10
| NICOLE |
“Well, that’s quite the character reference,” says Carol, pulling me out of the trance that Logan’s words had put me in. “You must be quite the psychologist.”
“I’m a therapist, actually, specializing in experiential therapy, which basically focuses more on doing rather than talking.”
“How fascinating. And you work with young children?”
“More teens and pre-teens. After my master’s, I applied for a part-time resource position with the public school system here. They assigned me to travel to middle schools and high schools all across the district three days a week to counsel students having difficulties. And I’ve been re-upping that temp contract ever since.”
How could I not? I get to help students learn how to build themselves up when they felt low, make themselves feel whole again even if they’ve never known the feeling. Next to climbing, it’s the best feeling ever.
I smile, reminiscing about how I got started. “I actually first decided to start a tiny private practice partly so I could keep my part-time job, funnily enough. Mostly college and homeschool kids on the days I wasn’t doing school visits. But then, most of my other students started coming in afterschool and on the weekends to try my climbing-based sessions outdoors and at Logan’s gym. After that, my practice just took off.”
As I talk, Logan stands off to the side, observing me intently the entire time. It’s unnerving. The man has always had this presence about him that takes him from merely handsome to devastatingly striking.
Oy, what an entirely inappropriate observation to be making at the moment.
I quickly return to the topic at hand. “I actually have Logan to thank for a lot of my success,” I inform Carol. “He actually waives the membership fees for the students who do therapy sessions with me.”
Carol nods approvingly at her son. “Good boy.” She goes over and pats him on the head. “Your mother raised you right.”
Logan rolls his eyes.
I chuckle.
It’s no wonder he’s such a great dad.
I fully prescribe to the notion of nurture over nature. And since it’s more than evident that his mere existence is one of the highlights of his parents’ lives, the fact that he raises Hannah in the same fashion is no surprise.
I can honestly say I’ve never met a parent actually miss their kid quite so much when they’re at their grandparents, not the way Logan does. Though it’s only one weekend night a week, I’ve seen the man get seriously bummed out when she’s not around.
It’s almost unbearably swoonworthy to witness.
Carol grabs the chair next to me. “So, I take it you’re helping Hannah with her bullying problem?”
“Not directly, no. And not officially, either. I simply volunteered to work with her a bit.”
“Twisted my arm is more accurate,” chimes in Logan from the kitchen.
Carol pats me on the hand. “Well, I’m glad you did. Hannah just hasn’t been the same since the incident. She was always painfully shy in public to begin with, but after that horrifying prank those awful older kids did to her, she definitely became more withdrawn.”
Shaking her head with disgust, she adds angrily, “Personally, I think the students getting expelled wasn’t nearly a harsh enough punishment. They didn’t even know her. They only targeted Hannah because her father’s a billionaire; what a ridiculous reason to torment a child.”
I do a double take. Logan failed to mention that very important detail. Now I understand why it was so hard for him to talk to me about it.
“Hold on.” Carol peers over at Logan in astonishment. “Are you actually going to let Hannah climb as part of her therapy with Nicole?”
“It isn’t therapy,” Logan and I say in unison.
“And yes,” he answers. “I am going to let her climb. If she wants to.”
“How exciting. Can Phil and I come by to watch? When will it be? After school?”
“The weekend would be better,” says Logan.
“Then that narrows it to a Saturday,” I tell Carol. “I have a strict no-work policy on Sundays.”
“Oh, do you go to church, dear?”
“If you consider the NFL a religion, sure.” I grin.
Logan lets out a surprised chuckle. “You’re preaching to the right choir with this family. Hannah’s been watching football with me since she was born.”
“Lucky girl. I only started in college, but I’ve been a diehard San Fran fanatic ever since.”
“So, you’re a 49ers fan,” says Logan. “Hmm.”
I’m not liking the sound of that. “Aren’t you?” I ask, in a tone that clearly states any response other than ‘hell yes’ is totally unacceptable.
“Sorry, I’ve been a Broncos fan since birth.”
I think my ears may be bleeding. “But you grew up in the Bay Area just like I did.”
“We only moved out here to California when I was in grade school. My dad’s originally from Colorado, making me a second-generation Broncos fan.” He grins. “And Hannah a third.”
“You mean you’re brainwashing your child to support an inferior team?” The poor girl.
“You do realize the Broncos have been to more Super Bowls than the 49ers,” he argues, looking thoroughly entertained over how huffy I’m getting.
“But San Fran has won more Super Bowls,” I throw back at him. “Which only proves your team is better at losing.”
“At least we won our last time at the Super Bowl. How did the last one work out for you guys again?”
I glare at him. “You’re pissing me off. And I don’t need that kind of negative energy going into a climb. So, no more talking for the next…” I mentally check my gym schedule. “Twenty-two hours.”
“Interesting. Can’t go a whole twenty-four without talking to me, huh?”
I stay true to my radio silence, refusing to let him goad me. All the while, my heart is starting to thump a little faster in my chest. I’m not used to this teasing side of him. It’s dangerous, unchartered. And so freaking fun.
As he continues to stare at me in amusement, I determinedly bat away the butterflies taking flight in my belly and thank Carol for the lovely time, pointedly giving Logan my back the entire time. Much to his visible enjoyment.
As I drive over from Logan’s home to the climb site where I’m meeting my group, I ponder his question. Now that I’ve been talking to the man regularly, truthfully, I don’t believe I’d enjoy not being able to talk to him for an entire day.
Not that there’s any way I’m going to admit such a thing to a Broncos fan.