I cleared my throat, my cheeks warming. “Yes, I’m Talon Steel.”
She smiled and held out her hand. “Dr. Melanie Carmichael. So nice to meet you. Would you like to come on back?”
I swallowed. In for a dozen… I followed her into her office. Her desk was in a corner, and the requisite couch sat against one wall. I was so not lying on the couch. A couple of recliners in forest-green leather sat around a marble coffee table. She sat down in one of them and motioned for me to take the other. Moving slowly, I did.
“So what can I help you with today, Mr. Steel?” She crossed her legs and smiled.
I sighed. Where did I begin? I didn’t have enough hours left in my lifetime to explain what had brought me in here, and most therapy sessions only lasted an hour. So I figured I’d start with what had prompted me to call.
“I beat the shit out of a guy today.”
She nodded. “I see. Why do you think you did that?”
Wasn’t she supposed to tell me why? “He was kissing my sister’s friend.”
“All right. And that kiss bothered you?”
I nodded.
“Why did it bother you so much? Is your sister’s friend your girlfriend?”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t have girlfriends.”
“You don’t? Handsome man like you? Why not?”
“I’m just not wired that way, Doctor.”
“Wired that way? Do you mean you’re gay?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not gay.” The whole gay line of questioning gave me a chill. I had never been attracted to men, yet…my history… I cou
ldn’t go there. Not yet.
“Then why don’t you have girlfriends?”
“I just…don’t.”
“Okay. What types of relationships do you have with women, then?”
“Well, the only woman in my life right now is my sister, who lives with me. Other than that, the only kind of relationships I have with women are sexual.”
“So you’re a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess so. At least the leave ’em part.”
“You use women, then. Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Oh, for God’s sake. No, I don’t use them. They offer something to me, and I take it. What the hell is wrong with that? They’re getting what they want, and I’m getting what I want.”
“I’m not here to judge you, Mr. Steel.”
“Mr. Steel sounds ridiculous to me. Call me Talon.”
“All right, if you prefer. Talon. As I said, I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to help you. So let’s go back to why you beat up the man today. That appears to be the catalyst for bringing you in here, am I right?”
I nodded.
“Have you seen a therapist before?”