There was a big desk and computer, which Dr. Amy only sat behind at the end of the appointment when they were making a new one. Two couches in an L shape with a coffee table in front of them and a comfortable armchair set across from them provided plenty of seating for any number of people, just in case there was family counseling. Before Ellie’s parents had moved to California, they’d come with her more than once.

Her mom had been concerned about her lack of relationships and the fact Ellie had been seeing a therapist for such a long time and still wasn’t fixed.

Sometimes Ellie didn’t like her mom very much.

The couch Ellie was sitting on was dark brown leather with huge, soft cushions. She always sank right in and felt immediately comfortable, one arm resting on the arm rest to her left. She liked the corners of couches, especially big ones like this. They felt secure.

“So, you’ve gone from avoiding Michael to now agreeing to a kind of relationship with him,” Dr. Amy said. She looked relaxed in her armchair, wearing navy dress pants and a blue and silver blouse, her dark hair pulled back in a loose bun, with her legs crossed and her hands resting on her thighs. Dr. Amy never took notes, although Ellie assumed she must write things down after the session, but during the session her attention never wavered from Ellie. Sometimes it felt more like a conversation than a therapy session - well, other than the leading questions. “Why do you think that is?”

“Because I trust him,” Ellie said. “I trusted him back in high school, and I’ve seen how he is since he started coming to Stronghold. He hasn’t changed.”

Dr. Amy had heard all about Michael even before he’d come back to Stronghold. Since he’d come back into Ellie’s life, she’d kind of avoided talking about him at therapy for the most part, but this conversation had been inevitable. She needed to talk it through with her therapist. Especially after last night.

“Why not a real relationship then?” Dr. Amy asked, her hazel eyes far too astute. Ellie found her own gaze skipping around the room, something she knew she did when she was feeling uncomfortable with the current topic.

“I’ve told you before I don’t really feel comfortable in those. Not just because of my past but... I mean, I feel like I wouldn’t even know how to be in one.”

“But you’re already stepping into a relationship with Michael, even if it does have boundaries,” Dr. Amy pointed out. “He didn’t put a time limit on it.” Ellie had already given Dr. Amy all the particulars, so her therapist knew the answer, she was just making a point.

“No.”

“And there were clauses affecting interactions outside of the club.”