Page 38 of Tame Me

“The day I graduated from college, my professor raped me, and I shut down. I tried to kill myself, and I was in an involuntary mental health facility until I was released six weeks ago. Then I went to Meridian to transition out…”

“But you are better now?” he asks, motioning to my wrist where the massive scar is.

“Uh… Yeah. Or I was… It’s complicated,” I say.

“Well, drive and explain. I’m all ears,” he says, patting my hand. I nod and focus on pulling out of the driveway before continuing.

“One of the psychiatrists I had at the hospital works at Meridian. He told me about it. He’s best friends with the owner and my… trainer…”

“Dom,” he corrects.

“Yeah… Well, I fell for both of them. I thought they fell for me. When it came time to leave today, I realized we hadn’t discussed how shit would be outside of Meridian. I overreacted slightly, and I think that I lost them forever,” I explain. “I texted them and said I didn’t grab my journal, but I definitely did. I just wanted to talk to them. I miss them, but…”

“First of all, I am a psychologist,” he says. “If you didn’t know that. Secondly, it sounds like they want you to see that you are capable of being independent. Once the shock of leaving wears off, things will work out. If you want to talk to them, then talk to them. Generally, providers absolutely should not fuck their clients, but you attended a facility aimed at healing through BDSM, so you do. They just don’t want to make you co-dependent.”

“How do you know this?” I ask.

“Well… Because I interviewed as a provider at Meridian with Thane Meridian himself.”

“No shit. When?” I ask.

“Uhhh. Seven weeks ago. He said hiring would take place after this program concluded because they’d have about a month until the next one,” he explains.

“Well… Alrighty then,” I say with a sigh. I stare out the front window as I drive, and I can feel him watching me. “Please, stop staring at me.”

“Hey, Thane. This is Giovanni,” he says. I snap my head to him, and he is looking at me, but has his phone in his hand.

“Stop it,” I say in a hushed tone.

“Hey, Giovanni. I was actually planning to call you soon. How are things?”

“Good, actually,” Giovanni says. I pull off on the shoulder of the road and try to escape the car, but he grabs my wrist and shakes his head. “So I went to my parents’ house today to do some work on the place, and noticed someone was at my neighbor’s house.”

“Uh-huh…” Thane says, unsure of what the fuck Giovanni is getting at.

“Well, turns out it was my neighbor’s daughter. She was my best friend growing up, but we lost contact when we went to college. I ended up going with her to the store to get some cleaning supplies, but you’ll never guess what was in her passenger seat.”

“I’m dying to know,” Thane deadpans.

“Discharge papers for Meridian,” Giovanni says, and there is a long pause. “I’m talking about Ayla, Thane. I’m sitting with her, and I’m pretty sure she might stab me for this. She thinks you two don’t want her.”

“Shut the fuck up, you slimy little shit,” I snap, trying to take his phone.

“Definitely a brat subtype,” Giovanni laughs. “I told her you two were probably just giving her space to grow, but she is sad.”

“Run whatever errands she needs, and we will meet her there,” Thane says. “Ayla?”

“What?” I snap.

“We love you, baby girl. That’s never changed and it never will,” he tells me.

“I love you, too,” I say quietly.

“We’ll see you soon,” Giovanni says before ending the call. “See? Communication is a wonderful tool.”

“Why wouldn’t they just say that?” I ask.

“Well, because they were probably scared, too,” he says. “When you left, I spent the whole time wanting to reach out, but I was afraid. That cost me a lot, so I know how that feels.”