Blair stood near the chairs. He watched each attendee leave one by one, waiting for it.
For me.
The room emptied slowly, and clanging metal chair legs echoed through the space. Unforgiving lights hummed overhead, casting a cold, institutional glow over every inch of the room. Beige walls surrounded us. As if someone had tried to pick the most forgettable color possible and succeeded.
A lone clock ticked above the door, louder now that everyone was gone.
“You really think this will work on me?” I asked, though I knew there was no right answer.
The air felt stale. Bloated with pressure. Not enough clarity.
“Depends on what you mean by work,” Blair said.
He always spoke in riddles. He hid, analyzed.
“You want me to cry for you?” I asked with a glare, crowding the space. “Open up. Be good.”
“Pick one,” he said, his voice steady. “Tears or truth.”
I leaned closer. “Truth.”
He held for a moment. “I want you to stop before you go too far next time.”
“There won’t be a next time,” I scoffed.
Blair didn’t move an inch. But I stepped closer toward him. He inhaled sharply before he caught himself and tried to steel his face.
“You enjoy me this way,” I said as the tendon in my neck pulled tight.
“Enjoywhat, exactly?” he asked, pretending to be steady. “Be specific.”
“This,” I said. “You look scared, but you don’t walk away. Instead, you step closer.”
He glanced away, as if there was something else he could look at in the empty room.
“Say you want me closer, Blair.”
“You’re close enough. Stay where I can see you.”
My eyes narrowed. “Tell me to stop.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“Then say it,” I demanded. “Tell me to back off, and I will.”
“You won’t.”
“Try me,” I growled.
Blair’s lips parted and a slight sound escaped. “Don’t.”
I didn’t lay a single finger on him. Even though I wanted to. My hand flexed but I quickly made it open. I let him feel the suffocating tension between us. My weight, right there in his space.
“Next session,” I said, my voice low and rough, “you’ll sit there with your clipboard and pretend you’re in charge. But you’ll remember this.”
Blair stood frozen as he waited to see what I’d say next.
“You’ll remember this moment,” I added. “You’ll remember how close I got.”
