an accomplishment to finally come to terms with her trauma.

As she continued to sear her feline-like orbs onto Havani, she watched as she finally pulled her attention from the device she had in her hand and faced her. "The floor is yours," Havani gestured, advising her that she was the one who was actually awaiting a response.

Britain felt a knot form in her throat. Her eyes descended to her hands that were toying with her engagement ring. "No disrespect," Britain finally spoke out. "But aren't you supposed to be leading the session?"

Havani chuckled, finding Britain's question amusing.

"I can't necessarily lead the session when there's already been a wall put up.

" She motioned her hand at the invisible wall Britain had fenced around her feelings.

"I have to respect your boundaries or else you will leave this session and let your fiancé know that you never want to come back, so if you're saying you’re doing good, I can't question that.

I believe everything you tell me," Havani further explained.

When Priest told Britain that Havani was good, she didn't think she would be that good.

All Britain's life, she spoon-fed people the highlights of her life while she stored the crippling downfalls in the back of her mind.

She had gotten this far without introducing anyone to her trauma, but she never really noticed how bad it affected her until recently.

Havani wasn't the person who needed to be spoon fed.

Quite frankly, she couldn't be. She saw past Britain's barrier.

She knew deep down inside, all Britain wanted was to express all that she felt, but she feared judgment.

Britain pursed her lips as she exhaled a deep breath. As she leaned back in the chair, her soft brown orbs gazed up at the ceiling, avoiding eye contact. "I'm lying," Britain blurted out.

Havani crossed her legs as she pushed her iPad aside so she could focus her full attention on to Britain. "Lying about what?" She was fully aware of what Britain was lying about, but she needed Britain to admit it. Hearing herself say it would be the first step of her healing.

Britain kept her sight fixed to the ceiling as she offered Havani another response. "Being good," she clarified. "I'm not okay. I haven't been okay for practically half of my life, and no one ever even noticed, except—" Britain halted as another depleting sigh fled from her.

"Except who, Britain? Priest?" Havani asked.

Britain shook her head, this time sitting up so she could lock eyes with Havani. "No. The only person that ever really noticed was Cameron ."

TRIBECA, NEW YORK

With her head resting against the wall of the elevator, Jazzy let out a heavy sigh.

She was set to call it a night after spending some much-needed time with Taylor.

After Britain's departure, she was trying her best to get out more since she realized all she did was try to fill Priest's shoes since he left.

The night with Taylor was thrilling. After club hopping and getting a bite to eat, Jazzy was ready to take a shower and get right into bed.

The elevator came to a smooth halt as the thick steel doors parted ways.

A furrow embedded itself into her forehead as she entered the penthouse.

She could hear some movements being made within the penthouse, which provoked her to reach into her purse and extract her pistol.

With her small hands clenching the handle of the gun, Jazzy cautiously stepped out of her heels so her footsteps wouldn't give away her presence.

As she inched further into the penthouse, she aimed the gun out in front of her.