Chapter 6 - Jacqueline

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“Archer, you’re drifting again. Let’s stay on topic.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” I half-shout at my laptop, trying to cram an eyeroll that’s not visible on camera into my voice.

“Excuse me, what?” the long-haired brunette head asks, seemingly surprised by my sudden sharp response.

That’s Dani. My last therapist felt it would be best if I found a new therapist ‘better suited to my communication style’. That’s therapist-speak for ‘I’m not signing your legal paperwork’. I picked this one because her name is Danielle, and she goes by Dani, which I thought was hilarious. As an added bonus, she takes my insurance.

She takes nearly every insurance, actually. Getting approved for each one is supposed to require a ton of upfront credentialing fees. Either she’s a financial prodigy, or someone else handled it for her.

“Hey Dani?” I begin, using her name because therapists think it signals connection and rapport. “If you’re single, I know a guy you have a lot in common with. Like, a lot. Do you like beards?”

“If this is an uncomfortable topic for you, we don’t have to explore it right now,” she responds dryly.

Refusing to take the bait in order to retake control of a conversation is usually my thing, but I’ll let her have it. She’s kind of cute.