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“Nervous?” I blink in surprise “What could you have to be nervous about?”

Her eyes crinkle at the corners “Taking on a new client is a great responsibility I was born to help people heal, so I take it very seriously But it still e”

I can’t figure out if she’s bullshitting enuine, but that also seems a little corny and smells a bit like the horseshit aroma from the paddock

“I can see that puts you off,” she re h “But hopefully, you’ll come to realize I mean what I say”

I don’t kno to respond to that Trust doesn’t coh I’ demanded of me, I don’t want to be here I don’t look forward to any of this, and I’m not about to be charmed by some hippie horseworaces

So I don’t say anything

She raises an eyebrow, giving e further about that little tidbit she’d offered where she attempted to humanize herself so I’d feel comfortable with her

When I don’t respond, she sighs and folds her hands on her desk “I’m not sure why Mr Carlson referred you to me”

“I have to co in order to stay on the teaue that sounds

“Because?” she prompts

“I got drunk and ran my truck into a concrete barrier”

She seems taken aback “Intentionally?”

“Yes”

“And why did you do that?” she inquires, now in full-on counselor mode

I’o there, so I ask instead, “How do you know Dominik?”

“I don’t” That catches me by surprise, and I jerk raood fit for you”

“But you don’t know if I aood fit,” I surmise Because while this ranch and metal shack are quite different than the therapist I saw earlier, it doesn’t mean she’s different “Why did you take my case?”