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"Thank you for coming in early again," I tell Dr. B.
"It's my pleasure. How'd you do with your assignment?"
"Well, luckily I work with family and close friends, so there was no shortage of agitation."
Banner laughs. "So you got in some good practice?"
"I did. The mindfulness piece was amazingly helpful."
"How so?"
"It lets me experience the anger without any judgment, and I don't feel the need to cook the emotion into something bigger."
He smiles wide. "Go to the head of the class, Mr. Cullen."
"Actually, doc, that's not exactly where I need to get to."
-o-
"In four days, I have an appointment with Bella."
"You mean, a date?"
"No. I mean, I have a haircut scheduled. I made it six weeks ago and nearly forgot about it in all this madness, but Emmett was teasing me about my rock star hair yesterday, and I remembered."
Please don't tell me not to see her.
"In that case," he answers, "let's batten down the hatches today, and book you in for another appointment Monday morning. I want you in tip-top condition for that haircut."
His confidence flows through me like warm honey. "You think I'll be ready?"
-o-
"This is a process, but you've already come a long way. Motivation is at least three-quarters of the work, and I rarely see a patient as focused as you."
"I've got an awful lot to earn back," I answer.
"Edward, I have to caution you not to put the cart before the horse. Remember, the goal is getting your feelings under control and balancing your wise mind with your emotional mind. That said, if she's the girl you've described, she'll recognize your progress and spur you on."
"I hope you're right, Doc."
"Ready to talk about distress tolerance?"
"Let's go!"
A/N: The question is, where is Bella going to apply those spurs? XXX ~BOH