Read Online Closely Guarded Secret by Natalie Money - Free Book Online

reasonably walk on your own.”
     
    “Oh shit. I’m sorry. We were supposed to get drunk together.” The thought of alcohol right now makes me queasy.
     
    “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I had quite a few but I, unlike you, can hold my liquor.”
     
    “You know I don’t usually get drunk and can hold my own. It’s all the stress from traveling. You know how I feel about flying.”
     
    “Yeah, plus Mr. Sex-on-Legs got you all worked up.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
     
    I want to smack him for saying that but I don’t have the energy. “Why are you so chipper?” I want to steer the conversation away from Bryce.
     
    “Oh, no reason,” he sings the words.
     
    “Spill it, what’s going on?”
     
    “Well, after we got home last night and I was able to finally get you to your room and deposit you on your bed, my phone rang. It was Sampson.”
     
    “No. What did he say? What did you say? What did he want?” I ask with cautious excitement.
     
    “Girl, one question at a time. He said he wanted to meet up and talk. He misses me and thinks he made a mistake by letting me go.”
     
    Right then, my heart swells with relief and I’m glad Sampson wanted to open their lines of communication. “I’m so happy, that’s great news.”
     
    “Yeah, it is. Lets go eat. I’m starved.”
     
    #
     
    As I’m folding my last load of clothes and thinking about the last couple of days, I remember I want to talk to Dr. Hunter. It’s getting late and it’s Friday, so he may not be in.
     
    “Dr. Hunter’s office. May I help you?”
     
    “Hi, this is Alixandra Quinn. Is Dr. Hunter available?
     
    “One moment, Ms. Quinn. Let me check.”
     
    While waiting, I wonder why some companies go for Muzak and others classical for their hold music.
     
    “Ms. Quinn, he’s finishing up with a patient now. If this is an emergency, I could interrupt him, or he could call you back in about 15 minutes.”
     
    “No, it’s not an emergency. Please have him call me. Thank you for your help.”
     
    I pace the floor until the phone rings and I hear Dr. Hunter’s voice. “Ali, it’s been a while. How can I help you today?”
     
    “Hi, Dr. Hunter. Thanks for calling me back. I know it’s Friday and it’s late, so I really appreciate your doing this. I need to talk with you about something that’s happening in my life right now. Things were going okay until a couple of days ago.”
     
    “Oh? Well, let’s talk about it,” he says.
     
    “Monday I had to fly to New York for business and my connecting flight was in Houston.”
     
    Silence.
     
    “I tried to remember all the things you had taught me to control my fear, but I had a full blown panic attack. Even talking about it now, my stress level is increasing. Nothing I tried helped. I didn’t know what else to do. I was terrified.”
     
    “If the techniques you tried didn’t work, why didn’t you call me? I’ve always told you, in emergencies I’ll take your call.”
     
    “I know I should have called you, but I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t start to calm down until the plane was leaving Houston. I wear those scars close, and I’ve been forever changed by them.”
     
    “Yes, Ali, you’ve worn them close. You’ll always have the physical scars of your past, but there’s no comfort in carrying the emotional scars around with you. You and only you can decide when it’s time to take charge of these negative emotions and put them behind you. Let me ask you some questions. Was your fear that Thomas was in the airport?”
     
    “Yes,” I choke out. The mention of his name alone is enough to send me into panic mode.
     
    “Was he in the airport?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “Did he or any of his supporters know you were coming through Houston?”
     
    “No, but it brought everything back to the surface. Everything I’ve tried very hard to overcome. Just being back there . . . ” I trail off.
     
    “I know being there was a major trigger for