Read Online Rock Bottom (Bullet) by Jade C. Jamison - Free Book Online

Ethan, I think you need to see someone else.”  Because if he didn’t, she might give into her deepest, darkest desires.
    His voice was firmer and yet warmer somehow.  “I mean it, Jenna.  I want you to counsel me.”
    She hoped he could hear her when she said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    He didn’t speak for several seconds, and she started to wonder if he’d hung up the phone.  When he spoke, though, Jenna started wondering if this was the same man she’d spoken to the night before.  His speech was stilted, and he was struggling to get it all out.  “I’m…what’s the word you used last night?  Broken.   Yeah, I’m broken and fucked up.  My life is a complete shambles.  I…uh…well, I guess I should tell you all this shit in our first session, but…I need someone I can trust.  Okay, so I came on way too strong last night.  That’s just how I am.  But you got it right.  I am in a million pieces, and I don’t know where the fucking glue is.  I’m…”  His voice dropped so low she had to strain to hear him.  “I’m afraid that if I don’t get started, I’m going to start using again.  I…I can’t do it again.  I just can’t.  I need your help.”
    Jenna swallowed.  How could she say no to that?  She’d have to be a cold, heartless human being, and she wasn’t.  So she walked over to her desk to grab her appointment book.  “What does next week look like for you?”
    * * *
    Later on, Jenna called Dr. Thomas’s office.  If she was going to counsel Ethan, she needed to know what his psychiatrist had planned and what meds Ethan was taking.  She reached Mary, the receptionist, who asked Jenna to wait while she pulled Ethan’s chart.  It was only a few minutes when she said, “He’s not on any meds yet.”
    Jenna felt her brow furrow , and she set her pen on the desk.  “He’s not ?”
    “Nope.”
    “What’s the doctor treating him for?”
    “Nothing yet.   Apparently, Mr. Richards walked out of their first appointment before the doctor could prescribe anything.  But he has some notes here.”  After a few seconds, she said, “Patient said he was done for the day.  Possible depression, other issues.  Recovering addict, multiple addictions.  He has an appointment Monday, and I know Dr. Thomas will try to get him on something.  He usually tries to narrow stuff down and prescribe on their first appointment.  Oh…he also has a note here that he’s going to mention psychotherapy.”
    “Well…he’s going to be coming to my office later this afternoon.”
    “Counseling?”
    “Well, yeah.”  She knew she would be overstepping her bounds if she suggested she play psychologi st.  “But a psychologist might not be a bad idea either.  The guy’s got issues.”
    “I thought it was weird that Dr. Thomas wanted me to schedule him for another appointment so soon, but without meds, I see why.  Still…weird.”
    Jenna tried not to smile.  “You’d have to know Mr. Richards.  He can be quite…adamant.  And he’s used to getting his way.”
    “Well, he wouldn’t be the first patient like that we’ve ever had.”
    “Yes, but he’s also pretty famous and has a lot of money…so he’s used to calling the shots.  And if Dr. Thomas hadn’t done that, I’m sure Mr. Richards would have shopped elsewhere.”
    All the other words had been lost on the receptionist.  “Famous?”  Jenna could hear the girl’s voice drop.  Well, she should have been watching her tone anyway, and Jenna was sure the girl had closed the sliding glass window for privacy anyway.  “What would I know him from?”  Jenna told her that Ethan was a founding member of the heavy metal band Fully Automatic.  The girl knew who they were but obviously wasn’t a fan.
    Jenna knew she probably didn’t need to remind the girl, but she liked Mary and didn’t want her getting in trouble.  “Remember…don’t treat him any differently now even though you know