More Sessions?

Avery

Xander and Ian sat at separate ends of the room. Body language spoke volumes in the silent space. Xander’s body was shifted to the left and he was looking out the window. Ian, on the other hand, was on the right side of the room, pacing nervously. Xander wanted nothing to do with this session, and Ian seemed to want to get everything out and move forward. Somehow I had to get them on the same page.

“Xander?” He was too lost in space to hear me.”Xander!”

He startled, then turned to me.

“Would you like to start? Is there anything you want to say to Ian?”

He glanced at Ian and shook his head.

When our gazes clashed, I gave him an irritated look, and he widened his eyes and held up his hands like, What?

He knew what I wanted. He promised he’d try, and he was barely even here.

“Ian.” I turned to him, and he stopped his slow pacing. “Would you like to have a seat?” He shook his head and continued pacing.

“Okay, would you like to begin?” I asked him.

He stopped, looking at Xander, and nodded. It took a few moments of anxiety before he spoke up, and I almost thought he wouldn’t. “I know you think everything wrong in this family began with you, but you’re wrong.”

Xander looked up at him, surprised.

We’d both overheard what he’d said to his mom in the hospital, and I’m betting Xander had no clue.

Ian stood in the center of the room with his hands buried in his pockets, head hung low. “I ruined our chance of being brothers long before Jessica came into the picture.”

Xander flinched and turned away. It was like the mention of Jessica’s name reminded him why he needed to shut Ian out, and the wall stood firm.

“Maybe it’s too late, but Avery and I have been talking and—”

“Is this you and him against me now?” Xander directed his question at me as his eyes accused me of taking sides.

“No. I told you before I’m not on any sides. But Ian’s ready to take the steps necessary to move forward. Are you?”

Xander shook his head, turned, and grumbled something under his breath.

“Xander?” His gaze shifted back to me. “Why are you so resistant to mending your relationship with your brother?”

“Because there was never a relationship to mend. I’m too old to still be running around after him, looking for acceptance.”

“You never needed my acceptance,” Ian spoke up.

“How the fuck do you know what I needed?” Xander finally met Ian’s eyes with his furious outburst. “I was a pathetic kid eager for even a few minutes of your time, but you hated me. It took me years to come to grips with that. It only took losing Jessica to figure it out. And now you want me to believe after all these years you care?” Xander shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“You’re right. I hated you.” Xander threw Ian a look of pure loathing. “I resented you, and there was never anything you could’ve done to change it.”

Xander snorted, shook his head, and bit his bottom lip. I wished he’d stop holding back and just let go of his rage. “I don’t care anymore.”

“Then why are you here?” Ian’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“Because Avery asked me to come.” Their gazes locked as they silently faced off.

Ian broke the stare-down first with his sigh. He looked at me and said, “This is pointless.”

“No, it’s not. I didn’t expect you two to come in here and everything miraculously be resolved. As long as you guys agree to keep meeting this way and say the things you need to get out, then we’re making progress.”

Xander was staring across the room, and Ian was looking at me reluctantly. He stood up and glanced at Xander like he needed some space.

“I’m sorry, Avery. I gotta go.”

Ian was already walking toward the door when I called out, “Will you come back?”

“Yeah, if you think it will help.” He glanced over his shoulder at Xander before walking out. As soon as the door shut, Xander gave me a doubtful look.

“That went well,” he said sarcastically.

“Not that you made much effort.”

He shrugged. “I said I would come, not that I was going to fall for his bullshit.”

“He was being sincere.” I rose and walked toward him.

“We'll see.”

“So you’re willing to have another session with him?” I smiled as I sat on his lap.

“More sessions? I have a feeling I’ll be spending the rest of my life in this office, talking about feelings.”

“I’ll always look out for you.” I brushed my fingers through his hair.

He buried his face into my neck and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I trust your instincts. If you think Ian’s being real, then I’ll give him a chance.”

I sat back and cupped his face with my hands. “I’m proud of you. I know it’s hard for you to give him any kind of chance.”

He smiled, his dimples causing a fluttering in my belly. “I’m going to try to give him a chance. After all, if you didn’t give me a second chance, I would’ve been lost. Maybe what you’re envisioning can come to play, but it will take time.”

I raised an eyebrow. “When did you become a therapist?”

He chuckled. “I got my degree by association. Your brilliance rubbed off on me.”

He leaned in and bit my lip. I yelped and tried to pull back, but he pulled me in for a kiss that made me forget everything except how much I loved him.

Epilogue

Xander

In the last eight months, my relationship with Avery exceeded what I thought was possible. She’d learned all my quirks to the point that she could detect when I was holding something back. I think that’s what made her gain back some semblance of trust in me. She was always prepared to call me on my shit, and I was fine with that.

We adapted. She accepted who I was but was always on a mission to make sure I knew she saw through me. And I liked it that way. She didn’t ask me to change; she just made sure I understood the consequences of my actions before I went too far.

She and my mother had moved completely past everything and hung out at least once a month. Mom’s health improved because Avery and I kept her on a strict regimen.

Ian and I…

Well, we actually occupied the same room without wanting to kill each other. Avery still scheduled us for one session together every month, and it helped. Listening to Ian talk about his feelings made it easier to release my anger and resentment toward him. And maybe it worked the same way for him. In Avery’s office, we had a chance to see the real Ian and Xander. There was no sibling rivalry, just two people trying to understand each other.

Ian had kicked his drinking habit, but his political career was shot to shit. He was managing the club he worked at, and, who knew, maybe he’d be a club owner one day. Regardless of what he did, I was happy for him, and he seemed happy for Avery and me, and he completely stopped trying to fuck with my head when it came to her.

Avery was a godsend, and we’d somehow become a normal family without this huge cloud hanging over us. Even Ellie and I managed to be cordial. Though Avery had watched us like a hawk for months whenever we were in the same room. Ellie was graduating soon, and she fully accepted that Avery was there for her in whatever way she needed.

My life was the calmest it had ever been.

I felt Avery roll over in the bed and scoot up against my back. Her hand slid over my side, down my abs, and she started stroking my cock until it was hard and aching.

I was suspicious she was trying to put me to sleep, but I wasn’t going to complain. My insomnia wasn’t as severe as it was before, but it hadn’t completely vanished. I’d had it so long I was sure it had become my permanent companion. On nights like this where I stayed up with my thoughts, Avery always tried to fuck me to sleep. It had worked for me in the past, and it worked even better now.